Kolín ( ) is a town in the Central Bohemian Region
of the Czech Republic
some 55 kilometres east from Prague, lying on the
Elbe river.
History
Kolín was founded by king
Přemysl
Otakar II in the 13th century under the name
Colonia
nova (New Colony) (first mentioned in 1261). Later on, 1437, a
castle was founded here. Between 1475-1488,
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.
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 employes 3,000
people, cost about 1.5 billion EUR and has a
current capacity of 300,000 cars a year.
Important 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.
Other famous people connected with Kolín
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