Smečno (until 1882 Muncifaj) (Czech pronunciation: [ˈsmɛtʃno]) is a town in Kladno District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,900 inhabitants. The town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Smečno
Town
Smečno Castle
Flag Coat of arms
Smečno Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°11′19″N 14°2′26″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Central Bohemian
District	Kladno
First mentioned	1252
Area
• Total	9.59 km2 (3.70 sq mi)
Elevation	372 m (1,220 ft)
Population  (2022-01-01)[1]
• Total	1,914
• Density	200/km2 (520/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	273 05
Website	www.smecno-mesto.cz

Geography

Pchery is located about 6 kilometres (4 mi) northwest of Kladno. The eastern part of the municipal territory with the built-up area lies in the Prague Plateau, the western part lies in the geomorphological region of Džbán.

History

The first written mention of a keep in Smečno is from 1252. In 1510, Smečno became a market town and in 1515 it became a town.[2]

Sights

Smečno Military Open-Air Museum shows fortifications built in 1935–1938. It is fully equipped and armed fortress, one of the few preserved objects of the External Defense of Prague (so-called Prague Line).[3]

The keep in Smečno was rebuilt into a late Gothic castle in 1460, and in the 16th century, it was rebuilt into a Renaissance arcaded castle with a Gothic tower. Nowadays the Smečno Castle serves as a retirement home and the Institute of Social Care. Its park is open to the public.[2]

Notable people

• Jaroslav Bořita of Martinice (1582–1649), nobleman and a representative of Ferdinand II
• Heinrich Clam-Martinic (1863–1932), Austrian statesman, prime minister of Austro-Hungary in 1916–17
• Zdeněk Liška (1922–1983), film score composer

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smečno.

• Official website (in Czech)