Běleč (Kladno District)

Běleč
Běleč
Municipality
	Church of Saint Nicholas
	Flag Coat of arms
	Běleč Location in the Czech Republic
	Coordinates: 50°3′23″N 13°59′35″E / 50.05639°N 13.99306°E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Central Bohemian
District	Kladno
First mentioned	1352
Area
• Total	18.47 km2 (7.13 sq mi)
Elevation	526 m (1,726 ft)
Population (2024-01-01)
• Total	312
• Density	17/km2 (44/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	273 63
Website	www.belec.cz

Běleč is a municipality and village in Kladno District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 300 inhabitants.

Etymology

The name is derived from the personal name Bělec, meaning "Bělec's (court)".^[2]

Geography

Běleč is located about 12 kilometres (7 mi) southwest of Kladno and 23 km (14 mi) west of Prague. It lies in the Křivoklát Highlands. The highest point is the hill Krchůvek at 472 m (1,549 ft) above sea level. The Vůznice Stream originates here and flows across the municipality. Běleč entirely lies in the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area. Part of the Vůznice National Nature Reserve is also situated in Běleč's territory.

History

The first written mention of Běleč is from 1352.^[3]

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1869	497	—
1880	526	+5.8%
1890	531	+1.0%
1900	476	−10.4%
1910	493	+3.6%

Year	Pop.	±%
1921	482	−2.2%
1930	540	+12.0%
1950	369	−31.7%
1961	373	+1.1%
1970	349	−6.4%

Year	Pop.	±%
1980	346	−0.9%
1991	330	−4.6%
2001	293	−11.2%
2011	336	+14.7%
2021	304	−9.5%

Source: Censuses^[4]^[5]

Transport

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

Sights

The main landmark of Běleč is the Church of Saint Nicholas. It was built in the Gothic style in the 14th century and rebuilt to its current appearance in 1903–1904. The church is surrounded by a cemetery and next to the cemetery stand a wooden bell tower from 1717.^[6]^[7]

Jenčov Castle is a castle ruin located in the woods south of the village. It is freely accessible.^[8]

References

^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
^ Profous, Antonín (1947). Místní jména v Čechách I: A–H (in Czech). pp. 48–49.
^ "Obec" (in Czech). Obec Běleč. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.
^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
^ "Kostel sv. Mikuláše" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
^ "Běleč, kostel sv. Mikuláše". Noc kostelů (in Czech). Retrieved 2023-01-09.
^ "Hrad Jinčov, zřícenina" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-01-09.

External links

Official website

[1] "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.

[2] Profous, Antonín (1947). Místní jména v Čechách I: A–H (in Czech). pp. 48–49.

[3] "Obec" (in Czech). Obec Běleč. Retrieved 2023-01-09.

[4] "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.

[5] "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.

[6] "Kostel sv. Mikuláše" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-01-09.

[7] "Běleč, kostel sv. Mikuláše". Noc kostelů (in Czech). Retrieved 2023-01-09.

[8] "Hrad Jinčov, zřícenina" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-01-09.

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