Skuteč (Czech pronunciation: [ˈskutɛtʃ]; German: Skutsch) is a town in Chrudim District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,100 inhabitants.

Skuteč
Town hall on Palackého Square
Town hall on Palackého Square
Flag of Skuteč
Coat of arms of Skuteč
Skuteč is located in Czech Republic
Skuteč
Skuteč
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°50′47″N 15°59′45″E / 49.84639°N 15.99583°E / 49.84639; 15.99583
Country Czech Republic
RegionPardubice
DistrictChrudim
First mentioned1282
Government
 • MayorJaroslav Hetfleiš
Area
 • Total35.40 km2 (13.67 sq mi)
Elevation
410 m (1,350 ft)
Population
 (2024-01-01)[1]
 • Total5,042
 • Density140/km2 (370/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
539 73
Websitewww.skutec.cz

Administrative parts

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The villages of Borek, Hněvětice, Lažany, Lešany, Lhota u Skutče, Nová Ves, Radčice, Skutíčko, Štěpánov, Zbožnov, Zhoř and the town part of Žďárec u Skutče are administrative parts of Skuteč. Lešany forms an exclave of the municipal territory.

Geography

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Skuteč is located about 18 kilometres (11 mi) southeast of Chrudim and 26 km (16 mi) southeast of Pardubice. It lies mostly the undulating and hilly landscape of the Iron Mountains, the northern part of the municipal territory extends into the Svitavy Uplands. A part of the Anenské Valley Nature Reserve around the Anenský Brook is located in the territory.

History

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The first written mention of Skuteč is from 1289. The settlement was located on a side trade route. Skuteč was promoted to a town probably in the first half of the 14th century. It was one of the larger towns in the region. Its development was slowed down by the Thirty Years' War. In 1862 and 1867, the town was severely damaged by large fires.[2]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
18695,362—    
18805,592+4.3%
18905,834+4.3%
19006,605+13.2%
19106,981+5.7%
YearPop.±%
19216,539−6.3%
19306,658+1.8%
19505,013−24.7%
19615,270+5.1%
19705,220−0.9%
YearPop.±%
19805,387+3.2%
19915,206−3.4%
20015,344+2.7%
20115,183−3.0%
20215,036−2.8%
Source: Censuses[3][4]

Economy

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Skuteč is significantly associated with shoemaking, represented by the company Botas, and for granite mining. While mining is still active, shoe production in Skuteč ended in 2022, and it is being considered to move the brand's production elsewhere.[2][5]

Transport

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Skuteč is located on the railway line Pardubice–Svitavy.[6]

Education

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Church of the Corpus Christi

The town has two primary schools and Vítězslav Novák Art School. Since 2000, there is the Gymnasium of the Sovereign Maltese Knights Order.[2]

Culture

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Since 2003, the town hosts Tomášek's and Novák's Musical Skuteč, an annual festival of classical music and choir singing.[7]

Sights

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Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

The most notable buildings are the churches. The main landmark of the town centre is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It was originally built in the late Gothic style, then it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style and modified in the Baroque style. However, many late Gothic elements have been preserved.[8]

The Church of the Corpus Christi was built in the Gothic style in 1391–1392. It was reconstructed in 1812. In 1865–1866, after it was damaged by the 1862 fire, it was reconstructed again and its Gothic appearance was restored.[9]

The Church of Saint Wenceslaus is a rural church located in Lažany. It dates from the third quarter of the 14th century. The originally Gothic building was reconstructed and modified several times in the 16th–18th centuries.[10]

The Church of Saint Matthias is located in Štěpánov. It was founded in 1349. It is also a rural church with a complicated construction history. Its present form is mainly a result of the Renaissance and late Baroque reconstructions.[11]

The birthplace of the most famous native, composer Václav Tomášek, is a folk architecture house from the 18th century with a small exhibition of his life and work.[12]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 17 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Historie města Skuteč" (in Czech). Město Skuteč. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Chrudim" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 21 December 2015. pp. 17–18.
  4. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 27 March 2021.
  5. ^ "V Česku končí výroba legendárních botasek. Utnuly ji drahé energie" (in Czech). Seznam Zprávy. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Detail stanice Skuteč" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Informace o festivalu" (in Czech). Festival Tomáškova a Novákova hudební Skuteč. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Kostel Nanebevzetí P. Marie" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Kostel Božího těla" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Kostel sv. Václava" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Kostel sv. Matouše" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Památky" (in Czech). Město Skuteč. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
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