Jilemnice
Town
Masarykovo Square, historic centre
Masarykovo Square, historic centre
Flag of Jilemnice
Flag
Coat of arms of Jilemnice
Coat of arms
Jilemnice is located in Czech Republic
Jilemnice
Jilemnice
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°36′34″N 15°30′23″E / 50.60944°N 15.50639°E / 50.60944; 15.50639
Country Czech Republic
RegionLiberec
DistrictSemily
First mentioned1356
Government
 • MayorDavid Hlaváč
Area
 • Total13.86 km2 (5.35 sq mi)
Elevation
451 m (1,480 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total5,439
 • Density390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
514 01
Websitewww.mestojilemnice.cz

Jilemnice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈjɪlɛmɲɪtsɛ]; German: Starkenbach) is a town in Semily District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,400 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Administrative parts

Church of Saint Lawrence
Town hall

Villages of Hrabačov and Javorek are administrative parts of Jilemnice.

Geography

Jilemnice is located about 34 km (21 mi) southeast of Liberec. It lies in a hilly landscape of the Giant Mountains Foothills. The highest points are the slopes of the Chmelnice hill at about 592 m (1,942 ft), and the peak of Bubeníkovy vrchy at 588 m (1,929 ft).

The Jilemka stream flows through the town into the Jizerka river, which flows through the northern part of the municipal territory.

History

Jilemnice was founded at the beginning of the 14th century as an economic centre of an extensive Štěpanice manor owned by the Waldstein family. The regular ground plan of the historic centre indicates that the town was probably founded on a green field. Because of its secluded location, the town developed in a slower pace than other towns in fertile inland. However, Jilemnice's isolation protected the town against serious war damage for years. The town development was even more restricted from 1492 when the Waldstein family divided the manor into two parts.[2]

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the main economic activities were ore mining and linen production. During the Thirty Years' War the town was burned down by the Swedish army and after the war, the town failed to follow up on the previous sources of livelihood.[3]

In 1701, both parts of the manor were acquired and merged by the Harrach noble family. Since then, Jilemnice began to prosper again. Harrachs' progressive economic policy led to raising of local linen industry to the world level. During the first half of the 19th century, the linen industry gradually declined. In 1873, the Textile Industrial School was founded.[3]

Jilemnice continued to develop in the interwar period and became a tourist resort, but the war had a negative impact on the economy and tourism. After the war, the town's economy shifted to the engineering and food industries.[3]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18694,481—    
18804,225−5.7%
18904,118−2.5%
19004,353+5.7%
19104,669+7.3%
YearPop.±%
19214,452−4.6%
19304,538+1.9%
19503,991−12.1%
19613,885−2.7%
19704,380+12.7%
YearPop.±%
19805,297+20.9%
19915,829+10.0%
20015,753−1.3%
20115,637−2.0%
20215,247−6.9%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Economy

The largest industrial employer based in the town is the Czech branch of the Devro company, a manufacturer of plastic casings for food products. From the service sector, the most important employer is the local hospital.[6]

Sights

Jilemnice Castle

The main landmark of the town is Jilemnice Castle. It is a Renaissance building from the 16th century, built on the site of a former fortress. Between 1714 and 1895, it was gradually rebuilt into its present form. Today it houses the Giant Mountains Museum.[7]

The Church of Saint Lawrence is one of the most valuable buildings in Jilemnice. The church was built in the Baroque style in 1729–1735.[8]

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

Jilemnice is twinned with:[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. ↑ "Vítejte v Jilemnici". Město Jilemnice. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  3. 1 2 3 "O městě" (in Czech). Město Jilemnice. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  4. ↑ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky - 1869–2011: Okres Semily". Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 5–6.
  5. ↑ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  6. ↑ "Registr ekonomických subjektů". Business Register (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  7. ↑ "Zámek Jilemnice, Krkonoše" (in Czech). Region Krkonoše. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  8. ↑ "Kostel sv. Vavřince" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  9. ↑ "Úvodní strana" (in Czech). Město Jilemnice. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
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