Velké Poříčí (German: Groß Poritsch) is a market town in Náchod District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,400 inhabitants.

Velké Poříčí
Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary
Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary
Flag of Velké Poříčí
Coat of arms of Velké Poříčí
Velké Poříčí is located in Czech Republic
Velké Poříčí
Velké Poříčí
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°27′42″N 16°11′22″E / 50.46167°N 16.18944°E / 50.46167; 16.18944
Country Czech Republic
RegionHradec Králové
DistrictNáchod
First mentioned1496
Area
 • Total7.45 km2 (2.88 sq mi)
Elevation
360 m (1,180 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total2,390
 • Density320/km2 (830/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal codes
549 31, 549 32
Websitewww.velkeporici.cz

Etymology edit

The word poříčí denotes an area "along the river" (podél řeky). The name Velké Poříčí means "Great Poříčí".[2]

Geography edit

Velké Poříčí is located about 5 km (3 mi) north of Náchod and 37 km (23 mi) northeast of Hradec Králové, and it briefly borders Poland in the south. It lies in the Orlické Foothills. The highest point is at 490 m (1,610 ft) above sea level. The Metuje river flows through the market town. The market town is urbanistically fused with the neighbouring town of Hronov.

History edit

The settlement was most likely founded during the colonization of the area at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. A settlement called Poříčko was documented in 1415, but it is not certain whether Velké Poříčí could be meant by this. The first trustworthy written mention of Velké Poříčí is from 1496. The village was part of the Náchod estate.[2]

At the end of the 19th century, there was a boom in the village, connected with the construction of the railway in 1875 and with the development of the textile industry in the region. In 1908, Velké Poříčí was promoted to a market town.[2]

Demographics edit

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18691,405—    
18801,477+5.1%
18901,733+17.3%
19002,168+25.1%
19102,881+32.9%
YearPop.±%
19212,644−8.2%
19302,716+2.7%
19502,398−11.7%
19612,696+12.4%
19702,387−11.5%
YearPop.±%
19802,420+1.4%
19912,361−2.4%
20012,282−3.3%
20112,354+3.2%
20212,196−6.7%
Source: Censuses[3][4]

Transport edit

Velké Poříčí is located on the railway line BroumovStarkoč.[5]

Sights edit

The main landmark of Velké Poříčí is the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. It was built in 1906–1910 and is not protected as a cultural monument.[6]

There are two protected cultural monuments: a late Baroque sculpture group of the Holy Trinity from 1821 and the Art Nouveau building of the primary school from the beginning of the 20th century.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. ^ a b c "O městysi" (in Czech). Městys Velké Poříčí. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  3. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Náchod" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 15–16.
  4. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  5. ^ "Detail stanice Velké Poříčí" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  6. ^ "Velké Poříčí, kostel Navštívení Panny Marie". Noc kostelů (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  7. ^ "Výsledky vyhledávání: Kulturní památky, obec Velké Poříčí". Ústřední seznam kulturních památek (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-07.

External links edit