Choltice

Choltice
Market town
Centre of Choltice
Centre of Choltice
Flag of Choltice
Flag
Coat of arms of Choltice
Coat of arms
Choltice is located in Czech Republic
Choltice
Choltice
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°59′16″N 15°37′10″E / 49.98778°N 15.61944°E / 49.98778; 15.61944
Country Czech Republic
RegionPardubice
DistrictPardubice
First mentioned1285
Area
 • Total
9.89 km2 (3.82 sq mi)
Elevation
242 m (794 ft)
Population
 (2026-01-01)
 • Total
1,244
 • Density126/km2 (326/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal codes
533 61, 535 01
Websitewww.choltice.cz

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

Administrative division

Choltice consists of three municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):

Etymology

The initial name of the village was Choletice. It was derived from the personal name Cholata, meaning "the village of Cholata's people".

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 lesser 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 an independent municipality.

Demographics

Transport

The railway line Přelouč–Heřmanův Městec runs through the municipal territory, however, the train stop named Choltice zastávka is located just behind the municipal border, in the territory of neighbouring Svinčany.

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. Today the castle is open to the public.

A cultural monument is the local wooden belfry. It is an unusual belfry, built in the Alpine style in 1863 by the Counts of Thun und Hohenstein.

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.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "Population in municipalities as at 1. 1". DataStat. Czech Statistical Office. 2026-05-18.
  2. ↑ "Public Census 2021 – basic data". Public Database (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2022.
  3. ↑ Profous, Antonín (1949). Místní jména v Čechách II: CH–L (in Czech). p. 32.
  4. ↑ "Historie" (in Czech). Městys Choltice. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  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. ↑ "Station details Choltice zast" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
  8. ↑ "Zámek" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  9. ↑ "Prohlídkové okruhy". Choltice Castle (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  10. ↑ "Zvonice" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  11. ↑ "Kaple hřbitovní s hrobkou Thun Hohensteinů" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-16.