The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Poděbrady consists of nine municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):[2] An ancient community and a small fortress originated near the ford.

[5] A long-distance trade route running from Prague to eastern Bohemia and then on to Silesia and Poland passed through the then-forested landscape interwoven with a dense network of river branches.

This important communication intersected the Elbe River to the west of the present town, at a place called Na Vinici.

The place has become a popular destination for rulers due to its proximityto Prague and the possibility of hunting in local forests.

[3] During the reign of Ferdinand I, Poděbrady flourished further, however in the 17th century, the town suffered from Thirty Years' War and fires.

The biggest fire hit Poděbrady in 1681, when the town hall and most of the wooden houses completely burned down.

[3] A historic milestone of the history of the town was the year 1905, when it was visited by the German estate owner Prince von Bülow.

This well-known water diviner marked the place of a strong spring in the castle's inner courtyard, which was later bored to a depth of 97.6 metres (320 ft).

[13] A significant element of the square is the Monument of King George with his equestrian statue, created in the Neo-Renaissance style in 1890–1896 according to the design by Bohuslav Schnirch.

It is one of the oldest locks in the Middle Elbe and at the same time a valuable example of technological and operational solutions for this type of waterworks.