Častolovice

Častolovice
Aerial view
Aerial view
Flag of Častolovice
Coat of arms of Častolovice
Častolovice is located in Czech Republic
Častolovice
Častolovice
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°7′58″N 16°10′44″E / 50.13278°N 16.17889°E / 50.13278; 16.17889
Country Czech Republic
RegionHradec Králové
DistrictRychnov nad Kněžnou
First mentioned1342
Area
 • Total5.62 km2 (2.17 sq mi)
Elevation
268 m (879 ft)
Population
 (2024-01-01)[1]
 • Total1,725
 • Density310/km2 (790/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
517 50
Websitewww.ou-castolovice.cz

Častolovice (German: Tschastolowitz) is a market town in Rychnov nad Kněžnou District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,700 inhabitants.

Etymology[edit]

The name is derived from the personal name Častolov, meaning "the village of Častolov's people".[2]

Geography[edit]

Častolovice is located about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of Hradec Králové. It lies in the Orlice Table. The highest point is at 320 m (1,050 ft) above sea level. The market town is situated on the Bělá River, near its confluence with the Divoká Orlice. The Divoká Orlice forms the southern municipal border.

History[edit]

Around 1280, a Gothic fortress was built here by a noble family, later named Lords of Častolovice. The first written mention of Častolovice is from 1342, when the village was promoted to a market town by King John of Bohemia.[3] Between 1588 and 1615, the fortress was rebuilt into a Renaissance castle. From 1694 until World War II, Častolovice was owned by the Sternberg family. In 1992, the castle was returned to the family.[4]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18691,049—    
18801,156+10.2%
18901,240+7.3%
19001,324+6.8%
19101,511+14.1%
YearPop.±%
19211,393−7.8%
19301,464+5.1%
19501,275−12.9%
19611,373+7.7%
19701,315−4.2%
YearPop.±%
19801,415+7.6%
19911,438+1.6%
20011,618+12.5%
20111,655+2.3%
20211,671+1.0%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Transport[edit]

Častolovice Castle

Častolovice is located on the railway lines Hradec Králové–Letohrad and Rychnov nad Kněžnou–Choceň.[7]

Sights[edit]

Church of Saint Vitus

The main sight of Častolovice is the Častolovice Castle. The castle is open to the public and includes a mini-zoo and an English park with a game park.[8]

The Church of Saint Vitus is a Baroque building. It replaced an old Gothic church, first mentioned in 1356. Some elements of the original church are preserved in the present building.[9]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. ^ Profous, Antonín (1947). Místní jména v Čechách I: A–H (in Czech). pp. 301–302.
  3. ^ "Počátky osídlování" (in Czech). Spolek přátel Častolovic. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  4. ^ "Castle". Častolovice Castle. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  5. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Rychnov nad Kněžnou" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 3–4.
  6. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  7. ^ "Detail stanice Častolovice" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  8. ^ "Park". Častolovice Castle. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  9. ^ "Kostel sv. Víta v Častolovicích" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2021-09-18.

External links[edit]