Kolín
| Kolín | |||
| Town | |||
 Town Hall | |||
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| Country | Czech Republic | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Central Bohemian | ||
| District | Kolín | ||
| Commune | Kolín | ||
| River | Elbe | ||
| Elevation | 220 m (722 ft) | ||
| Coordinates | 50°1′N 15°12′E / 50.017°N 15.200°E | ||
| Area | 34.97 km2 (13.5 sq mi) | ||
| Population | 30,823 | ||
| Density | 881 / km2 (2,282 / sq mi) | ||
| First mentioned | 1261 | ||
| Mayor | Vít Rakušan | ||
| Timezone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 280 02 | ||
   Location in the Czech Republic
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| Wikimedia Commons: Kolín | |||
| Statistics: statnisprava.cz | |||
| Website: www.mukolin.cz | |||
Kolín (Czech pronunciation: [ˈkoliːn]; German: Kolin) is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic some 55 kilometres (34 mi) east from Prague, lying on the Elbe River.
History
Ptolemy's world map mentions Kolin - Budorgis in the 2nd century.[citation needed] In the 12th and 13th-century German settlers were called in after the Germans leaving west during Migration and the colonization by Slaves. Kolín was founded by king Přemysl Otakar II in the 13th century, first mentioned in 1261.[citation needed] Later on, 1437, a castle was founded here. Between 1475 and 1488, Hynek ze Strážnic, a Renaissance writer and son of King George of Poděbrady, lived in the Kolín Castle.
The 1757 Battle of Kolin was fought during the Seven Years' War, and in 1944 a refinery in Kolin was bombed during the Oil Campaign of World War II. Cyklon B for Nazi concentration camps was produced there. The predominantly German population was expelled after World War II.
Historical centre of the town has many gothic and baroque buildings. Most notable are main market (Karls Square), the Jewish ghetto and synagogue, very old and large Jewish cemetery, the St. Bartholomeus Church from the 13th century (work of architect Peter Parler).
Kolín today
In spring 2005 a new automobile factory was opened by the TPCA consortium on the northern edge of the town.50 04N; 15 14E It employs 3,000 people, cost about 1.5 billion EUR and has a current capacity of 300,000 cars a year.
Notable inhabitants
- Jakub Krčín z Jelčan, 16th-century pond and dam constructer
- Jan Rosacius, 17th-century priest and writer
- Karel Leger, 19th-century poet
- Otokar Fischer (1883–1938), playwright, translator, poet and critic
- Josef Svatopluk Machar, 20th-century writer
- Bohdan Ulihrach, professional tennis player
- Václav Morávek, Czech soldier and hero of anti-nazi rezistance
- Josef Sudek, Czech photographer, best known for his haunting night-scapes of Prague.
- Frank Daniel, Czech screenwriter, teacher, producer, and director
- Jean-Gaspard Deburau, Bohemian–French actor and mime.
- František Kmoch, composer and conductor.
- Jan Novák, Czech-American novelist and playwright.
- Milos Zeman, incumbent President of the Czech Republic.
External links
- Municipal website
- Link to Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile
- unofficial web site about the beautiful Czech City – Kolín
- Kolín pictures
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kolín. |