Pičín is a municipality and village in Příbram District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 700 inhabitants.

Pičín
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
Flag of Pičín
Coat of arms of Pičín
Pičín is located in Czech Republic
Pičín
Pičín
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°44′44″N 14°3′28″E / 49.74556°N 14.05778°E / 49.74556; 14.05778
Country Czech Republic
RegionCentral Bohemian
DistrictPříbram
First mentioned1289
Area
 • Total14.26 km2 (5.51 sq mi)
Elevation
472 m (1,549 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total650
 • Density46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
262 25
Websitewww.picin.cz

Etymology edit

The name Pičín was originally spelled Pěčín and Pěčina. It was derived from the old personal Czech name Pieka, which was derived from pěkný, i.e. "nice".[2]

Geography edit

Pičín is located about 7 km (4 mi) northeast of Příbram and 39 km (24 mi) southwest of Prague. It lies in the Brdy Highlands. The highest point is the hill Kuchyňka at 636 m (2,087 ft) above sea level, located in the northern tip of the municipal territory. The southern slopes of the hill are protected as the Kuchyňka Nature Reserve. The village is surrounded by several small fishponds.

History edit

The first written mention of Pičín is from 1289, when the parish church already existed here. A fortress in Pičín was first documented in 1473. The most notable owners of the village were the Bechyně of Lažany family. During their rule, which lasted from 1493 to 1627, they had the fortress rebuilt in the Renaissance style. In 1627, they sold the village to the Dubský family. Jan Ferdinand Dubský founded here a monastery in 1689–1691, but it was abolished in 1786 and later demolished.[3]

Demographics edit

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1869680—    
1880794+16.8%
1890662−16.6%
1900647−2.3%
1910552−14.7%
YearPop.±%
1921554+0.4%
1930532−4.0%
1950439−17.5%
1961466+6.2%
1970432−7.3%
YearPop.±%
1980486+12.5%
1991509+4.7%
2001527+3.5%
2011567+7.6%
2021645+13.8%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Transport edit

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

Sights edit

 
Pičín Fortress

The most important monument is the medieval Pičín Fortress, located above the Příkop pond. It was probably founded in the 13th century. In the 18th century, it lost its function of an aristocratic residence and was converted into a granary. Today it is privately owned.[6]

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was built in the early Gothic style in the second half of the 13th century. In the mid-18th century, it was modified in the Baroque style and extended. The church is surrounded by a wall and the gate that belonged to the dissolved monastery dates from 1691. In front of the gate are statues of saints Anthony of Padua and John of Nepomuk.[7]

Notable people edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. ^ Profous, Antonín (1951). Místní jména v Čechách III: M–Ř (in Czech). p. 358.
  3. ^ "Z historie obce" (in Czech). Obec Pičín. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  4. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Příbram" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 19–20.
  5. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  6. ^ "Středověká tvrz Pičín" (in Czech). Obec Pičín. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  7. ^ "Kostel Narození Panny Marie" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2022-11-21.

External links edit

Official website