Český Brod

Český Brod (Czech pronunciation: [ˈtʃɛskiː ˈbrot]; German: Böhmisch Brod) is a town in Kolín District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 7,100 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Český Brod
Town
Historic centre of the town
Flag Coat of arms
Český Brod Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°4′26″N 14°51′29″E / 50.07389°N 14.85806°E / 50.07389; 14.85806
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Central Bohemian
District	Kolín
First mentioned	1268
Government
• Mayor	Tomáš Klinecký (TOP 09)
Area
• Total	19.70 km^2 (7.61 sq mi)
Elevation	219 m (719 ft)
Population  (2023-01-01)^[1]
• Total	7,361
• Density	370/km^2 (970/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	282 01
Website	www.cesbrod.cz

Administrative parts

The villages of Liblice and Štolmíř are administrative parts of Český Brod.

Etymology

The word Brod means 'ford' in Czech and refers to a ford across the Šembera stream that used to be here. The town was originally called Biskupský Brod (in Latin Broda Episcopalis, meaning "Bishop's ford").^[2][3] From 1315, the name Český Brod ("Bohemian ford") was used to distinguish from Německý Brod ("German Brod" today Havlíčkův Brod), which was located on the same trade route.^[4]

Geography

Český Brod is located about 23 kilometres (14 mi) east of Prague. It lies in a flat agricultural landscape of the Central Elbe Table. The highest point is at 275 m (902 ft) above sea level. The Šembera stream flows through the town.

History

Český Brod was probably founded by the bishop of Prague Jan I between 1134 and 1139 and was located on an important trade route. The first written mention of Český Brod is from 1268, when it was promoted to a town by Bishop Jan III of Dražice. From that time till the beginning of the 14th century, the town's name was Biskupský Brod. In 1437, Emperor Sigismund designated Český Brod a free royal town.^[2][3]

In 1512, the town was damaged by a large fire. After Český Brod participated in the Estates Revolt in Bohemia in 1547, its properties were confiscated and the town became significantly poorer. During the Thirty Years' War, in 1639 and 1643, the town was badly damaged and looted. At the end of the war, the town was abandoned, but then 24 new families settled here.^[4]

The railway was constructed in 1845, which triggered the industrial development of the town. A steam mill, a brewery and a farm machinery factory were established here.^[4] Until 1918, the town was part of Austria-Hungary, head of the Böhmisch Brod – Český Brod District, one of the 94 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in Bohemia.^[5]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 3,722 —     1880 4,472 +20.2% 1890 4,758 +6.4% 1900 5,069 +6.5% 1910 5,568 +9.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 5,463 −1.9% 1930 6,807 +24.6% 1950 6,884 +1.1% 1961 6,885 +0.0% 1970 6,642 −3.5%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 6,893 +3.8% 1991 7,031 +2.0% 2001 6,670 −5.1% 2011 6,915 +3.7% 2021 7,261 +5.0%
Source: Censuses^[6]^[7]

Transport

 

Train station

The I/12 from Prague to Kolín passes through the town.

Český Brod is located on the railway line from Prague–Kolín.^[8]

Education

In Český Brod are 3 kindergartens, 2 primary schools, a school for students with special needs, a gymnasium, and a high school of economics (in Liblice).

Culture

Rock for People, an annual summer music festival, was held in Český Brod from 1995 to 2006. In 2007, the festival relocated to Hradec Králové.

Sights

 

Church of Saint Gotthard

 

New Town Hall and Prokop the Great monument

The remains of the town walls have been preserved almost the entire perimeter of the old town. Despite their incompleteness, the preserved fortifications of Český Brod are among the most important examples of town fortifications from the reign of George of Poděbrady.^[9]

The Church of Saint Gotthard was originally a Romanesque church from the 1130s. It was rebuilt in the Gothic style in the mid-14th century, modified in the Renaissance style in the 17th century, and then completely rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1765–1772. A late Gothic belfry from 1578–1580 stands next to the church.^[10]

The Church of the Holy Trinity was built in the Renaissance style in 1560–1562. It was originally built behind the town walls as a cemetery church.^[11]

The Old Town Hall is one of the oldest town hall buildings in the Czech Republic. The originally Gothic house was built before 1402. Today it is the seat of a gallery, the town's cultural and information centre and the town library. The premises of the former prison are used for exhibition purposes.^[12]

The current Neo-Renaissance town hall was built in 1897–1898. It has been used as the town hall since 1949 and is also protected as a cultural monument.^[13]

Telecommunications

A large medium wave broadcasting facility is partly located in Liblice part of Český Brod.

Notable people

• Jan Bočan (1937–2010), architect
• František Mrázek (1958–2006), entrepreneur
• Tomáš Skuhravý (born 1965), footballer

Twin towns – sister cities

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

Český Brod is twinned with:^[14]

•   Köngen, Germany

Český Brod also has friendly relations with Southwell in England, United Kingdom.^[15]

References

1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
2. "O městě: Historie" (in Czech). Město Český Brod. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
3. "A brief history of the town". Město Český Brod. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
4. "Český Brod (Česko)" (in Czech). Středočeská vědecká knihovna v Kladně. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
5. Die postalischen Abstempelungen auf den österreichischen Postwertzeichen-Ausgaben 1867, 1883 und 1890, Wilhelm Klein, 1967
6. "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Kolín" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 3–4.
7. "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
8. "Detail stanice Český Brod" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
9. "Městské hradby". Cesty a památky (in Czech). Retrieved 2022-06-13.
10. "Kostel sv. Gotharda v Českém Brodě" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
11. "Kostel Nejsvětější Trojice". Cesty a památky (in Czech). Retrieved 2022-06-13.
12. "Stará radnice s městskou šatlavou v Českém Brodě" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
13. "Nová radnice". Cesty a památky (in Czech). Retrieved 2022-06-13.
14. "Köngen" (in Czech). Město Český Brod. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
15. "Southwell" (in Czech). Město Český Brod. Retrieved 2020-07-23.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Český Brod.

• Official website
• Brief history of the town (in English)
• Photogallery of Český Brod