Kostelec nad Orlicí (; german: Adlerkosteletz) is a town in Rychnov nad Kněžnou District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 6,100 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

Villages of Koryta, Kostelecká Lhota and Kozodry are administrative parts of Kostelec nad Orlicí.

Etymology

The name Kostelec means "fortified church". In 1568, the attribute ''nad Orlicí'' ("upon the orlice river") was added to distinguish it from other places with the same name.

Geography

Kostelec nad Orlicí is located about southwest of Rychnov nad Kněžnou and southeast of Hradec Králové. It lies in the Orlice Table. The town is situated on the Divoká Orlice river.

History

The first written mention of Kostelec nad Orlicí is from 1316, when there was a fortified church. In 1341, it was referred to as a market town for the first time. Until the 17th century, it was part of the

Potštejn Potštejn (german: Pottenstein) is a municipality and village in Rychnov nad Kněžnou District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,000 inhabitants. Administrative parts The village of Brná is an administrative pa ...

estate and shared its destinies and owners. In 1454, the estate was bought by King George of Poděbrady, who gave the town its coat of arms. The next owners were the

Pernštejn family The Pernštejn (german: Pernstein) was one of the seven Moravian dynasty families and the most important (uradel) family originating from Moravian nobility. The first mentioned member of House of Pernštejn lived in the 13th century. They took th ...

, and from 1558, the Hrzán of Harasov family. During their rule, Kostelec na Orlicí acquired many privileges. In 1629, the Potštejn estate was sold to the Belgian family of Gramb. Kašpar of Gramb bequeathed all his properties to the

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

college in Prague, but in 1667 Kostelec was acquired by Václav Záruba of Hustířany (the husband of Františka of Gramb), who won the court case. From 1746, Kostelec and Potštejn ceased to have the same owners. In 1796, Kostelec was bought by Josef Kinsky, and his family were the last owners of the town until it gained self-government.

Demographics

Sights

The principal landmark of the town is the New Kostelec nad Orlicí Castle. It was built in the Empire style in 1829–1833 for the Kinsky family. Following its return to the ownership of the Kinsky family in 1992, it was restored and opened to the public. The building houses the Kinsky Gallery and an exhibition of the history of the town. The castle complex includes a large park, which is protected as a nature reserve. The Old Castle was originally a Renaissance fortress built before 1620 and reconstructed in 1668 and 1770. After the New Castle was built, it was transformed into a manor house and served the needs of officials. Existence of the Church of Saint George is first documented in 1323. In 1769–1773, the Gothic church was replaced by the current late Baroque building.

Notable people

* František Tůma (1704–1774), Baroque composer *

Egon Ledeč Egon Ledeč (16 March 1889, Kostelec nad Orlicí – October 1944, Auschwitz) was a Czechoslovak violinist and composer of Jewish origin. Ledeč was one of the artists sent to Theresienstadt and is shown as concertmaster in Karel Ančerl’s orche ...

(1889–1944), violinist and composer

Twin towns – sister cities

Kostelec nad Orlicí is

twinned Twinning (making a twin of) may refer to: * In biology and agriculture, producing two offspring (i.e., twins) at a time, or having a tendency to do so; * Twin towns and sister cities, towns and cities involved in town twinning * Twinning inst ...

with: * Bielawa, Poland *

Myjava Myjava (; historically also Miava, german: Miawa, hu, Miava) is a town in Trenčín Region, Slovakia. Geography It is located in the Myjava Hills at the foothills of the White Carpathians and nearby the Little Carpathians. The river Myjava f ...

, Slovakia * Zeulenroda-Triebes, Germany

Gallery

Kostelec nad Orlicí, stará radnice Dm470586-2308 IMG 6706 2018-08-05 13.07.jpg, Town hall Kostelec nad Orlicí-starý zámek1.jpg, Old Castle Kostelec_nad_Orlicí_-_Marian_Plaque_Column.jpg, Marian column Kostelec_nad_Orlicí_-_St._George's_Church.jpg, Church of Saint George

References

External links

*
Official tourist portalNew Kostelec nad Orlicí Castle
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kostelec nad Orlici Populated places in Rychnov nad Kněžnou District Cities and towns in the Czech Republic