Located 17km from Prague, this industrial city has an 18th-century Baroque castle, a 72m church tower, and the ČEZ ice hockey stadium where NHL star Jaromír Jágr began his career.
Kladno, 17 kilometers northwest of Prague, is Central Bohemia's largest city. You'll find an 18th-century Baroque castle with art exhibitions, watch professional ice hockey at ČEZ Stadion, and walk through streets lined with industrial-era architecture. The city's most recognizable landmarks include the Neo-Romanesque Church of the Assumption with its 72-meter tower and the Baroque Chapel of Saint Florian with its distinctive octagonal design.
Getting Around Kladno
You can walk across most of Kladno on flat terrain, with elevation changing only in the northern areas. Many residents commute to Prague by car, as buses and trains run infrequently between the cities. The city's new network of walking paths connects residential areas with shops and public spaces, while electric buses now serve several local routes.
Ice Hockey at ČEZ Stadion
Watch Rytíři Kladno play home games at the 5,200-capacity ČEZ Stadion from September to March. NHL legend Jaromír Jágr, who became the team's majority owner in 2011, started his career here. During NHL lockouts in 1994, 2004, and 2012, Jágr returned to play for his hometown team.
Kladno Castle and Square
Visit the castle museum to see regional history exhibits and art collections inside this 1740 Baroque building. Walk to nearby Starosty Pavla Square to see the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, built in 1897-1899. Its 72-meter tower dominates the city skyline.
Modern Industry
Steel mills, machine shops, and bicycle factories shape Kladno's economy today. Look for industrial influences in the city's architecture and public art, including the large spherical 'Kladenská koule' sculpture in the city center. The city began its industrial development in 1842 when coal mining started in the region.
Religious Buildings
Visit the 1884 Neo-Renaissance synagogue, now a Czechoslovak Hussite Church. The Chapel of Saint Florian, completed in the 1730s, shows architect K. I. Dietzenhofer's mastery of Baroque design with its octagonal floor plan and detailed interior decorations.
Nearby Attractions
Walk through the Lidice Memorial, three miles from Kladno, where 82 bronze statues of children commemorate victims of a World War II massacre. In the surrounding district, you can explore the medieval stone church at Budeč and visit the tomb of Czechoslovakia's first president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, in Lány.
