Kadan - Introduction and Lesser Town
As I mentioned before the next few updates will be about another splendid city within the Empire: Kadan. But before we'll have a look at the actual city just a few facts.
Kadan is the capital city of the Slavonian Kingdom, one of the constituent states of the Illyrian Empire (see CJ intro). It came into being in 1523 when three neighbouring cities and two towns joined to form what was then the largest city in the Illyrian Empire. The three cities and the towns continued to be distinct districts within the new city and still make up the city centre of Kadan today. Here's an overview:
- Old Town: founded in the Xth century, granted city rights in 1232. Until 1523 the most important of the three cities of Kadan. Nowadays it is the second largest district within the old part of Kadan.
- New Town: founded and granted city rights in 1348. The largest of the city centre's districts.
- Lesser Town: founded in the XIIth century beneath the royal residence (castle) of Kadan. City rights in 1257.
- Castle district (originally: Castle Town): founded in the XIIIth century to the west of the castle. The present districts also contains the Royal Castle, the official residence of the Slavonian Kings until the unification of the Empire.
- High Castle district: founded as a royal castle and a small town surrounding it in the IXth century; later property of the Cathedral Chapter of the Old Town of Kadan.
Today, Kadan has around 1,300,000 inhabitants and remains the most important city within the Slavonian Kingdom.
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In this first entry on Kadan, we'll have a closer look at the Lesser Town. The Lesser Town is the best preserved part of the city centre, since large parts of the other districts were demolished in the XIXth and XXth century (progress...
). It is situated beneath the Royal Castle (we'll have a look at it in one of the next entries 
).
First up is the main square of the Lesser Town. Some important buildings are located here: the Church of st. Nicolas, the Harant Palace (once owned by a rich noble family; now the Senate building of Slavonia) on top and the former City Hall of the Lesser Town to the right, rebuilt in the XVIIth century. At the bottom of the pic are the churches of st. Thomas (right) and of st. Joseph (left; part of a monastery).
Next stop is the Kinsky Palace (other well known noble family in Slavonia); built in the XVIIth century. The building is now in use as the Parliament of Slavonia. On top a part of the castle terraces is still visible. At the bottom part of the gardens of st. Josephs monastery are visible.
Just to the southeast of Kinsky Palace is the so-called Old Bridge, connecting the Lesser Town with the Old Town. The present bridge dates from the late XVIIth century, but was preceded by two older bridges (from the XIIth and XIVth century, respectively). The bridge runs across one of a few small islands that are located in the river that flows through Kadan.
Moving towards the west we come across the western part of the Lesser Town. This part borders a fairly large forest, which is still enclosed by extensive city walls. As this part of the Lesser Town served no function it remained open until the present day. Located here is the church of st. Charles Boromaeus, last survivor of an extensive monastery which was destroyed in 1618. The houses on top of the pic belong to the Castle District.
Somewhat to the east of the former pic we find several palaces (bottom) and the church of st. Norbert. Behind this small church are the so-called New Castle stairs leading up to the Castle District and the Royal Castle (the Old Castle stairs are located to the east of the Lesser Town).
The southern part of the Lesser Town is occupied by the very large monastery of st. Theresa. The small church at the bottom is dedicated to st. John the Baptist.
Inbetween the Lesser Town square and the monastery of st. Theresa are many old houses and some palaces. In the centre the church of the Virgin Mary under the Chain. To the left the church of Our Lady Victorious. On top the Kinsky Palace which we've already visited.
Just a different view of the same area as the previous pic.......
Finally,two overviews. Visible here the entire Lesser Town: on top the forest, bottom right the Kinsky Palace, bottom the island and to the left the Monastery of st. Theresa. Also visible here a cablelift leading up the hill (top left).
Last pic.... Hope you've enjoyed the tour again and thanks for visiting!!! Remember: several entries on Kadan will follow.
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