Bělčice

Bělčice
Bělčice
Town
	Town square with the town hall
	Flag Coat of arms
	Bělčice Location in the Czech Republic
	Coordinates: 49°30′9″N 13°52′33″E / 49.50250°N 13.87583°E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	South Bohemian
District	Strakonice
First mentioned	1243
Area
• Total	34.33 km2 (13.25 sq mi)
Elevation	526 m (1,726 ft)
Population (2023-01-01)
• Total	992
• Density	29/km2 (75/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	387 43
Website	www.belcice.cz

Bělčice is a town in Strakonice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,000 inhabitants.

Administrative parts[edit]

The villages of Hostišovice, Podruhlí, Tisov, Újezdec, Záhrobí and Závišín are administrative parts of Bělčice.

Etymology[edit]

The name Bělčice is derived from the personal name Bělec (or Bílek), meaning "the village of Bělec's people".^[2]

Geography[edit]

Bělčice is located about 27 kilometres (17 mi) north of Strakonice and 43 km (27 mi) southeast of Plzeň. It lies on the border between the Blatná Uplands and Benešov Uplands. The highest point is the hill Kněžská hora at 565 metres (1,854 ft) above sea level. The area is rich in fishponds and minor streams.

History[edit]

The first written mention of Bělčice is from 1243.^[3] At the end of the 15th century, the village was promoted to a town. Bělčice was badly damaged during the Thirty Years' War and ceased to be a town. In 1898, it became a town again.^[4]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1869	2,496	—
1880	2,585	+3.6%
1890	2,438	−5.7%
1900	2,308	−5.3%
1910	2,366	+2.5%

Year	Pop.	±%
1921	2,249	−4.9%
1930	2,135	−5.1%
1950	1,614	−24.4%
1961	1,586	−1.7%
1970	1,410	−11.1%

Year	Pop.	±%
1980	1,275	−9.6%
1991	1,093	−14.3%
2001	991	−9.3%
2011	1,005	+1.4%
2021	997	−0.8%

Source: Censuses^[5]^[6]

Transport[edit]

Bělčice is located on the railway line Strakonice–Blatná–Beroun.^[7]

Sights[edit]

Church of Saints Peter and Paul at the town square

The main landmark of Bělčice is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. It was built in the late Romanesque style around 1240. The Gothic presbytery was built in the beginning of the 14th century. Next to the church is a separate neo-Gothic bell tower from 1863.^[8]

References[edit]

^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
^ Profous, Antonín (1947). Místní jména v Čechách I: A–H (in Czech). p. 48.
^ "Město Bělčice" (in Czech). Město Bělčice. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
^ "Historie" (in Czech). Město Bělčice. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Strakonice" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 1–2.
^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
^ "Detail stanice Bělčice" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
^ "Kostel sv. Petra a Pavla" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-10-30.

External links[edit]

Official website

[1] "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.

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

[3] "Město Bělčice" (in Czech). Město Bělčice. Retrieved 2023-10-30.

[4] "Historie" (in Czech). Město Bělčice. Retrieved 2023-10-30.

[5] "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Strakonice" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 1–2.

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

[7] "Detail stanice Bělčice" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2023-10-30.

[8] "Kostel sv. Petra a Pavla" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-10-30.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]