Kostelec nad Labem

The village of Jiřice is an administrative part of Kostelec nad Labem.

Church of Saint Vitus

Town hall

Kostelec was probably founded by Ottokar II of Bohemia in the second half of the 13th century. The first known owners of Kostelec were the Borš family from Osek, which the settlement was took over by Ottokar II in 1270.[2]

The market town later belonging to Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia became the dowry town of Czech queens. The queen granted privileges to the town and the mill, relieved the town of some duties. There were many ponds around Kostelec. To the northwest stood a water fortress, which well fortified served as a castle. Charles IV pawned Kostelec to his wife Elizabeth of Pomerania. She gave the town other privileges, which Charles IV confirmed. Around 1364, the town was hit by a great fire, destroying many houses, after which it lost its town privileges.[2]

In the 15th century, Kostelec was owned by Berka of Dubá, from whom the Queen Joanna of Rožmitál, the widow of King George of Poděbrady, purchases it. Under the rule of King Vladislaus II in 1486, Kostelec gained the title of a town.[2]

The Jewish community was established in Kostelec around 1505. It came to an end in 1940. Jews were mostly buyers, they bought houses in the town, the municipal council also reserved a cemetery for them. They introduced a school for children around 1717. In 1886, the granary was rebuilt into a synagogue, which was demolished after 1948.[2]

Church of Saint Martin

The originally a Gothic town hall was rebuilt in the Renaissance style after a fire in 1551, and heavily modified in 1727 and 1820. it is a foot corner building with a prismatic tower, divided by rectangular windows with a pillar in the corner.[3]

Church of Saint Vitus is a late Gothic building with a presbytery built until 1492, and three-nave from the beginning of the 16th century. In 1566–1567, the church was rebuilt in the Renaissance style, modified in the 17th century and in 1728. South vestibule is from the middle of the 18th century, and the bell tower was modified in 1829.[3]

Church of Saint Martin is a cemetery church, originally a parish church built at the latest in 1361. It was rebuilt in late Gothic style, and its chapel was renovated in the 17th century. In 1769, it was extended by the western tower and a choir was built.[3]

The old Jewish cemetery was founded in 1594 and is one of the oldest in Bohemia. Only newer tombstones from the second half of the 19th century are preserved. It has around 300 tombstones.[4]

Kostelec nad Labem Castle was built at the end of the 13th century, but lately was destroyed and transformed into private residence.

• Teresa Stolz (1834–1902), operatic soprano

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kostelec nad Labem.

• Official website