Velvary

50°16′54″N 14°14′10″E / 50.28167°N 14.23611°E / 50.28167; 14.23611Country Czech RepublicRegionCentral BohemianDistrictKladnoFirst mentioned1282Government • MayorRadim WolákArea • Total18.10 km² (6.99 sq mi)Elevation188 m (617 ft)Population • Total2,986 • Density160/km² (430/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal codeWebsitewww.velvary.cz

Velvary (Czech pronunciation: [ˈvɛlvarɪ]) is a town in Kladno District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Administrative parts

The villages of Ješín, Malá Bučina and Velká Bučina are administrative parts of Velvary.

Etymology

The name is derived from velvaři, which was a colloquial term for people who cooked a lot (from velmi vařit, i.e. "to cook a lot").^[2]

Geography

Velvary is located about 18 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of Kladno and 22 km (14 mi) northwest of Prague. It lies in a flat agricultural landscape of the Lower Ohře Table. The highest point is at 272 m (892 ft) above sea level. The stream of Bakovský potok flows through the town.

History

The first written mention of Velvary is from 1282. For centuries, it was an important stop on the way from Prague to Saxony. After 1357, it became a royal property and it was promoted to a market town by King Charles IV. In 1482, it was promoted to a town by King Vladislaus II.^[3]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 2,822 —     1880 3,146 +11.5% 1890 3,174 +0.9% 1900 3,221 +1.5% 1910 3,210 −0.3%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 3,053 −4.9% 1930 3,140 +2.8% 1950 2,749 −12.5% 1961 3,138 +14.2% 1970 3,040 −3.1%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 3,074 +1.1% 1991 2,848 −7.4% 2001 2,911 +2.2% 2011 2,993 +2.8% 2021 3,014 +0.7%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Transport

The I/16 road (the section that connects Mělník with the D6 motorway) passes through the town.

Velvary is the terminus of a short local railway line heading from Kralupy nad Vltavou.^[6]

Sport

The town is home to a football club TJ Slovan Velvary, which plays in the Bohemian Football League (third tier of the Czech football league system).

Sights

The major sights of the spacious Krále Vladislava Square include a Baroque Marian column (built in 1716–1719), a Baroque town hall from 1717, and the Gothic Church of Saint Catherine with murals from the 15th century. The Renaissance Prague Gate from 1580 is the last preserved of three town gates. There is also a valuable Renaissance Church of Saint George (built in 1613–1616) with a churchyard.^[3]

Notable people

• Jan Antonín Koželuh (1738–1814), composer
• Leopold Koželuh (1747–1818), composer
• Václav Klement (1868–1938), automotive pioneer
• Karel Treybal (1885–1941), chess player; worked here

Gallery

• 
  Renaissance house No. 57 on the town square
• 
  The Prague Gate
• 
  Church of Saint George

References

External links