Kostelec Nad Černými Lesy
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Kostelec nad Černými lesy () is a town in
Prague-East District Prague-East District () is a Okres, district in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is Prague. The most populated town of the district is Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav. Administrative division Prague-East District i ...
in the
Central Bohemian Region The Central Bohemian Region ( ; ) is an administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the central part of its historical region of Bohemia. Its administrative centre is in the Czech capital Prague, which lies in the centre of the regio ...
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 4,200 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone.


Administrative division

Kostelec nad Černými lesy consists of two municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): *Kostelec nad Černými lesy (3,614) *Svatbín (220)


Etymology

The name refers to a fortified church (in Czech ''kostelec''), which was built in a deep (black) forest on the Prague–
Kouřim Kouřim (; ) is a town in Kolín District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone. Administrative division Kouřim ...
route. The name ''Kostelec'' soon evolved to ''Černý Kostelec'' ("Black Kostelec") and in 1920 the name was changed to its current form, meaning "Kostelec upon the Black Forests".


Geography

Kostelec nad Černými lesy is located about east of
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
. It lies in the
Benešov Uplands The Benešov Uplands or Benešov Hills () are uplands and a geomorphological mesoregion of the Czech Republic. It is located mostly in the Central Bohemian Region. It belongs to the largest mesoregions in the country. It is named after Benešov ...
. The highest point is at above sea level.


History

The first written mention of Kostelec is from 1344, when King
John of Bohemia John of Bohemia, also called the Blind or of Luxembourg (; ; ; 10 August 1296 – 26 August 1346), was the Count of Luxembourg from 1313 and King of Bohemia from 1310 and titular King of Poland. He is well known for having died while fighting ...
exchanged the castle and settlement of Kostelec for
Náchod Náchod (; ) is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 20,000 inhabitants. It is known both as a tourist destination and centre of industry. The historic town centre with the castle complex is well preserved and i ...
. During the rule of Lords of Smržov between 1415 and 1492, Kostelec developed, which culminated in 1489, when it was promoted to 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 rura ...
. The greatest prosperity occurred during the rule of the Slavata of Chlum and Košumberk family (1492–1547). From 1558, Kostelec was property of the Smiřický family, who finished reconstruction of the castle and made the Kostelec estate one of the largest in the region. Last member of the Smiřický family died in 1618. In 1621, after the
Battle of White Mountain The Battle of White Mountain (; ) was an important battle in the early stages of the Thirty Years' War. It led to the defeat of the Bohemian Revolt and ensured Habsburg control for the next three hundred years. It was fought on 8 November 16 ...
,
Albrecht von Wallenstein Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein, Duke of Friedland (; 24 September 1583 – 25 February 1634), also von Waldstein (), was a Bohemian military leader and statesman who fought on the Catholic side during the Thirty Years' War (1618–16 ...
acquired the estate, but after two years he sold it to Karl I of Liechtenstein. The
House of Liechtenstein The House of Liechtenstein (), from which the principality takes its name, is the family which reigns by hereditary right over the principality of Liechtenstein. Only Dynasty#Dynast, dynastic members of the family are eligible to inherit the thro ...
owned Kostelec until the establishment of self-government in 1850. The most important for the town was
Princess Maria Theresia of Liechtenstein Princess Maria Theresia of Liechtenstein (Maria Theresia Anna Felicitas; 11 May 1694 – 20 February 1772) was the heiress to the Silesian Duchy of Troppau (now Opava in Czech Republic). Countess of Soissons by marriage, she was the last pe ...
, who ruled the town from 1712 to 1772. During her rule, the town experienced an economic boom and gained the status of the cultural centre of the region. In the second half of the 18th century, Kostelec became known for its pottery workshops. After death of Maria Theresia, Kostelec ceased to be the seat of the Liechtensteins, but remained an economic centre. Forestry and fruit growing were developed.


Demographics


Transport

The I/2 road (the section from Prague to
Kutná Hora Kutná Hora (; ) is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 22,000 inhabitants. The history of Kutná Hora is linked to silver mining, which made it a rich and rapidly developing town. The centre of Kutná Hora, i ...
) passes through the town.


Sights

The Kostelec nad Černými lesy Castle is the main landmark of the town. The castle was first documented in 1348. Until 1549, when it was destroyed by fire, the castle served as a hunting lodge of Emperor Ferdinand I. After 1550, it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. After 1750, baroque modifications were made. Today the castle is owned by
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU; (), ČZU; also Czech University of Agriculture in Prague) is a university of agricultural education and research in Prague, the Czech Republic, established in 1906. History Studies of agricult ...
and is used for social and business purposes. The neighbouring Church of Saint Adalbert is connected with the castle by a covered corridor. The Church of the Holy Guardian Angels is located on the Smiřických Square in the historic centre. It is a Baroque church built in 1735–1737. In 1889–1894, a neo-Baroque prismatic tower was added. Other sights on the square include Pottery Museum and Memorial to
Jan Hus Jan Hus (; ; 1369 – 6 July 1415), sometimes anglicized as John Hus or John Huss, and referred to in historical texts as ''Iohannes Hus'' or ''Johannes Huss'', was a Czechs, Czech theologian and philosopher who became a Church reformer and t ...
and
Jan Žižka Jan Žižka z Trocnova a Kalicha (; 1360 – 11 October 1424) was a Czechs, Czech military leader and Knight who was a contemporary and follower of Jan Hus, and a prominent Radical Hussite who led the Taborites, Taborite faction during the Hu ...
.


Notable people

* Eva Švankmajerová (1940–2005), surrealist artist


Twin towns – sister cities

Kostelec nad Černými lesy is twinned with: *
Mamirolle Mamirolle () is a commune in the Doubs department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions an ...
, France


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kostelec Nad Cernymi Lesy Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Prague-East District