Pecka

Pecka
Market town
View of Pecka
View of Pecka
Flag of Pecka
Flag
Coat of arms of Pecka
Coat of arms
Pecka is located in Czech Republic
Pecka
Pecka
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°29′54″N 15°36′27″E / 50.49833°N 15.60750°E / 50.49833; 15.60750
Country Czech Republic
RegionHradec Králové
DistrictJičín
First mentioned1322
Area
 • Total
23.03 km2 (8.89 sq mi)
Elevation
407 m (1,335 ft)
Population
 (2026-01-01)
 • Total
1,273
 • Density55.28/km2 (143.2/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
507 82
Websitewww.mestys-pecka.cz

Pecka (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpɛtska]) is a market town in Jičín District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,300 inhabitants. The market town is located in the hilly landscape of the Giant Mountains Foothills and is known for the ruin of the Pecka Castle. The historic town centre with the castle ruin is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone.

Administrative division

Pecka consists of eight municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):

Etymology

The name Pecka means 'fruitstone' in Czech. It was originally the name of the local castle and referred to the solidity of the castle.

Geography

Pecka is located about 18 kilometres (11 mi) east of Jičín and 33 km (21 mi) northwest of Hradec Králové. It lies in a hilly landscape in the Giant Mountains Foothills. The highest point is the hill Červený vrch at 541 m (1,775 ft) above sea level. The Javorka River flows next to the market town.

History

The Pecka Castle was founded in the early 13th century. The first written mention of Pecka is from 1322, when a settlement started to grow below the castle. In 1382, it was promoted to a town. In the late 16th century, the Gothic castle was rebuilt to a Renaissance residence. The most famous owner of the castle was Kryštof Harant until his death in 1621. In 1830, the castle was burned down and turned into a ruin.

Demographics

Transport

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

Sights

Pecka Castle

The Pecka Castle is open to the public and contains several expositions.

The Church of Saint Bartholomew was built by the Carthusians in 1751–1753, when it replaced an old stone church from 1603.

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 (1951). Místní jména v Čechách III: M–Ř (in Czech). p. 332.
  4. ↑ "Historie městečka Pecka" (in Czech). Městys Pecka. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  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. ↑ "Prohlídkové okruhy" (in Czech). Pecka Castle. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  8. ↑ "Kulturní památky" (in Czech). Městys Pecka. Retrieved 2021-09-14.