Křinec Explained

Křinec
Settlement Type:Market town
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Central Bohemian
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Nymburk
Pushpin Map:Czech Republic
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates:50.2606°N 15.135°W
Established Title:First mentioned
Established Date:1352
Area Total Km2:25.84
Elevation M:192
Population As Of:2024-01-01
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:1363
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:CET
Utc Offset1:+1
Timezone1 Dst:CEST
Utc Offset1 Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:289 33

Křinec is a market town in Nymburk District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,400 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

The villages of Bošín, Mečíř, Nové Zámky, Sovenice and Zábrdovice are administrative parts of Křinec.

Etymology

The initial name of the settlement was Křinice. It was derived from the Slavic word krinica, meaning 'spring','well'.[2]

Geography

Křinec is located about 11km (07miles) northeast of Nymburk and 46km (29miles) northeast of Prague. It lies in a flat landscape in the Central Elbe Table. The highest point is the hill Chotuc at 254m (833feet) above sea level. The market town is situated on the right bank of the Mrlina River.

History

The first written mention of Křinec is from 1352. After the Hussite Wars, the village was acquired by a noble family, since then known as the Křinecký of Ronov family. They had built the Kuncberk Castle on the eponymous hill above the village. They sold the Kuncberk estate to the Kostomlatský of Vřesovice family in 1565. Křinec was first referred to as a market town in 1568.[3]

After the Battle of White Mountain, Křinec was acquired by Albrecht von Wallenstein, who soon gave it to another members of the Waldstein family. In 1649, Křinec was purchased by the Morzin family. They had completely rebuilt the market town, badly damaged during the Thirty Years' War. They owned Křinec until 1796.[3]

Transport

Křinec is located on the railway line Prague–Turnov.[4]

Sights

The Křinec Castle is an early Baroque castle, one of the two main landmarks of Křinice. The main building was built in 1649 and the wings in 1659–1660. The castle was probably designed by Carlo Lurago. A park is adjacent to the castle.[5] Today it serves cultural and social purposes, and offers sightseeing tours.[6]

Opposite the castle stands the Church of Saint Giles. It is a Baroque church from the 17th century.[7]

Kuncberk Castle has not survived. After the castle disappeared, a Baroque manor house was built in its place, but it has not been preserved too and only the cellars are visible in its place.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024. Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. Book: Profous, Antonín. Místní jména v Čechách II: CH–L. 399. 1949. cs.
  3. Web site: Stručné dějiny Křince a jeho osad. Městys Křinec. cs. 2023-03-05.
  4. Web site: Detail stanice Křinec. České dráhy. cs. 2024-04-13.
  5. Web site: Zámek. National Heritage Institute. cs. 2023-03-05.
  6. Web site: Zámek Křinec. Křinec Castle. cs. 2023-03-05.
  7. Web site: Kostel sv. Jiljí s farou. National Heritage Institute. cs. 2023-03-05.
  8. Web site: Hrad Kuncberk, archeologické stopy. National Heritage Institute. cs. 2023-03-05.