Hudlice Explained

Hudlice
Settlement Type:Municipality
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Central Bohemian
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Beroun
Pushpin Map:Czech Republic
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates:49.9611°N 13.9708°W
Established Title:First mentioned
Established Date:1341
Area Total Km2:20.75
Elevation M:401
Population As Of:2024-01-01
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:1251
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:CET
Utc Offset1:+1
Timezone1 Dst:CEST
Utc Offset1 Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:267 03

Hudlice is a municipality and village in Beroun District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,300 inhabitants.

Geography

Hudlice is located about 5km (03miles) west of Beroun and 28km (17miles) west of Prague. It lies in the Křivoklát Highlands, in the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area. The highest point is the hill Krušná hora at 609m (1,998feet) above sea level. Other significant peaks are the rocks Hudlická skála at 475m (1,558feet), an isolated cobblestone cliff, and Kozlí skála at 381m (1,250feet).

The main watercourse is the stream Dibeřský potok, which flows through the southern part of the municipal territory. The brook Libotický potok originates in the northern part of Hudlice, supplies three small fishponds and flows into the Dibeřský potok near the eastern municipal border. A nameless brook, the right tributary of the Libotický potok, flows through the built-up area.

History

Wenceslaus Hajek writes in his chronicle the village was gifted by Duke Jaromír to his servant Hovora. This story is considered as a romantical fabulation.[2] The first written mention of Hudlice is from 1341.[3]

After Karlštejn Castle was founded in 1348, Hudlice was part of its estate. Later it transferred to the Křivoklát estate. From 1425 to 1437 there was a knight's court in Hudlice. The village changed its owners several times and its development was interrupted by the Hussite Wars and the Thirty Years' War.[3]

It was not until around 1656 that the village flourished with the development of the ironworks. Iron ore and vermilion were mined and gold was panned in the streams. In the past, many miners mining iron ore lived here, the main source of which was the nearby mountain of Krušná hora until the 1960s. Charcoal was produced in the surrounding forests, which was used for iron furnaces.[3]

Economy

A wastewater treatment plant is situated on the eastern outskirts of the village.

Transport

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality. Hudlice is connected to Beroun by a public bus line.

Sights

The main landmark of Hudlice is the Church of Saint Thomas. It was built in the neo-Romanesque style 1874–1876, when it replaced an old wooden church.[4]

On the Krušná hora mountain, the wooden lookout tower Máminka is situated. It is 33m (108feet) high.[5]

Hudlická skála Rock is popular for tourists as a natural landmark of the municipality. Below the top of the rock is the entrance to the only non-karst cave in the Beroun District.[5]

In the birthplace of Josef Jungmann, the Josef Jungmann Monument is located. It is a typical old Czech timbered cottage from 1718. It contains original furniture, and an exhibition of his life and work is installed.[6]

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024. Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. Book: Kočka, Václav. Dějiny Rakovnicka. 978-80-85081-28-2. Agroscience in cooperation with Musejní spolek královského města Rakovníka a okresu rakovnického and T. G. M. Museum in Rakovník. cs. 1936.
  3. Web site: Historie. Obec Hudlice. cs. 2021-07-05.
  4. Web site: Kostel sv. Tomáše. National Heritage Institute. cs. 2024-07-08.
  5. Web site: Rozhledna "Máminka". Obec Hudlice. cs. 2021-07-05.
  6. Web site: Památník Josefa Jungmanna. Obec Hudlice. cs. 2021-07-05.