Archaeologists are against the underground parking lot in the center of H. Králové

Hradec Králové – Eastern Bohemian archaeologists disagree with the city's intention to build an underground parking facility under the Great Square in the historic center of Hradec Králové. They argue that its construction would destroy archaeological monuments and threaten the values that protect the area as a heritage reserve. This was stated today by representatives of the Eastern Bohemian Regional Archaeological Commission to ČTK. The city intends to continue negotiations with archaeologists on the project. The realization of the project will depend on the stance of the archaeologists.

The underground parking facility under the square, which currently serves as a parking lot, could accommodate over 200 cars. The city is having a study prepared for the construction, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year. From the current proposals, it appears that the entrance to the underground garages could be from Komenského Street. According to scientists, some media have reported distorted information suggesting that the archaeologists agree with the plan because there are allegedly no valuable finds at the construction site. However, the settlement on the hill in the center of Hradec Králové conceals traces of almost all epochs of Eastern Bohemian history, according to archaeologists. Especially during the Bronze Age and in the early and high Middle Ages, the significance of the local settlement exceeded the boundaries of the region.

"The underground parking facility under the Great Square cannot be considered a suitable solution for the traffic situation in the city center in terms of protecting the archaeological heritage and for other reasons," Miroslav Novák, chairman of the Eastern Bohemian Regional Archaeological Commission and head of the archaeological department of the Museum of Eastern Bohemia, told ČTK. The commission brings together representatives of organizations authorized to conduct archaeological research in the Hradec Králové and Pardubice regions. It is part of a nationwide network of advisory bodies responsible for coordinating the care of archaeological heritage.

The city's mayor, Alexandr Hrabálek (ODS), expects a compromise from both sides. According to him, the Great Square has already been disrupted by construction activities many times. "I would like to believe that we can come to an agreement here as well. One thing is the archaeological monuments, the history that we must respect, but another is the development of society in the 21st century," he told ČTK today. According to him, the city hall wants to restore the square’s function as a natural social center of the city.

However, the commission representatives insist on their position, arguing that the significance of the monuments in the urban heritage reserve is being relativized throughout the discussion. According to Novák, the commission does not have any further information that would change their stance.

Archaeologists also stated that if the construction proceeds, it would be a dangerous precedent not only for the future of the Hradec heritage reserve but for similarly protected areas in general. "Just as it is inconceivable to build a department store on the site of the Gothic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, it should be equally unacceptable to plan to excavate an underground car storage facility in the middle of the historical square of the heritage reserve. This comparison is not exaggerated; just like the cathedral, the archaeological layers that have developed here for at least 5000 years are an integral and irreplaceable part of our shared cultural heritage," said Novák.