Bělčice

Town in South Bohemian, Czech Republic

Flag

Coat of arms

49°30′9″N 13°52′33″E / 49.50250°N 13.87583°E / 49.50250; 13.87583Country

Czech RepublicRegionSouth BohemianDistrictStrakoniceFirst mentioned1243Area

• Total34.33 km² (13.25 sq mi)Elevation

526 m (1,726 ft)Population

(2023-01-01)^[1]

• Total992 • Density29/km² (75/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal code

387 43

Websitewww.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

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

Etymology

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

Geography

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

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

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

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

Sights

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

^ "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.