Kralupy nad Vltavou


Kralupy nad Vltavou is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 18,000 inhabitants. The town lies on the Vltava River some north of Prague, the capital of both the Czech Republic and the Central Bohemian Region. The town is part of the Prague metropolitan area.
It consists of the following neighbourhoods: Kralupy, Lobeč, Lobeček, Minice, Mikovice, Zeměchy. These neighbourhoods were separate villages before the creation of the town at the beginning of the 20th century.

History

The area of the actual town has been inhabited for millennia, but a significant growth of its population did not begin until the 19th century. It was the construction of the railway that stimulated a strong population growth. Factories were built near the railway, and the Oil Campaign of World War II targeted the oil refinery on December 28, 1944. During the totalitarian communist rule the town lacked democratic municipal government.
The town centre was damaged by flood in 2002.

Transport

Three bridges across the Vltava River are in the town - Masaryk Bridge, a footbridge with bicycle lane and a railway bridge. The town is also an important railway hub. The main line from Prague to Dresden runs through it as well as two other lines of lesser importance. The Vltava River is also used for transport.

Notable residents

Kralupy nad Vltavou is twinned with: