Běleč (Kladno District)

Municipality in Central Bohemian, Czech Republic

Flag

Coat of arms

50°3′23″N 13°59′35″E / 50.05639°N 13.99306°E / 50.05639; 13.99306Country

Czech RepublicRegionCentral BohemianDistrictKladnoFirst mentioned1352Area

• Total18.47 km² (7.13 sq mi)Elevation

526 m (1,726 ft)Population

(2023-01-01)^[1]

• Total313 • Density17/km² (44/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal code

273 63

Websitewww.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.

Geography

Běleč is located about 12 km (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 springs here and flows across the municipality. Běleč 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.^[2]

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^[3]^[4]

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.^[5]^[6]

Jenčov Castle is a castle ruin located in the woods south of the village. It is freely accessible.^[7]

References

^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
^ "Obec" (in Czech). Obec Běleč. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Kladno" (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.
^ "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.