Svojanov

Last updated
Svojanov
Svojanov (Swojanow) - pohled z hradu.jpg
Svojanov as seen from the Svojanov Castle
Svojanov flag CZ.svg
Svojanov CoA CZ.svg
Relief Map of Czech Republic.png
Red pog.svg
Svojanov
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°37′29″N16°24′37″E / 49.62472°N 16.41028°E / 49.62472; 16.41028
CountryFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
Region Pardubice
District Svitavy
First mentioned1287
Area
  Total
13.89 km2 (5.36 sq mi)
Elevation
460 m (1,510 ft)
Population
 (2025-01-01) [1]
  Total
355
  Density26/km2 (66/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal codes
569 73, 569 92
Website mestyssvojanov.cz

Svojanov is a market town in Svitavy District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 400 inhabitants.

Contents

Administrative division

Svojanov consists of six municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): [2]

Geography

Svojanov is located about 15 kilometres (9 mi) south of Svitavy and 63 km (39 mi) southeast of Pardubice. It lies on the border between the Upper Svratka Highlands and Svitavy Uplands. The highest point is at 623 metres (2,044 ft) above sea level. The market town is situated in the valley of the Křetínka River.

History

The Svojanov Castle (called Fürstenberg until 1320) was built in the 1260s. [3] During the reign of King Ottokar II, it was used for protection of the trade route from Bohemia to Moravia. The first written mention of the settlement of Svojanov, located below the castle, is from 1287. It was then owned by Záviš of Falkenstein, who had the small fortress extended into a big Gothic castle. The village of Starý Svojanov ("Old Svojanov") was founded in the 13th century and supposedly is the oldest part of today's municipality. [4]

In 1421, Svojanov was besieged by Jan Žižka and between 1642 and 1645, the market town was occupied by the Swedish army. In December 1798, the Russian legions marched through Svojanov to fight against Napoleon. [4]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18691,626    
18801,779+9.4%
18901,958+10.1%
19002,028+3.6%
19102,079+2.5%
YearPop.±%
19211,683−19.0%
19301,657−1.5%
1950998−39.8%
19611,011+1.3%
1970811−19.8%
YearPop.±%
1980611−24.7%
1991486−20.5%
2001412−15.2%
2011375−9.0%
2021376+0.3%
Source: Censuses [5] [6]

Transport

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipal territory.

Sights

Svojanov Castle 8-hrad Svojanov ze zahrady.jpg
Svojanov Castle

Svojanov Castle, built in the early Gothic style, is one of the oldest stone castles in the country. In the 15th century, it was fortified. Since 1910, it has been owned by the town of Polička. The castle complex was expanded in the 16th century to include a Renaissance palace and other buildings. After the 1842 fire, the palace was rebuilt in the Empire style. The castle ruins and the Empire palace are open to the public and often are used for cultural purposes. [3] [7]

An interesting sight is the Church of Saint Nicholas with a 13th-century chancel and fresco decoration which dates back to the period of King Charles IV. [4]

References

  1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2025". Czech Statistical Office. 2025-05-16.
  2. "Public Census 2021 – basic data". Public Database (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Hrad Svojanov" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  4. 1 2 3 "Historie" (in Czech). Městys Svojanov. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  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. "Hrad Svojanov" (in Czech). Město Polička. Retrieved 2021-10-17.