The villages of Březenice, Dvořisko, Hemže, Nová Ves, Plchůvky and Podrážek are administrative parts of Choceň. Nová Ves and Plchůvky form an exclave of the municipal territory.
Etymology
The name is derived from the personal name Chocen, meaning "Chocen's (court)".[2]
Geography
Choceň is located about 13 kilometres (8 mi) west of Ústí nad Orlicí and 31 km (19 mi) east of Pardubice. It lies in the Orlice Table. The highest point is at 354 m (1,161 ft) above sea level. The Tichá Orlice river flows through the town.
History
The first written mention of Choceň is from 1227. In 1292, it was already a market town and was owned by King Wenceslaus II. In the early 14th century, it was acquired by Mikuláš of Potštejn, who founded a castle here. Mikuláš undertook marauding expeditions to the surrounding area. In 1339, the army of Charles IV conquered Choceň, demolished the castle and killed Mikuláš.[3]
During next centuries, Choceň often changed owners. During the rule of Zikmund of Šelmberk, the town experienced a boom. He had a castle with a large courtyard built here in 1562. The next boom was during the rule of the Kinsky family in the 18th century. Several architectionally valuable Baroque buildings were built here, including the new Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, the rectory and the belfry.[3]
In 1845, the railway from Prague to Olomouc via Choceň was built. In 1875 and 1881 the railways to Broumov and Litomyšl were built and Choceň became an important railway junction.[3]
The largest industrial employed based in the town is Autoneum CZ, a manufacturer of automotive parts.[6] Since 1928, there is a significant dairy company Choceňská mlékárna in the town.[7]
The Choceň Castle dates from 1562. It was originally a Renaissance building, rebuilt in the Baroeu style in 1710–1720, and then in its current Neoclassical form in 1829 after it was damaged by a fire. The neo-Gothic Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was added to the castle in 1849–1850. Today the castle houses the Orlické Museum.[9][10]
The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi was built in the Baroque style in 1728–1733, after the old Gothic church was destroyed by a fire. The church has a separate bell tower, built in 1702–1703.[11]
