Borromeum Building

Borromeum in Hradec Kralove represents a pair of important buildings, of which the original late Classicist Palace in Špital Street has served as a boy kettle since 1860. Today there is a hotel and apartments Boromeum Residence, while a newer building on the Orlická waterfront hosts the Bishop's Gymnasium. This monument is a key element of the educational and ecclesiastical history of the city.

The Institute was founded by Bishop Karel Boromejský Hanl, named after his patron saint Charles Boromejský. The preparations began with the collection in 1850, and then three houses were purchased in 1855 and 1857, which were demolished in 1858 for the construction of the new building. The boys' convikt was officially opened on 1 October 1860 and served as a boarding school for gymnazists who were preparing for further study in the priesthood seminar.

The original building in Špital Street is a two-storey late classical palace, which was carried out by builder František Dobrkovský. At the time of its creation was the third largest building in Hradec Králové and its construction cost 63,721 gold. In 1902 a new residence was established on the Orlická waterfront, the architect Viktor Weinhengst.

The ownership of the original building was taken over by the post office in 1912, first the lease and later the ownership. It made the house known as Old Post. On the ground floor there was a post office and the above floor served for administrative and residential purposes. The new building on the Orlická waterfront served as a boarding school until the end of World War II, when a Lazaret was set up for wounded soldiers. After nationalization, the building belonged to the Pedagogical Institute and since 1992 the Bishop Grammar School has been active here. The original palace in Špital Street was purchased by Špitálská s. r. o.

During the construction of the original palace, pagan graves in the shape of wells were uncovered, containing planks, garbage cans and the skull of an animal with three horns. The foundation of the house is 17 bowels deep, with up to 5 fathoms in places near the well and the woodsman. František Gruss, Dominik Filip and František Reyl were active in the kettle.

The original classical palace underwent extensive reconstruction between 2004 and 2012. Today it is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and works under the name Boromeum Residence, where apartments with residential accommodation, hotel, restaurant, cafe and wine bar are available. The new building on the Orlická waterfront continues to serve educational purposes.

Borromeum is a unique testimony about the development of education and architecture in Hradec Králové. Visiting this place offers insight into the history of church institutions and urban urban urban planning.