Choustníkovo Hradiště

Choustníkovo Hradiště
Market town
Aerial view
Flag Coat of arms
Choustníkovo Hradiště Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°25′35″N 15°52′43″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Hradec Králové
District	Trutnov
First mentioned	1316
Area
• Total	12.49 km^2 (4.82 sq mi)
Elevation	286 m (938 ft)
Population  (2024-01-01)[1]
• Total	636
• Density	51/km^2 (130/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	544 42
Website	www.choustnikovohradiste.cz

Choustníkovo Hradiště (German: Gradlitz) is a market town in Trutnov District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 600 inhabitants.

Etymology

The village was named after the local castle (hradiště), owned by Heřmaň of Choustník.^[2]

Geography

Choustníkovo Hradiště is located about 15 kilometres (9 mi) south of Trutnov and 24 km (15 mi) north of Hradec Králové. It lies on the border between the Jičín Uplands and Giant Mountains Foothills. The highest point is at 467 m (1,532 ft) above sea level. The stream Kocbeřský potok flows through the market town.

History

The Šlosberk Castle was built here at the beginning of the 14th century. The first written mention of the castle is from 1316. In the 1380s, the castle was bought by Heřmaň of Choustník, who had it completely rebuilt. Since then, the castle and the village below the castle were known as Heřmanův Choustník or Choustníkovo Hradiště. The Lords of Choustník owned Choustníkovo Hradiště until the death of Beneš of Choustník in 1410. In 1516, Choustníkovo Hradiště was promoted to a market town.^[3]

Until the mid-17th century, Choustníkovo Hradiště often changed owners. In 1645, during the Thirty Years' War, the castle was destroyed by the Swedish army led by Lennart Torstensson. Around 1660, Choustníkovo Hradiště was bought by the Sporck family. Count Jan Sporck had reconstructed the castle and lived there until his death in 1679. His son František Antonín had further reconstructed and extended the castle. In 1705, the castle was rebuilt into a convent. During the Silesian Wars, the castle was badly damaged. The roof was repaired in 1754 and the premises then served as a granary, but at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, the castle quickly fell into disrepair. The remains of the castle and its walls began to be demolished at that time, and the stone was used to build houses in the market town.^[3]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 1,029 —     1880 1,100 +6.9% 1890 1,101 +0.1% 1900 957 −13.1% 1910 966 +0.9%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 1,023 +5.9% 1930 932 −8.9% 1950 687 −26.3% 1961 712 +3.6% 1970 651 −8.6%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 612 −6.0% 1991 588 −3.9% 2001 598 +1.7% 2011 576 −3.7% 2021 548 −4.9%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Transport

The I/37 road (the section from Trutnov to Jaroměř) passes through the market town.

Sights

Church of the Holy Cross

The main landmark of Choustníkovo Hradiště is the Church of the Holy Cross. It was built in the late Baroque style in 1760–1770. Next to the church is a Baroque rectory from 1723.^[6]

Only a few remains of walls, cellars and ditches survived from the castle. The ruin is freely accessible.^[7]

References

1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
2. "Městys" (in Czech). Městys Choustníkovo Hradiště. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
3. "Hrad Šlosberk" (in Czech). Městys Choustníkovo Hradiště. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
4. "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.
5. "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
6. "Kostel sv. Kříže s farou" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
7. "Hrad, zřícenina" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-05.

External links

• Official website