Roudnice nad Labem

Town

Church of the Nativity of Virgin Mary

Flag	Coat of arms

Country

Region

District

Commune

River

Elevation

195 m (640 ft)

Coordinates

50°25′25″N 14°15′14″E / 50.42361°N 14.25389°ECoordinates: 50°25′25″N 14°15′14″E / 50.42361°N 14.25389°E

Area

16.67 km² (6.44 sq mi)

Population

13,263 (2006-07-03)

Density

796 / km² (2,062 / sq mi)

First mentioned

1167

Mayor

Vladimír Urban

Timezone

CET (UTC+1)

- summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

Postal code

413 01

Location in the Czech Republic

Location in Litoměřice District

Wikimedia Commons: Roudnice nad Labem

Statistics: statnisprava.cz

Website: www.roudnicenl.cz

Roudnice nad Labem (Czech pronunciation: [ˈrou̯dɲɪtsɛ ˈnad labɛm]; German: Raudnitz an der Elbe) is a town on the left bank of the Elbe River (Czech: Labe). It has a population of approximately 13 500 and covers an area of 16,67 km². The town is situated near the site of Říp, notable for its connection with the legend of Praotec Čech.

A steel road bridge from early 20th century spans the Elbe in Roudnice nad Labem. Its medieval predecessor was the third oldest bridge made of stone in Bohemia (after Prague and Písek) and the first bridge to connect both banks of the river. Roudnice nad Labem features a castle of late Romanesque origin, nowadays in Baroque architectural style.

Civic amenities include a post office, hospital, several shopping centres, schools, pharmacies, public and municipal libraries, cinema, swimming pool, ice hockey arena, football stadium and athletic stadium. The Roudnice airport is located near the south western edge of the city and hosts the Memorial Air Show every second year.

History

Roudnice nad Labem has very long and rich history. Roudnice nad Labem is one of the oldest Czech towns, the original name Rúdnik / Rúdnica was given to it because of the red colored water spring in this area. The first written memories are dated to years 1167 and 1176, but first signs of settlement are from the prehistoric ages.

Roudnice nad Labem got statute of city from about end of the 12th century. In same period a stone Romanesque castle was built, which was the second private building made of stone in Bohemia. In 1333, bishop Jan IV. from Dražice build the third oldest stone bridge in Bohemia, which was also the first bridge made of stone over the river Labe. At the end of the 14th century, there was built New City of Roudnice nad Labem (today Jan from Dražice square and Husovo square) and with Old City of Roudnice nad Labem surrounded by walls. In the 15th century, during the Hussite wars, the city was the target of several Hussite raids. The city was conquered in 1421 by Jan Žižka, in 1425 by Jan Roháč from Dubá and in 1428 by Václav Carda from Petrovice. After the Hussite wars, the city was sold several times, and finally, in 1603 the city of Roudnice nad Labem was sold to Zdeněk Václav Popel from Lobkowicz. During his rule, the city was rebuilt and extended. During the Thirty Years' War, the city of Roudnice nad Labem was burned down and demolished by the Swedish army in 1634 and 1639.

In the 19th century, Roudnice nad Labem become industrial and economical centre of Podřipský region because of several new factories were built and also there was frequented railway from Prague to Dresden. Until 1918, ROUDNICE - RAUDNITZ was part of the Austrian monarchy (Austria side after the compromise of 1867), in the district of the same name, one of the 94 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in Bohemia.^[1] A post-office was opened in September 1850, named RAUDNITZ.^[2] In 1910, the old stone bridge was rebuilt into new steel road bridge.

Castle in Roudnice nad Labem

The castle was built by bishop Jindřich Břetislav, nephew of Czech king Vladislav I. The castle was built with aim to protect water route on river Elbe and important trade route from Prague to the Upper Lusatia. Former castle had rectangular shape with sides 39 meters and 15 meters and had several defensive bastions. Walls were 2 meters wide and had watch towers in each corner. Building complex included several farm buildings and this building complex was protected by wall with fortified gate. During medieval ages the castle was rebuilt in Gothic style, mostly by bishop Jan from Dražice and bishop Arnošt from Pardubice, who decided to build massive watch tower next to the castle. This rebuilding was finished in 1380. Castle in Roudnice nad Labem was residential castle of most of the Prague bishops.

In 1421 the Catholic Church gave as a pledge to Jan Smiřický and after that sold him the castle. After that, the castle was never again in property of the Catholic Church. Jan Smiřický started to rebuild the castle again and added more agricultural building. In 1467 the castle was conquered by Jiří z Poděbrad army and Jan Smiřický lost the castle from his property. Next owner, Vilém from Rožumberk renovated the castle and after his dead, his former wife, Polyxena from Pernštejn, married with Vojtěch Popel from Lobkowicz in 1603 and the castle become in property of Lobkowicz noble house. In the middle of the 16th century, new renaissance residential building was added and whole complex become uncongenial. Václav Eusebius from Lobkowicz decided in 1652 to rebuild the castle into early-baroque palace.

Palace in Roudnice nad Labem

This early-baroque palace is owned by Czech noble house of Lobkowicz and was built from 1652 to 1684 instead of the original castle. Palace in the Roudnice nad Labem is three wings building with U shape. Free space between wings is closed by main gate and watch tower with lantern on the top. Inner space of palace courtyard has rectangular shape with sides 58,5 and 54 meters.

In 1948, the palace was confiscated because communist rule and was used by Czechoslovak people´s army for Military conservatory of Vít Nejedlý. After 1989 Lobkowicz family got the palace back in restitution and rented him Military conservatory of Vít Nejedlý again up to 2008. In 2009 the palace passed through big renovation and in 2012 the palace was opened to public.