Zbečno Explained

Zbečno
Settlement Type:Municipality
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Central Bohemian
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Rakovník
Pushpin Map:Czech Republic
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates:50.0419°N 13.9206°W
Established Title:First mentioned
Established Date:1003
Area Total Km2:15.15
Elevation M:235
Population As Of:2024-01-01
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:613
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:CET
Utc Offset1:+1
Timezone1 Dst:CEST
Utc Offset1 Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:270 24

Zbečno is a municipality and village in Rakovník District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 600 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

The village of Újezd nad Zbečnem is an administrative part of Zbečno.

Etymology

The initial name of the village was Stbečna. The origin of the name is unclear. It could be derived from the word stéblo ('stalk') or from the old word jistba, which denoted a log cabin or a type of bridge pillar.[2] [3]

Geography

Zbečno is located about 15km (09miles) southeast of Rakovník and 32km (20miles) west of Prague. It lies in the Křivoklát Highlands and within the Křivoklátsko Landscape Protected Area, which administration have its seat here.[4]

The municipality is situated at the confluence of the Berounka River and Klíčava Stream. Klíčava Reservoir is located on the Klíčava Stream in the northernmost part of the municipal territory.

History

The first written mention of Zbečno is from 1003. After the Křivoklát Castle was built, it became part of the Křivoklát estate.[3]

At the beginning of the 16th century, Zbečno was promoted to a market town by King Vladislaus II, but it was severely damaged in the Thirty Years' War and in the second half of the 17th century, it was again only a village. In 1685, Zbečno was bought by the Waldstein family and ceased to be a royal property.[3]

In 1950–1953, Klíčava Reservoir was built, and Zbečov became a centre of tourism.[3]

Transport

Zbečno is located on the railway line BerounRakovník. The municipality is served by two train stations: Zbečno and Újezd nad Zbečnem.[5]

Sights

The main landmark of Zbečno is the Church of Saint Martin. The original Romanesque church probably existed already at the end of the 11th century. It was rebuilt in the Gothic style in the 1470s. In 1714–1716, the church was rebuilt into its current Baroque form.[3]

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 IV: S–Ž. 742–743. 1957. cs.
  3. Web site: Historie obce. Obec Zbečno. cs. 2024-04-04.
  4. Web site: Kontakty. CHKO Křivoklátsko. Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic. cs. 2024-07-10.
  5. Web site: Detail stanice Zbečno. České dráhy. cs. 2024-04-04.