Hlinsko

File:Poděbradovo náměstí (Hlinsko) 03.jpg

Hlinsko consists of six municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):{{cite web |title=Public Census 2021 – basic data|url=https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4690&katalog=33475&pvo=SLD21043-CO|work=Public Database|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|language=cs|date=2022}}

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• Hlinsko (7,806)
• Blatno (569)
• Čertovina (107)
• Chlum (261)
• Kouty (262)
• Srní (266)

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Chlum forms an exclave of the municipal territory.

The name is derived from hlína, i.e. 'clay'. The name arose thanks to the deposits of high-quality potter's clay.{{cite web |title=Historie města|url=https://www.hlinsko.cz/mesto/historie-mesta/|publisher=Město Hlinsko|language=cs|access-date=2024-08-23}}

Hlinsko is located about {{convert|21|km}} south of Chrudim and {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} south of Pardubice. It lies in the Iron Mountains and partly in the eponymous protected landscape area. The highest point is at {{convert|678|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level. The town is situated on both banks of the Chrudimka River.

The area around the Chrudimka River is inhabited since the 12th century. Hlinsko was founded in the 12th century as a guarding settlement on the trade route from Bohemia to Moravia. The first written mention of Hlinsko is from 1349. The fortress in Hlinsko is first documented in 1413. In the 16th century, it served as a royal customhouse.{{cite web|title=Po stopách historie města|url=http://www.hlinsko.cz/mesto/cestovni-ruch-turistika-pamatky/tipy-na-vylety/turistika/oddychove-trasy-po-hlinecku/1|publisher=Město Hlinsko|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-19|archive-date=2021-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019065741/http://www.hlinsko.cz/mesto/cestovni-ruch-turistika-pamatky/tipy-na-vylety/turistika/oddychove-trasy-po-hlinecku/1|url-status=dead}}

During the reign of Maria Theresa, Hlinsko became a market town, and in 1834, it became a town. During its history, the town's economy consisted mainly of agriculture, pottery, wire-making and weaving. The tradition of pottery craft originated in the 15th century and ended in the 19th century. In 1871, the railway was built and the town was industrialized.

{{historical populations

|align=none|cols=3

|1869|4882

|1880|4964

|1890|5231

|1900|5962

|1910|7085

|1921|6901

|1930|8084

|1950|7413

|1961|8346

|1970|9357

|1980|10182

|1991|10916

|2001|10543

|2011|9903

|2021|9271

|source=Censuses{{cite web |title=Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011|url=https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/historicky-lexikon-obci-1869-az-2015|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|language=cs|date=2015-12-21}}{{cite web |title=Population Census 2021: Population by sex|url=https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4429&katalog=33515&pvo=SLD21001-OB-OK|work=Public Database|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|date=2021-03-27}}}}

There is a major dairy company Mlékárna Hlinsko in the town. The company was founded in 1939, and the production started in 1943.{{cite web |title=O společnosti|url=https://www.tatramleko.cz/o-spolecnosti|publisher=Mlékárna Hlinsko, a.s.|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-19}}

File:Hlinsko v Čechách, CZ171014-008.jpg

Hlinsko is the terminus of two railway lines, heading from Pardubice and from Havlíčkův Brod.{{cite web |title=Detail stanice Hlinsko v Čechách|url=https://www.cd.cz/stanice/hlinsko-v-cechach/5454853|publisher=České dráhy|language=cs|access-date=2023-06-15}}

Hlinsko and several municipalities in the surrounding area are known for Slavic carnival processions of masks. In 2010, this tradition known as "Shrovetide door-to-door processions and masks in the villages of the Hlinecko area" was included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.{{cite web |title=Shrovetide door-to-door processions and masks in the villages of the Hlinecko area|url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/shrovetide-door-to-door-processions-and-masks-in-the-villages-of-the-hlinecko-area-00397|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=2021-10-19}}

File:Hlinsko, Betlém (03).jpg

File:Hlinsko-dům-u-tvrze-č-45-u-náměstí2013.jpg

Hlinsko is known for the Betlém Village Monument Reservation with preserved examples of folk architecture. This area around the Chrudimka River consists of valuable timbered and brick houses from the 18th and early 19th centuries. It is part of the Vysočina Open Air Museum.{{cite web |title=Historical sights in Hlinsko|url=http://www.hlinsko.cz/english/tourist-info/historical-sights/1|publisher=Město Hlinsko|access-date=2021-10-19}}

The historic centre is formed by Poděbradovo Square. The most valuable building are the town hall, Ježdík's House and the old fortress. The town hall was built in 1598 and rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1788–1792. The last reconstructions were made in 1850. Since its foundation, it serves its original purpose. Ježdík's House is a significant house with sgraffito decorations from 1904. The old fortress, called just The Fortress, is the oldest building in Hlinsko.

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is located outside the historic centre. The originally Gothic church was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1730–1745, but the Gothic tower was partly preserved. It has a valuable baptistry from 1628.{{cite web |title=Kostel Narození P. Marie|url=https://pamatkovykatalog.cz/kostel-narozeni-p-marie-12408773|publisher=National Heritage Institute|language=cs|access-date=2024-08-23}}

• Emanuel Famíra (1900–1970), sculptor
• Karel Lidický (1900–1976), sculptor
• Jan Vokál (born 1958), bishop
• Jan Chvojka (born 1980), politician

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic}}

Hlinsko is twinned with:{{cite web |title=Partnerská města|url=https://www.hlinsko.cz/obcan/partnerska-mesta/|publisher=Město Hlinsko|language=cs|access-date=2023-01-15}}

• {{flagicon|SVK}} Púchov, Slovakia
• {{flagicon|SRB}} Stara Pazova, Serbia

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Hlinsko}}

• {{official|https://www.hlinsko.cz/}}

{{Chrudim District}}

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Category:Cities and towns in the Czech Republic

Category:Populated places in Chrudim District