Červený Kostelec (; ) is a town in Náchod District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 8,200 inhabitants. The town is located on the Olešnice Stream, on the border between the Giant Mountains Foothills and Orlické Foothills.
Červený Kostelec was founded in the 14th century at the latest and became a town in 1876. The main landmark is the Church of Saint James the Great.
Administrative division Červený Kostelec consists of seven municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):
Červený Kostelec (5,087) Bohdašín (213) Horní Kostelec (662) Lhota za Červeným Kostelcem (1,207) Mstětín (34) Olešnice (618) Stolín (195)
Etymology The word is derived from (i.e. 'church') and meant 'fortified church'. To distinguish it from other municipalities with the same name, the prefix (i.e. 'red') was added in 1876. It referred to the red Permian formation that was uncovered here, and to the colouring of the local stream, which occurred during floods.
Geography Červený Kostelec is located about northwest of Náchod and northeast of Hradec Králové. It lies on the border between the Giant Mountains Foothills and Orlické Foothills. The highest point is the hill Končinský kopec at above sea level. The Olešnice Stream flows through the town.
History The first written mention of Kostelec is from 1362. Until 1447, it was a part of the Vízmburk estate. From 1497 at the latest, it belonged to the Náchod estate. It remained so until the establishment of an independent municipality in 1848. The preserved seal proves that Kostelec was referred to as a market town no later than from 1680. In 1876, Kostelec was promoted to a town and changed its name to Červený Kostelec.
Demographics
Transport The I/14 road (the section from Trutnov to Náchod) runs through the town.
Červený Kostelec is located on the railway line Prague–Trutnov.
Culture
Since 1952, the town hosts the annual Červený Kostelec International Folklore Festival.
Sights The main landmark of Červený Kostelec is the Church of Saint James the Great. It was originally a Gothic building from the 14th century, destroyed by a fire in 1591. It was restored in 1668 and rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1744–1754 based on plans of architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer.
Notable people Martin Růžek (1918–1995), actor Viktor Kalabis (1923–2006), composer Karel Sedláček (born 1979), darts player
Twin towns – sister cities
Červený Kostelec is twinned with: Küsnacht, Switzerland Uchte, Germany Warrington, England, United Kingdom Ząbkowice Śląskie, Poland
See also Bohdašín Formation
References
External links
Virtual show