Choceň (; german: Chotzen) is a town in

Ústí nad Orlicí District Ústí nad Orlicí District ( cs, okres Ústí nad Orlicí) is a district (''okres'') within Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Ústí nad Orlicí. The district has borders with Pardubice District to the west, Sv ...

in the

Pardubice Region Pardubice Region ( cs, Pardubický kraj; , ; pl, Kraj pardubicki) is an administrative unit ( cs, kraj) of the Czech Republic, located mainly in the eastern part of its historical region of Bohemia, with a small part in northwestern Moravia. It ...

of the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

. It has about 8,500 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

Villages of Březenice, Dvořisko, Hemže, Nová Ves, Plchůvky and Podrážek are administrative parts of Choceň. Nová Ves and Plchůvky form an

exclave An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...

of the municipal territory.

Geography

Choceň is located about west of

Ústí nad Orlicí Ústí nad Orlicí (; german: Wildenschwert) is a town in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 14,000 inhabitants. The town lies in the Orlické Mountains on the confluence of the rivers Tichá Orlice and Třebovka. The town ce ...

and east of

Pardubice Pardubice (; german: Pardubitz) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 89,000 inhabitants. It is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the Elbe River. The historic centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monu ...

. It lies in the

Orlice Table Orlice (german: Adler) is a river in the Czech Republic. It is tributary of the Labe (''Elbe'') river, which it enters in the city of Hradec Králové. Its main tributaries are Divoká Orlice and Tichá Orlice. Part of the Divoká Orlice acts as t ...

. The

Tichá Orlice Tichá is a municipality and village in Nový Jičín District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,900 inhabitants. It lies in the Moravian-Silesian Foothills Moravian-Silesian Foothills ( cz, Podbeskydská paho ...

river flows through the town.

History

The first written mention of Choceň is from 1227. In 1292, it was already a

market town A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rural ...

and was owned by King

Wenceslaus II Wenceslaus II Přemyslid ( cs, Václav II.; pl, Wacław II Czeski; 27 SeptemberK. Charvátová, ''Václav II. Král český a polský'', Prague 2007, p. 18. 1271 – 21 June 1305) was King of Bohemia (1278–1305), Duke of Cracow (1291–1 ...

. In the early 14th century, it was acquired by Mikuláš of Potštejn, who founded a castle here. Mikuláš undertook marauding expeditions to the surrounding area. In 1339, the army of Charles IV conquered Choceň, demolished the castle and killed Mikuláš. During next centuries, Choceň often changed owners. During the rule of Zikmund of Šelmberk, the town experienced a boom. He had a castle with a large courtyard built here in 1562. The next boom was during the rule of

Kinsky The House of Kinsky (formerly Vchynští, sg. ''Vchynský'' in Czech; later (in modern Czech) Kinští, sg. ''Kinský''; german: Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau) is a prominent Czech noble family originating from the Kingdom of Bohemia. During the ...

family in the 18th century. Several architectionally valuable Baroque building were built here, including the new Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, the rectory and the belfry. In 1829, the castle was rebuilt to its current Neoclassical form. In 1845, the railway from

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...

Olomouc Olomouc (, , ; german: Olmütz; pl, Ołomuniec ; la, Olomucium or ''Iuliomontium'') is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 99,000 inhabitants, and its larger urban zone has a population of about 384,000 inhabitants (2019). Located on th ...

via Choceň was built. In 1875 and 1881 the railways to Broumov and

Litomyšl Litomyšl (; german: Leitomischl) is a town in Svitavy District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 9,900 inhabitants. It is former bishopric and Latin Catholic titular see. Litomyšl is known for the château-type castle c ...

were built and Choceň became an important railway junction.

Demographics

Economy

Since 1928, there is a significant

dairy A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting or processing (or both) of animal milk – mostly from cows or buffaloes, but also from goats, sheep, horses, or camels – for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on ...

company ''Choceňská mlékárna'' in the town.

Transport

Choceň is situated on a main railway link between Prague,

and

Brno Brno ( , ; german: Brünn ) is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava and Svratka rivers, Brno has about 380,000 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in the Czech Republic ...

, and is served by

Choceň railway station Choceň ( cz, Nádraží Choceň) is a railway station located in Choceň, Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria t ...

Notable people

Wenzel Thomas Matiegka Wenzel Thomas Matiegka (Czech: ''Václav Tomáš Matějka''; baptized 6 July 1773 – 19 January 1830) was a Czech composer and one of the most celebrated guitarists of the 19th century. Life Wenzel Thomas Matiegka was born in the town of Choceň ...

(1773–1830), composer *

Ulrich, 10th Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau Ulrich, 10th Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau (german: Ulrich Ferdinand Adolf Antonius Bonaventura Maria Fürst Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau; 15 August 189319 December 1938) was the titular pretender House of Kinsky#Princes Kinsky of Wchinit ...

(1893–1938), nobleman *

Richard Rychtarik Waslav Richard Rychtarik (July 20, 1894 — July 10, 1982"Richard Rychtarik, 87, Designer of Stage Sets," ''New York Times'' (July 12, 1982), page A12.) was a Czech-born American set and costume designer. His significance was in his efforts to bring ...

(1894–1982), Czech-American set and costume designer *

Leoš Šimánek Leoš Šimánek (born 19 April 1946) is a Czech traveler. He was born in Choceň, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). He studied civil engineering and left communist Czechoslovakia in 1968. He settled in Germany where he worked in the constr ...

(born 1946), traveler and writer *

František Sisr Frantisek Sisr (born 17 March 1993) is a Czech former professional cyclist, who rode professionally between 2012 and 2020 for the , , and teams. He competed in the team pursuit event at the 2013 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, and won the ...

(born 1993), cyclist

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chocen Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Ústí nad Orlicí District