Kestřany is a municipality and village in Písek District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 800 inhabitants.

Kestřany
Horní Fortress
Horní Fortress
Flag of Kestřany
Coat of arms of Kestřany
Kestřany is located in Czech Republic
Kestřany
Kestřany
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°16′9″N 14°4′21″E / 49.26917°N 14.07250°E / 49.26917; 14.07250
Country Czech Republic
RegionSouth Bohemian
DistrictPísek
First mentioned1338
Area
 • Total20.10 km2 (7.76 sq mi)
Elevation
373 m (1,224 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total764
 • Density38/km2 (98/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
398 21
Websitewww.kestrany-pisecko.cz

Administrative parts edit

 
Church of Saint Catherine

The villages of Lhota u Kestřan and Zátaví are administrative parts of Kestřany.

Etymology edit

The name Kestřany is probably derived from Kestra, which was the name of the first settler. His name has origin in kostra, meaning "skeleton".[2]

Geography edit

Kestřany is located about 6 kilometres (4 mi) southwest of Písek and 42 km (26 mi) northwest of České Budějovice. The southwestern part of the municipal territory with the Kestřany village lies České Budějovice Basin, the northeastern part lies in the Tábor Uplands.

The Otava River flows through the municipality. The territory is rich in fishponds. The largest pond is Řežabinec, a part of the Řežabinec a Řežabinecké tůně National Nature Monument.

Climate edit

Climate data for Kestřany
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.2
(31.6)
0.3
(32.5)
4.4
(39.9)
10.5
(50.9)
14.4
(57.9)
18.0
(64.4)
19.9
(67.8)
18.7
(65.7)
14.8
(58.6)
9.3
(48.7)
4.8
(40.6)
0.7
(33.3)
9.6
(49.3)
Source: [3]

History edit

The first written mention of the Horní Fortress is from 1315. The first written mention of Kestřany is from 1338.[4]

Demographics edit

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1869961—    
18801,052+9.5%
18901,012−3.8%
19001,025+1.3%
1910944−7.9%
YearPop.±%
1921957+1.4%
1930874−8.7%
1950722−17.4%
1961729+1.0%
1970657−9.9%
YearPop.±%
1980600−8.7%
1991617+2.8%
2001641+3.9%
2011678+5.8%
2021733+8.1%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Sights edit

 
Dolní Fortress

Kestřany is known for a complex of two gothic fortresses and one early baroque castle. The fortresses were built in the 13th century and the castle was added in 1651. Only the Horní Fortress is open to the public, but these monuments are gradually repaired and their opening is planned for the future.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. ^ "Původ názvu Kestřany" (in Czech). Obec Kestřany. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  3. ^ "PV potential estimation utility". Photovoltaic Geographical Information System - Interactive Maps. Archived from the original on 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  4. ^ "Horní tvrz Kestřany" (in Czech). Obec Kestřany. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  5. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Písek" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 5–6.
  6. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  7. ^ "Horní tvrz Kestřany" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2022-08-31.

External links edit