Městec Králové

• Name — Městec Králové • Settlement Type — Town • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Type1 — Region • Subdivision Name1 — Central Bohemian • Subdivision Type2 — District • Subdivision Name2 — Nymburk • Leader Title — Mayor • Leader Name — Milan Pavlík • Established Title — First mentioned • Established Date — 1300 • Area Total Km2 — 19.87 • Elevation M — 212 • Population As Of — 2026-01-01 • Population Total — 2867 • Population Density Km2 — auto • Timezone1 — CET • Utc Offset1 — +1 • Timezone1 Dst — CEST • Utc Offset1 Dst — +2 • Postal Code Type — Postal code • Postal Code — 289 03 • Website — https: www.mesteckralove.cz/

Městec Králové consists of three municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): • Městec Králové (2,649) • Nový (59) • Vinice (86)

The name means 'small town of the King' in Czech. The initial name of the town was Královo Městce. Later it changed to Králův Městec and then to the current form.

Městec Králové is located about 18 km east of Nymburk and 54 km east of Prague. It lies in the Central Elbe Table. The highest point is a place called Kostelíček at 241 m above sea level. The stream Štítarský potok flows through the municipal territory.

Městec Králové was established as a walled town on the road from Hradec Králové to Prague in the 13th century. According to legends, Queen Kunigunde, the wife of King Wenceslaus I, was returning from Červený Hradec (today Hradec Králové) to Prague and abruptly gave birth to Ottokar II, the most powerful king of the Přemyslid dynasty, in Městec Králové. Ottokar II rewarded his assumed birthplace by a lion on its coats of arms and some privileges reserved for royal towns. The town was almost destroyed during the Thirty Years' War and by large fires in 1680, 1746, 1776 and 1792.

Městec Králové is the start of a railway line to Chlumec nad Cidlinou.

• Illustration — Town hall The main landmark of Městec Králové is the Church of Saint Margaret. It was built in 1793, after a fire in 1792 burned down the old building. In the 19th century, the church was repaired and the Romanesque tower was added. Among the most valuable buildings is the town hall, built in 1799.

• Ottokar II of Bohemia (1233–1278), King of Bohemia • František Xaver Pokorný (1729–1794), composer and violinist • Karel Kněžourek (1857–1920), naturalist • Otakar Zich (1879–1934), composer and aesthetician • Karel Schulz (1899–1943), writer • Ivan Hašek (born 1963), football player and manager • Aleš Hruška (born 1985), footballer • Bořek Dočkal (born 1988), footballer