Kájov () is a municipality and village in

Český Krumlov District Český Krumlov District () is a Okres, district in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Český Krumlov. Administrative division Český Krumlov District is divided into two Districts of the Czech Republic#M ...

in the

South Bohemian Region The South Bohemian Region () is an administrative unit (''Regions of the Czech Republic, kraj'') of the Czech Republic, located mostly in the southern part of its historical land of Bohemia, with a small part in southwestern Moravia. The western ...

of the

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

. It has about 2,000 inhabitants.

Administrative division

Kájov consists of ten municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): *Kájov (1,062) *Boletice (77) *Kladenské Rovné (55) *Kladné (136) *Křenov (153) *Lazec (22) *Mezipotočí (63) *Novosedly (121) *Přelštice (26) *Staré Dobrkovice (193)

Etymology

The name is derived from the personal name Kája, meaning "Kája's (court)".

Geography

Kájov is located about west of

Český Krumlov Český Krumlov (; , ''Böhmisch Krumau'') is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 13,000 inhabitants. It is known as a tourist centre, which is among the most visited places in the country. The historic centre ...

and southwest of

České Budějovice České Budějovice (; ) is a city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 97,000 inhabitants. The city is located in the valley of the Vltava River, at its confluence with the Malše. České Budějovice is the largest ...

. It lies in the

Bohemian Forest Foothills Bohemian or Bohemians may refer to: *Anything of or relating to Bohemia Culture and arts * Bohemianism, an unconventional lifestyle, originally practised by 19th–20th century European and American artists and writers. * Bohemian style, a fa ...

. The highest point is near the top of the

Kleť Kleť () is a mountain in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It rises above sea level. Location Kleť is the second highest mountain in the Bohemian Forest Foothills and the highest mountain of the Blanský les Protected Landscap ...

mountain at above sea level. The Polečnice Stream flows across the municipality. The village of Kájov is situated at its the confluence with the stream Chvalšinský potok. The northern part of the municipal territory lies within the Blanský les Protected Landscape Area.

History

The first written mention of Kájov, Kladné and Křenov is from 1263, when King Ottokar II donated them to the newly established monastery in Zlatá Koruna. Other villages of the municipality were first documented between 1300 and 1470. Kájov was a property of the monastery until 1785, when the monastery was abolished. From 1785, it belonged to the

estate.

Demographics

Transport

The I/39 road (the section from

Volary Volary (; ) is a town in Prachatice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,700 inhabitants. It is located in the Bohemian Forest, close to the border with Germany. An area in the northern part of the town with t ...

) passes through the municipality. Kájov is located on the railway line

– Nové Údolí.

Culture

Kájov is known for the tradition of Marian

pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...

s, which began here in the second half of the 17th century. During the first half of the 18th century, 40,000 people took part in the pilgrimage. The tradition of the pilgrimage continues to this day and is held every year in October.

Sights

The main landmark of Kájov and one of the most important historical monuments in the region is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It is a significant example of medieval sacral architecture. The church and rectory were founded between 1263 and 1340. In 1474–1485, the building of the church was replaced by the current one, built in the late Gothic style. Various modifications and extensions were made in the 17th century. The church stands out for its high artistic quality and stylistic purity. For its value, the complex of the church with the rectory is protected as a national cultural monument. The Church of Saint Nicholas is located in Boletice. It is originally a Romanesque church from the second half of the 12th century. Later it was rebuil in the Gothic and Renaissance styles, but Romanesque tower and perimeter walls of the nave were preserved to this day.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kajov Villages in Český Krumlov District Catholic pilgrimage sites