Choltice

Choltice
Market town
Centre of Choltice
Flag Coat of arms
Choltice Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°59′16″N15°37′10″E / 49.98778°N 15.61944°E / 49.98778; 15.61944
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Pardubice
District	Pardubice
First mentioned	1285
Area
• Total	9.89 km2 (3.82 sq mi)
Elevation	242 m (794 ft)
Population  (2024-01-01) [1]
• Total	1,244
• Density	130/km2 (330/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal codes	533 61, 535 01
Website	www.choltice.cz

Choltice (German : Choltitz) is a market town in Pardubice District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,200 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

The villages of Ledec and Podhorky are administrative parts of Choltice.

Geography

Choltice is located about 12 kilometres (7 mi) southwest of Pardubice. It lies on the border between the Svitavy Uplands and Iron Mountains, within the Polabí region. The Struha Stream flows through the market town. There is a system of fishponds built on the stream.

History

The first written mention of Choltice is in a deed of King Wenceslaus II from 1285. The fortress in Choltice was first documented in 1397. Sometime between 1532 and 1541, the village was promoted to a market town. Until 1623, the owners of Choltice often changed and included various lower noblemen. In 1623, Choltice was acquired by the Thun und Hohenstein family. Except for a short break in 1721–1731, they owned Choltice until the establishment of a sovereign municipality. ^[2]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 1,020 —     1880 1,124 +10.2% 1890 1,105 −1.7% 1900 1,091 −1.3% 1910 1,080 −1.0%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 1,060 −1.9% 1930 1,042 −1.7% 1950 943 −9.5% 1961 978 +3.7% 1970 936 −4.3%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 955 +2.0% 1991 898 −6.0% 2001 909 +1.2% 2011 1,056 +16.2% 2021 1,174 +11.2%
Source: Censuses [3] [4]

Transport

The railway line Přelouč–Heřmanův Městec runs through the municipal territory, however, the train stop named Choltice is located in the territory of neighbouring Svinčany. ^[5]

Sights

Choltice Castle

The main landmark is the Choltice Castle. It was originally a medieval fortress, rebuilt into a Renaissance castle in 1542–1570. In c. 1675–1700, the castle was rebuilt in the early Baroque style. The area with historically valuable buildings includes the Chapel of Saint Romedius, a court of honour with statues, farm facilities, a park and a garden with a gloriette. ^[6] Today the castle is open to the public. ^[7]

A cultural monument is an unusual wooden belfry, built in the Alpine style in 1863 by the Counts of Thun und Hohenstein. ^[8]

In the cemetery is a Neo-Romanesque cemetery chapel that includes the family tomb of the Thun und Hohenstein family. It was built in 1872–1873. ^[9]

Notable people

• Josef Vojtěch Hellich (1807–1880), painter and archaeologist
• Olga Richterová (born 1985), politician; grew up here

References

1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
2. "Historie" (in Czech). Městys Choltice. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
3. "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.
4. "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
5. "Detail stanice Choltice" (in Czech). České dráhy . Retrieved 2024-02-16.
6. "Zámek" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
7. "Prohlídkové okruhy". Choltice Castle (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-02-16.
8. "Zvonice" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
9. "Kaple hřbitovní s hrobkou Thun Hohensteinů" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-16.

External links

• Official website