Hlinsko

For the municipality in the Olomouc Region, see Hlinsko (Přerov District).

Hlinsko (Czech pronunciation: [ˈɦlɪnsko]) is a town in Chrudim District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 9,600 inhabitants. The local part of Betlém is well preserved example of folk architecture and is protected by law as a village monument reservation.

Hlinsko
Town
Town hall
Flag Coat of arms
Hlinsko Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°45′44″N 15°54′27″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Pardubice
District	Chrudim
First mentioned	1349
Government
• Mayor	Miroslav Krčil
Area
• Total	24.27 km2 (9.37 sq mi)
Elevation	582 m (1,909 ft)
Population  (2024-01-01)[1]
• Total	9,577
• Density	390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	539 01
Website	www.hlinsko.cz

Administrative parts

Poděbradovo Square

The town parts and villages of Blatno, Čertovina, Chlum, Kouty and Srní are administrative parts of Hlinsko. Chlum forms an exclave of the municipal territory.

Etymology

The name is derived from hlína, i.e. 'clay'. The name arose thanks to the deposits of high-quality potter's clay.^[2]

Geography

Hlinsko is located about 21 kilometres (13 mi) south of Chrudim and 30 km (19 mi) south of Pardubice. It lies in the Iron Mountains and partly in the eponymous protected landscape area. The highest point is at 678 m (2,224 ft) above sea level. The town is situated on both banks of the Chrudimka River.

History

The area around the Chrudimka River is inhabited since the 12th century. Hlinsko was founded in the 12th century as a guarding settlement on the trade route from Bohemia to Moravia. The first written mention of Hlinsko is from 1349. The fortress in Hlinsko is first documented in 1413. In the 16th century, it served as a royal customhouse.^[3]

During the reign of Maria Theresa, Hlinsko became a market town, and in 1834, it became a town. During its history, the town's economy consisted mainly of agriculture, pottery, wire-making and weaving. The tradition of pottery craft originated in the 15th century and ended in the 19th century. In 1871, the railway was built and the town was industrialized.^[2][3]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 4,882 —     1880 4,964 +1.7% 1890 5,231 +5.4% 1900 5,962 +14.0% 1910 7,085 +18.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 6,901 −2.6% 1930 8,084 +17.1% 1950 7,413 −8.3% 1961 8,346 +12.6% 1970 9,357 +12.1%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 10,182 +8.8% 1991 10,916 +7.2% 2001 10,543 −3.4% 2011 9,903 −6.1% 2021 9,271 −6.4%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Economy

There is a major dairy company Mlékárna Hlinsko in the town. The company was founded in 1939, and the production started in 1943.^[6]

Transport

Train station

Hlinsko is the terminus of two railway lines, heading from Pardubice and from Havlíčkův Brod.^[7]

Culture

Hlinsko and several municipalities in the surrounding area are known for Slavic carnival processions of masks. In 2010, this tradition known as "Shrovetide door-to-door processions and masks in the villages of the Hlinecko area" was included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.^[8]

Sights

Betlém Village Monument Reservation

Ježdík's House

Hlinsko is known for the Betlém Village Monument Reservation with preserved examples of folk architecture. This area around the Chrudimka River consists of valuable timbered and brick houses from the 18th and early 19th centuries. It is part of the Vysočina Open Air Museum.^[9]

The historic centre is formed by Poděbradovo Square. The most valuable building are the town hall, Ježdík's House and the old fortress. The town hall was built in 1598 and rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1788–1792. The last reconstructions were made in 1850. Since its foundation, it serves its original purpose. Ježdík's House is a significant house with sgraffito decorations from 1904. The old fortress, called just The Fortress, is the oldest building in Hlinsko.^[9]

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is located outside the historic centre. The originally Gothic church was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1730–1745, but the Gothic tower was partly preserved. It has a valuable baptistry from 1628.^[2][10]

Notable people

• Emanuel Famíra (1900–1970), sculptor
• Karel Lidický (1900–1976), sculptor
• Jan Vokál (born 1958), bishop
• Jan Chvojka (born 1980), politician

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic

Hlinsko is twinned with:^[11]

• Púchov, Slovakia
• Stara Pazova, Serbia

References

1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
2. "Historie města" (in Czech). Město Hlinsko. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
3. "Po stopách historie města" (in Czech). Město Hlinsko. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
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. "O společnosti" (in Czech). Mlékárna Hlinsko, a.s. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
7. "Detail stanice Hlinsko v Čechách" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
8. "Shrovetide door-to-door processions and masks in the villages of the Hlinecko area". UNESCO. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
9. "Historical sights in Hlinsko". Město Hlinsko. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
10. "Kostel Narození P. Marie" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
11. "Partnerská města" (in Czech). Město Hlinsko. Retrieved 2023-01-15.

External links

• Official website