Úvaly is a town in Prague-East District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 7,500 inhabitants.

Etymology

The name means 'valleys' in Czech. It was originally used in the singular, but was gradually changed to the plural.

Geography

Úvaly is located about 15 km east of the centre of Prague. It lies in the Prague Plateau. The highest point is at 298 m above sea level. The Výmola stream flows through the town. There are several small fishponds in the municipal territory.

History

The first written mention of Úvaly is from 1290. The settlement lied on the important trade route Prague–Český Brod–Kutná Hora, which helped to its growth. In 1654 it was first mentioned as a market town. In 1845, the railway Prague–Olomouc via Úvaly was built, and the population of Úvaly grew up from hundreds to thousands. In 1969, Úvaly became a town.

Demographics

Transport

The I/12 road from Prague to Kolín passes through the town. Úvaly is located on the railway line Prague–Kolín.

Sights

The main landmark is the Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. It was built on the site of a chapel founded in 1342. A valuable technical monument is the Úvaly Railway Bridge. It was built in 1844–1845 and was part of the first steam railway in Bohemia, which connected Prague and Olomouc in 1842–1845.

Notable people

Music group Divokej Bill was founded here.