Osek (Strakonice District)

Osek
Municipality
Centre of Osek
Flag Coat of arms
Osek Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°19′6″N13°57′48″E / 49.31833°N 13.96333°E / 49.31833; 13.96333
Country	Czech Republic
Region	South Bohemian
District	Strakonice
First mentioned	1392
Area
• Total	13.92 km2 (5.37 sq mi)
Elevation	450 m (1,480 ft)
Population  (2024-01-01) [1]
• Total	647
• Density	46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	386 01
Website	www.obec-osek.cz

Osek (German : Ossek) is a municipality and village in Strakonice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 600 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

The villages of Jemnice, Malá Turná, Petrovice and Rohozná are administrative parts of Osek.

Etymology

Osek is a common Czech toponymy. The word osek denotes a cut trunk and it also could mean a cut forest. ^[2]

Geography

Osek is located about 7 kilometres (4 mi) northeast of Strakonice and 52 km (32 mi) northwest of České Budějovice. It lies in the Blatná Uplands. The highest point is a hill at 506 m (1,660 ft) above sea level. There are several fishponds in the municipality; the largest of them are Velký and Bašta. The ponds are supplied by the stream Petrovický potok.

History

The first written mention of Osek is from 1392, then known as Vosek or Wossek. It was probably founded in the second half of the 14th century. The village began to grow around the lord's court, on which a fortress was probably built before 1414. Osek was acquired by King Wenceslaus IV as escheat. He divided it among his minions. ^[3]

Until World War I, the villages of Osek, Petrovice, Malá Turná and Rohozná were administrative parts of the municipality of Radomyšl, and Jemnice was a sovereign municipality. Shortly before World War I, the villages separated and created a new municipality. In 1924, Osek was renamed to its current name. ^[3] In 1961, Jemnice joined the Osek municipality. ^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 1,100 —     1880 1,104 +0.4% 1890 1,040 −5.8% 1900 1,039 −0.1% 1910 916 −11.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 956 +4.4% 1930 847 −11.4% 1950 680 −19.7% 1961 779 +14.6% 1970 724 −7.1%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 696 −3.9% 1991 665 −4.5% 2001 600 −9.8% 2011 649 +8.2% 2021 665 +2.5%
Source: Censuses [5] [6]

Transport

The I/4 road (the section from Strakonice to Příbram) passes through the municipality.

The railway line Strakonice–Blatná runs through the municipality, but there is no train station. The municipality is served by the station in neighbouring Radomyšl.

Sights

Osek Castle

The most important monument is the Osek Castle. The fortress from the 15th century was completely rebuilt into the current pseudo-Baroque castle in 1911. It has valuable interiors. Today it serves as a home for people with disabilities. Next to the castle is a park founded in the early 20th century. ^[7]

References

1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
2. Profous, Antonín (1951). Místní jména v Čechách III: M–Ř (in Czech). p. 289.
3. "Historie" (in Czech). Obec Osek. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
4. "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky - 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. p. 207. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
5. "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.
6. "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
7. "Zámek" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-07-01.

External links

• Official website