Bečváry


Bečváry is a municipality and village in Kolín District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,100 inhabitants.
WWW becvary.cz

Administrative division

Bečváry consists of five municipal parts :
  • Bečváry
  • Červený Hrádek
  • Hatě
  • Horní Jelčany
  • Poďousy
Hatě and Horní Jelčany form an exclave of the municipal territory.

Etymology

The name is derived from the word bečvář, i.e. 'cooper'. It was a village where coopers lived.

Geography

Bečváry is located about southwest of Kolín and east of Prague. It lies in the Upper Sázava Hills. The highest point is at above sea level. The Bečvárka Stream flows through the municipality and supplies the fishpond Podbečvárský rybník.

History

The first written mention of Bečváry is from 1265.

Transport

The I/2 road from Prague to Kutná Hora and Pardubice passes through the municipality.

Transport

Bečváry is located on the railway line Kolín–Ledečko.

Sights

The main landmark of Bečváry is the late Baroque castle. Construction of the castle started in the mid-18th century, but the building remained unfinished until the rule of Ernst Gideon von Laudon, who had the castle rebuilt and expanded between 1766 and 1774. Nowadays, the castle is not accessible to the public and is being gradually reconstructed by a private owner.