| Solnice | |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Hradec Králové |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Rychnov nad Kněžnou |
| Pushpin Map: | Czech Republic |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the Czech Republic |
| Coordinates: | 50.2042°N 16.2381°W |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Jan Hostinský |
| Established Title: | First mentioned |
| Established Date: | 1321 |
| Area Total Km2: | 12.66 |
| Elevation M: | 332 |
| Population As Of: | 2024-01-01 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 2352 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | CET |
| Utc Offset1: | +1 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 517 01 |
Solnice (in Czech pronounced as /ˈsolɲɪtsɛ/; German: Solnitz) is a town in Rychnov nad Kněžnou District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,400 inhabitants.
The village of Ještětice is an administrative part of Solnice.
The word solnice (derived from the Czech word sůl, i.e. 'salt') denoted a place where salt was traded, stored or taxed.[2]
Solnice is located about 5km (03miles) northeast of Rychnov nad Kněžnou and 28km (17miles) east of Hradec Králové. It lies mostly in the Orlice Table, only small parts of the municipal territory in the east extend into the Orlické Foothills. The highest point is at 390m (1,280feet) above sea level.
Solnice was probably founded on a trade route from western and southern lands to the Baltic region. The first written mention of Solnice is from 1321, when it was owned by Jan of Meziříčí. In 1386, the settlement obtained various rights and began to be referred to as a town.[3]
The I/14 road (the section from Náchod to Ústí nad Orlicí) runs through the town.
Solnice is served by two train stations and stops called Solnice and Solnice zastávka, located on the railway line from Hradec Králové that terminates here. However, the Solnice station is situated outside the premises of the town, in neighbouring Kvasiny.[4]
The main landmark of Solnice is the Church of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. It was built in the early Baroque style in 1681–1686, modified into its present pseudo-style form in 1869–1870.[3] [5]
The architectural landmark of the town square is the town hall. It was built in the Empire style in the first half of the 19th century.[6]
A cultural monument is the former Renaissance fortress, built in 1560–1565. Today, the building serves as a hostel.[7]