Dvůr Králové nad Labem

Dvůr Králové nad Labem (Czech pronunciation: [ˈdvuːr ˈkraːlovɛː ˈnad labɛm]; is a town of the Czech Republic in Hradec Králové Region, in the Labe (Elbe) river valley.

Dvůr Králové was first mentioned in 1270. It was a dowry town, owned by the King's wife and responsible for her expenses when her husband died. Today, it is a center of the textile and machinery industries.

There is a famous Dvůr Králové Zoo with large African safaripark near the town. You can admire almost 2.500 animals of 500 species (especially large African hoofstock) which makes it one of the largest European zoos and the top breeder of many endangered species (within the last 30 years more than 200 giraffes were born there). They also breed rhinos, zebras, and many species of antelope.

Outside the city, visitors can view an old residence of the Jesuits in Žireč and a hospital in Kuks, both with many Baroque statues.

Manuscript affair

On September 16, 1817, Václav Hanka allegedly discovered a manuscript appearing to be from the 13th century in the tower of a local church. The Manuscript of Dvůr Kralové, probably in fact created by Hanka, was intended to help Czech patriots in the struggle against German culture. It was proven to be a forgery at the end of the 19th century by Professor Tomáš Masaryk and confirmed as such by later examinations [1]. A minority of historians still consider it genuine.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Dvůr Králové nad Labem is twinned with:

• Piegaro, Italy
• Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
• Cedar Grove, New Jersey, United States

See also

• Otto Gutfreund
• Josef Král
• Franz Pacák (de)
• Georg Pacák (de)
• August Stauda (de) (1861, Žireč (cs) (German: Schurz) - 1928, Vienna), photographer, documentarist of "alt Wien (de)"
• Michal Súkup (cz)

External links

• Dvůr Králové on a map
• ZOO Dvůr Králové
• Dvůr Králové a okolí
• Michal Súkup, Dvůr Králové nad Labem