| The Hradec Kralove region is the second region of NUTS 2 Northeast, neighbouring on the Liberec Region to the west and the Pardubice Region to the south. Its historical, economic, and cultural centre is the town of Hradec Kralove. The region has five districts - Hradec Kralove, Jicin, Nachod, Rychnov nad Kneznou, and Trutnov. The total area of the region is 4,758 sq. km. Of its 448 municipalities 43 are towns inhabited by 69 per cent of the region’s population.
In contrast to its western neighbour, the geographical profile of the region is far less diverse and together with the climatic conditions creates good prerequisites for agriculture. The Hradec Kralove Region is the educational centre of NUTS 2 Northeast - the regional capital hosts four universities - the College of Pedagogy, the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Pharmacology of Charles University, and the Military Medical Academy.
Industry
Industry and agriculture are characteristic of the Hradec Kralove Region and both sectors have a long tradition. The processing industry has always been dominant in the region, the major branch being the textile industry. Its importance somewhat declined in the 1990s due to reduced production, but it still ranks among the most important industrial branches of the region.
Other characteristic features are a high rate of employment in services, and a large share of small and medium-sized enterprises. The important industrial branches in the region are engineering, electrical engineering, automobile component manufacture, the food, glass, and chemical industries, and plastic material production.
A boon to stable employment and production in the Region is the absence of former large state enterprises, which cause difficulties in restructuring and revitalization. The great natural wealth of the region are the Krkono‰e Mountains, the highest Czech range, Orlicke Mountains, and the Bohemian Paradise.
All are favourite destinations for Czech and foreign visitors, and guarantee possibilities of tourism development.
Agriculture
Agriculture is traditional in the Hradec Kralove region, but its intensity depends on natural conditions. Agriculture is less developed in the mountainous areas in the north and east of the Region. Arable land is only a small part of farmland, mainly of wooded areas, fields, and pastures. The present trend is for putting arable land under woods. Environmentally friendly farming is being developed in the Region.
Transport
The Hradec Kralove Region has a dense road and railway network with regional, inland, and international links - especially connections with Poland. The region lacks a motorway and this makes the traffic capacity a problem.
Improvement will come with the completion of the D11 motorway Prague - Hradec Kralove - Poland, which will also benefit traffic from the capital and the country’s connections with Poland. The railway junction is at Hradec Kralove. The region is not linked with any European railway corridors; the nearest one (Berlin - Vienna) crosses the neighbouring regional town of Pardubice. Hradec Kralove has an airport.
Important regional roads:
- I/35 Germany - Liberec - Hradec Kralove - Svitavy - Olomouc
- I/37 Hradec Kralove - Pardubice - Îiar nad Sazavou - link to D1 motorway Prague - Brno
- I/33 Poland - Hradec Kralove - Kutna Hora - Pisek
- I/11 first part of D11 motorway Prague - Podubrady, Hradec Kralove - umperk - Opava - Ostrava - Slovakia
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