Living standard

HOUSING
The housing capacities of the city include 40,649 flats in 10,768 houses (SLDB 2001).
Villas represent 24% of all flats, which is the highest number in cities in the Czech Republic. The average age of a house is 45 years. The highest number of permanently inhabited flats is related to the neighborhoods of Nový Hradec Králové and Central Hradec Králové. The parts of the city mentioned above represent 40 % of all permanently inhabited flats in Hradec Králové, housing 42 % of the city population. In Hradec Králové, 2.57 inhabitants are linked to one permanently inhabited flat.
The construction of flats continues. Before 2008, almost 1,000 flats should be built in certain localities. The range of housing is very rich and it certainly satisfies every lifestyle. Building land in good localities is available.

Permanently inhabited and uninhabited houses and flats in Hradec Králové

Source: Czech Statistical Office, 2001

 MEDICAL CARE
Medical care in Hradec Králové is of a high standard in the long-term perspective both for the city inhabitants and for the surrounding region. The Faculty Hospital has its center in the city and continues a historical tradition of co-operation with the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Hradec Králové, the Faculty of Pharmacology of Charles University and the Faculty of Military Medical Service of the University of Defense. The Faculty Hospital is among the largest medical care facilities not only in East Bohemia, but also in the . In 23 clinics and 15 specialized workplaces with more than 1,500 beds, more than 40 thousand inpatients are treated every year. More than half a million outpatients are treated here every year. The Faculty Hospital has all structural and super-structural specializations. Many departments of the Faculty Hospital are of over-regional significance (e.g. cardio-center, neurosurgery, oncology). The most complicated surgical procedures are carried out here.
The reconstruction and repair of the original premises are gradually beginning. In 2004, an internal diseases wing was opened. Medical care in the city is also provided by private outpatient or inpatient medical facilities (Medical Institute for long-term ill patients with 99 beds, the first private surgical center, SANUS, with 57 beds, the Ophthalmologic Sanatorium in Hradec Králové with 15 beds). Pre-hospital emergency care is provided by the Rescue and Emergency Service of the Region of Hradec Králové.

SERVICES FOR BUSINESSPERSONS
In Hradec Králové there are 14 banking houses including the Česká národní banka (Czech National Bank). Moreover, there are 25 specialized financial institutions, such as insurance institutions and building societies. 245 lawyers are registered here to provide complete legal services. There are 8 independent Notary offices in Hradec Králové, there are also 9 auditor companies, and 5 independent auditors. 48 real estate companies offer their services. Also, the Regional Economic Chamber provides businesspersons of North-East Bohemia with their services.

RELAXATION
For relaxation there are vast areas of municipal parks. The forest areas of Nový Hradec and the surroundings of the rivers Labe (Elb) and Orlice, easily accessible from the centre via hiking and cycle routes, are suitable for day and half-day trips. In the surroundings, chateaux at Častolovice, Hrádek u Nechanic, Opočno, and the unique complex of a Baroque hospital at Kuks are worth seeing. Trips can also be made to the Zoo in Dvůr Králové nad Labem, the masterpiece of the Holy crèche in Třebechovice, and the Baroque chapel of the Apparition of Our Lord built by Kilian and Ignatius Dienzenhofer in the nearby town of Smiřice. The regions of the Krkonoše (The Giant Mountains), Orlické hory (Eagle Mountains), the rock cities of Prachov and Adršpach, the Bohemian Paradise, and others, are easily accessible for short-term relaxation stays.

CULTURE
The city of Hradec Králové is a significant center of culture. In addition to the professional stages of the Klicpera Theater, which has won the Theater of the Year award several times recently, and the Philharmonic Orchestra, the cultural life of Hradec Králové is enriched by a worldwide known puppet theater, Drak (Dragon), the International Institute of Figurative Theater, the outstanding boys’ choir Boni Pueri, and many other institutions and artists. In the historic center, there are rich collections of Czech creative art in the Gallery of Modern Art. Real treasures can be seen in the monumental Art Nouveau building of the East Bohemian Museum (a national cultural monument, Professor Kotěra). The international festival “Theater of European Regions”, the international jazz festival “Jazz Goes to Town”, the dance festival “Entrée to Dance”, the technological festival “Techfilm”, and many other events are held in Hradec Králové every year. The observatory and planetarium can be visited, as well as the State Scientific Library, a municipal indoor swimming pool, the Cinestar multiplex, the art cinema of Central in the city center, and a unique giant aquarium.

SPORTS
Many sports facilities are available for active amateur sportsmen and sports professionals. Among the most important are a roofed 50 m swimming pool and the Aquacenter, two roofed ice rinks, the sports stadium at Malšovice with a football field with artificial grass, sports areas, tennis courts, fitness and squash centers and other facilities, such as a riding school, shooting range, boathouse, and others. The sports fields on the premises of primary schools reconstructed and included in the project called “Open Sports Fields”, can also be publicly used. In Hrádek u Nechanic (15 km) and Zaloňov near Jaroměř, golf courses are located.

SAFETY
Hradec Králové is among the safest cities in the Czech Republic. 50 % of criminal offences in 2005 were resolved, which is significantly above the average of the whole republic (39 %). There are 22 offences per 1,000 inhabitants.  The work of the Municipal Police is supported by the municipal camera monitoring system.

CONGRESSES
Hradec Králové is a member of the European Association of Congress Cities. About 80 congresses, conferences, or exhibitions (e. g. ISSS - Internet in State Administration and Local Government, and Gastrohradec, Infotour and Cycling, and others) are held in the city. Most of them take place in the high-tech Aldis congress center. Additional suitable premises of a state-of-the-art standard are offered by the University of Hradec Králové and the Amber Hotel Černigov.

GOOD PLACE TO LIVE
According to a survey carried out by the daily MF Dnes (MF Today) in the years 2004 and 2005, the East Bohemian center provides, when compared with 77 former district towns, the best living conditions. Hradec Králové scores highly mainly thanks to its clean environment, chance of living a long life, lower criminality, and low unemployment rate.
The city government performed a sociological survey, “Satisfaction of citizens with the local community” in September 2005, which confirmed the correctness of the evaluation of Hradec Králové as a city with the best living conditions. 1, 000 respondents were addressed, of which 90 % are satisfied with life in the city. Almost two-thirds (63 %) of those asked expressed satisfaction with their jobs, and almost two-fifths (38 %) are satisfied with opportunities of specialist re-qualification.
More than 80 % of respondents are satisfied with basic public services, the availability of shopping and services, with housing in the city, and opportunities to pursue their hobbies.
For 89 % of the respondents, Hradec Králové is an attractive city. The highlights of the city, according to those asked, are the architecture, historic monuments of the city, greenery, and the natural surroundings.