Železnice (German: Eisenstadtel) is a town in Jičín District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,400 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Železnice
Svobody Square with the town hall
Svobody Square with the town hall
Flag of Železnice
Coat of arms of Železnice
Železnice is located in Czech Republic
Železnice
Železnice
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°28′22″N 15°23′5″E / 50.47278°N 15.38472°E / 50.47278; 15.38472
Country Czech Republic
RegionHradec Králové
DistrictJičín
First mentioned1318
Government
 • MayorDana Kracíková
Area
 • Total13.09 km2 (5.05 sq mi)
Elevation
321 m (1,053 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total1,351
 • Density100/km2 (270/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
507 13
Websitewww.zeleznice.net

Administrative parts edit

The villages of Březka, Cidlina, Doubravice, Pekloves, Těšín and Zámezí are administrative parts of Železnice.

Etymology edit

The name is derived from the Czech adjective železná, meaning 'iron'. The word železnice also means 'railway' in modern Czech.[2]

Geography edit

Železnice is located about 4 km (2 mi) north of Jičín and 42 km (26 mi) northwest of Hradec Králové. It lies mostly in the Jičín Uplands. The northern part of the municipal territory belongs to the Ještěd–Kozákov Ridge and includes the highest point of Železnice, the hill Hůra at 519 m (1,703 ft) above sea level. The Cidlina River flows through the rural part of the territory. There are several small fishponds around the town.

History edit

The first written mention of Železnice is from 1318. In 1514, it was referred to as a market town, and probably in 1599, it was promoted to a town. In 1788 and 1826, the town was badly damaged by large fires. In 1903, the railway through Železnice was built.[3]

Demographics edit

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18692,439—    
18802,449+0.4%
18902,348−4.1%
19002,156−8.2%
19102,065−4.2%
YearPop.±%
19211,892−8.4%
19301,738−8.1%
19501,427−17.9%
19611,486+4.1%
19701,352−9.0%
YearPop.±%
19801,195−11.6%
19911,109−7.2%
20011,098−1.0%
20111,279+16.5%
20211,304+2.0%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Transport edit

Železnice is located on the railway line Hradec KrálovéTurnov.[6]

Sights edit

 
Church of Saint Giles

After the fire in 1826, the town buildings in the historic centre were restored in a unified Neoclassical style. This buildings has mostly been preserved to this day and forms a unique urban complex. The town hall was built in 1826.[7]

The Church of Saint Giles was built on the site of an old Romanesque church from the 13th century after it was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War, and rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1727–1739.[7]

Notable people edit

Twin towns – sister cities edit

Železnice is twinned with:[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. ^ Profous, Antonín (1957). Místní jména v Čechách IV: S–Ž (in Czech). pp. 827–828.
  3. ^ "Historie města" (in Czech). Město Železnice. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  4. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Jičín" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 21–22.
  5. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  6. ^ "Detail stanice Železnice" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  7. ^ a b "Památky" (in Czech). Město Železnice. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  8. ^ "Partnerské město" (in Czech). Město Železnice. Retrieved 2023-12-05.

External links edit