My town: Poděbrady

Area: 33.70 km2 (13.01 sq mi) Population: 14,032 (1.1.2011) Density: 416/km2 (1,077 / sq mi) District: Nymburk
Historical small spa town in Elbe Lowlands of about 14 thousand inhabitants It lies on the river Labe 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Prague on the D11 highway (it is located on an old trade route from Prague to eastern Bohemia) An ancient community and a small fortress originated near the ford. It is most likely that the position of this community is reflected in the present name of the town: Poděbrady – „pode brody“ = below the ford. The earliest written records of the name Poděbrady date from the middle of the 12th century. In 1351 Charles IV gave Poděbrady to the nobleman of Kunštát. Poděbrady experienced its greatest period during the life of George of Poděbrady, who was elected Czech king in 1458. A historic milestone in the life of the town was the year 1905, when the German estate owner Prince von Bülow visited it. This well-known water diviner found in the inner courtyard of the castle signs of a strong spring, which was later bored to a depth of 97.6 metres (320 ft)  Poděbradka:
o The discovery of carbonic mineral water resulted in the opening of the first spa in 1908.
o After World War I Poděbrady rapidly changed into a spa town which from 1926 specialized in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, rapidly gaining renown not only in the Czech Republic, but also abroad in countries including Austria, Germany, Russia and the United States.
o The water contains iron deposits; if left over the course of a few days a rust-like deposit will settle at the bottom and will stain plastic bottles.
o There are seven free public taps where people are able to obtain Poděbradka.
o There is also a refined version of Poděbradka that is not as heavy with the iron deposits that can be purchased from most stores in the Czech Republic.
The chateau and the King George Memorial
o Poděbrady chateau underwent numerous reconstructions in the past. The oldest parts
of the stone castle, which now house the King George Memorial (KGM), date from the
mid-13th century. The latest Baroque Classicism style reconstruction dates from mid-18th
century.
o Only three interiors in the whole chateau are now accessible to the public, namely
restored medieval chapel, the neighbouring so called Family hall of King George and
small cellarage (sklepení) with many cannon balls.
o The rest of Poděbrady chateau belong to Charles University, foreign students learn the
Czech language here.
King George’s Square
o This square is the oldest part of the town and it has always been a market centre.
o Here we can admire The Equestrian Statue of King George created by Czech sculptor
Bohuslav Schnirch.
o On the western side of the square stand the Plague Column (the Baroque Virgin Mary
Column erected after the most severe plague epidemic in 1761)
o The Old Town Hall was built to replace the burned-out Town Hall building which once
stood on the side of the Záložna hotel
Spa park Colonade (Promenade)
o Spa park Promenade leads from King George’s Square to a railway station. Locals call it
mostly Colonade, but correctly it is only two buildings in the park (Colonade of Libenský
and restaurant Colonade).
o One of interesting places in the park is the flower clock.
o There are many statues, artificial stream, wooden pergola, fountains, interesting trees
and so on
The Miners’ Church is very interesting place for me. I like it there, because there is
a new quite calm park with a small pond or with an old well and many benches,
where man can learning and thinking.
o A scaffold used to stand on this location. Ten leaders of the major Kutná Hora miner
uprising were executed on it in 1496. The oaks in neighbourhood after it apparently
produced bloody acorns.
o A wooden chapel stood at the site until the 17th century to commemorate the innocent
victims. Afterwards, the small Church of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary was rebuilt in
stone and became a pilgrimage site.
Hydroelectric power station
o The power station was built in 1914 – 1923. It was designed by a Poděbrady native,
Czech Technical University Professor Antonín Engel.
In Poděbrady and surroundings there are many sport opportunities such as tennis
courts, golf course, cycle tourism (the Nymburk-Poděbrady-Libice nad Cidlinou
communication is especially suitable for regular bicycles trips), many fitness centres,
TJ Horse Riding club and so on.
Poděbrady is known also thanks of cut lead crystal glass (Glassworks Bohemia).
I live here in suburb called Žižkov.
I am a student of the grammar school called Gymnázium of George of Poděbrady.
o It is quite old building which the school has been since 1949 in.
o Václav Havel or Miloš Forman were among its famous sudents.