Velká Dobrá
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Velká Dobrá
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Municipality
| image_skyline = Velká Dobrá náves1.JPG
| image_caption = Centre of Velká Dobrá
| image_flag = Flag of Velká Dobrá.svg
| image_shield = Velká Dobrá znak.jpg
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{CZE}}
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = Central Bohemian
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Kladno
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Czech Republic
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Czech Republic
| coordinates = {{coord|50|6|35|N|14|4|12|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| established_title = First mentioned
| established_date = 1328
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 8.42
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 409
| population_as_of = 2025-01-01
| population_footnotes = {{cite web|title=Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2025|url=https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/population-of-municipalities-t4l3n8d2iw|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|date=2025-05-16}}
| population_total = 1793
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone1 = CET
| utc_offset1 = +1
| timezone1_DST = CEST
| utc_offset1_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 273 61
| area_code_type =
| area_code =
| website = {{URL|https://www.velkadobra.cz/}}
| footnotes =
}}
Velká Dobrá is a municipality and village in Kladno District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,800 inhabitants.
Etymology
Velká Dobrá literally means 'great good' or 'large good' in Czech. The name refers to "good water" or "fertile land". There were formerly two separate municipalities, Malá Dobrá and Velká Dobrá, earlier called Hořejší Dobrá and Dolejší Dobrá (i.e. 'upper' and 'lower').{{cite web |title=Historie|url=https://www.velkadobra.cz/obec-7/historie-1/|publisher=Obec Velká Dobrá|language=cs|access-date=2022-05-18}}
Geography
Velká Dobrá is located about {{convert|4|km|0}} southwest of Kladno and {{convert|16|km|0|abbr=on}} northwest of Prague. It lies in the Křivoklát Highlands. The highest point is the hill Veselov at {{convert|429|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.
History
There is evidence of human inhabitation in the region of Velká Dobrá since prehistory. A late 19th century archaeological investigation led by Josef Szombathy discovered a large middle Bronze Age ({{circa|1200}} BCE) grave site near the village in the forest of Hora. A monument constructed over 50 years stood over the largest grave mound. Around sixty graves were investigated, yielding bronze weapons, tools and utensils, several of which were sent for display at museums in Prague and Vienna.
The first written mention of Dobrá is from 1328, when two strongholds existed in the area, the lower at the site of the modern school on Komenského Square and the upper stronghold (still standing) at the junction of the main roads.{{cite web |title=Tvrz Velká Dobrá|url=https://www.hrady.cz/?OID=7373|publisher=Hrady.cz|language=cs|access-date=2023-02-23}}
The longest ruling owners of the area were the noble families of Kladenský of Kladno (1412–1543) and Žďárský of Žďár (1543–1688). After that, the owners changed frequently. In 1548, Malá Dobrá had eight inhabitants and Velká Dobrá nine inhabitants. The area sustained extensive damage during the Thirty Years' War. After 1648, 6 out of 14 farms in Velká Dobrá were abandoned. Gradually, the number of houses and inhabitants increased.{{cite web |title=O Velké Dobré|url=https://www.velkadobra.cz/obec-7/o-velke-dobre/|publisher=Obec Velká Dobrá|language=cs|access-date=2023-02-23}} After 1700, the former upper defensive stronghold was converted into a granary.{{cite web |title=Historické zajímavosti obce|url=https://www.velkadobra.cz/obec-7/historie-1/historicke-zajimavosti-obce/|publisher=Obec Velká Dobrá|language=cs|access-date=2022-05-18}}
In 1929, the Unhošť administrative district was abolished and Malá and Velká Dobrá became parts of Kladno District. In 1935, the municipalities of Malá Dobrá and Velká Dobrá were merged.
Demographics
{{historical populations
|align=none|cols=3
|1869|748
|1880|976
|1890|1070
|1900|1145
|1910|1323
|1921|1377
|1930|1319
|1950|1263
|1961|1274
|1970|1180
|1980|1029
|1991|1008
|2001|1084
|2011|1681
|2021|1853
|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}}}}
Transport
The D6 motorway from Prague to Karlovy Vary runs through the municipality.
Kladno Airport is located in the municipality. It is a public domestic civil airport.{{cite web |title=Home|url=https://letiste-kladno.cz/en/|publisher=Kladno Airport|access-date=2022-05-18}}
Sights
File:Velká Dobrá, kaple Nalezení 1.JPG
The most valuable monument of Velká Dobrá is the Chapel of the Finding of the Holy Cross. It was built in 1765. In 1816, it was demolished and rebuilt in its current form. Next to the chapel is a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk dating from 1753.
Notable people
- Václav Nosek (1892–1955), communist politician, Minister of the Interior in 1945–1953
- Mirek Smíšek (1925–2013), Czech-New Zealand potter
- Tomáš Kaberle (born 1978), ice hockey player
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Velká Dobrá}}
- {{official|https://www.velkadobra.cz/}}
{{Kladno District}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Velka Dobra}}