Deštná (Jindřichův Hradec District)

Coordinates: 49°15′55″N 14°55′16″E / 49.26528°N 14.92111°E / 49.26528; 14.92111
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Deštná
Town square
Town square
Flag of Deštná
Coat of arms of Deštná
Deštná is located in Czech Republic
Deštná
Deštná
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°15′55″N 14°55′16″E / 49.26528°N 14.92111°E / 49.26528; 14.92111
Country Czech Republic
RegionSouth Bohemian
DistrictJindřichův Hradec
First mentioned1294
Government
 • MayorDavid Šašek
Area
 • Total12.70 km2 (4.90 sq mi)
Elevation
520 m (1,710 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total733
 • Density58/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
378 25
Websitewww.destna.cz

Deštná (German: Deschna) is a town in Jindřichův Hradec District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 700 inhabitants.

Administrative parts[edit]

The village of Lipovka is an administrative part of Deštná.

Etymology[edit]

The name was derived either from the Czech word déšť (i.e. 'rain'), which described a rainy landscape, or from the old Czech expression deščený, which denoted a forest made up of tall but not very branched trees.[2]

Geography[edit]

Deštná is located about 14 kilometres (9 mi) north of Jindřichův Hradec and 45 km (28 mi) northeast of České Budějovice. It lies in the Křemešník Highlands. The highest point is the hill Deštenská hora at 647 m (2,123 ft) above sea level. The stream of Dírenský potok flows through the town. The territory is rich in fishponds.

History[edit]

The first written mention of Deštná is a donation deed of Oldřich of Hradec from 1294, when it was already a market town. In 1364, Lords of Hradec sold Deštná to the Rosenberg family, who annexed it to the Choustník estate. In 1418, Deštná was promoted to a town. With a short break in 1531–1538, the Rosenbergs owned Deštná until 1596, when they sold it to Vilém Ruth. He annexed the town to the Červená Lhota estate, which remained so until the establishment of an independent municipality in 1848. In 1774, Deštná was badly damaged by a large fire.[2]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18691,653—    
18801,620−2.0%
18901,550−4.3%
19001,476−4.8%
19101,393−5.6%
YearPop.±%
19211,321−5.2%
19301,245−5.8%
1950967−22.3%
1961955−1.2%
1970800−16.2%
YearPop.±%
1980685−14.4%
1991649−5.3%
2001664+2.3%
2011721+8.6%
2021696−3.5%
Source: Censuses[3][4]

Transport[edit]

There are no railways or major roads running through the municipal territory.

Sights[edit]

Church of Saint Otto

The main landmark of Deštná is the Church of Saint Otto. It was built by the Teutonic Order after 1255 and was extended in 1380. The tower was raised in 1687. In 1733, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style. It is the only church in the country dedicated to Saint Otto of Bamberg.[5][6]

The Chapel of Saint John the Baptist is located on the outsirts of the town. It was built in the second quarter of the 17th century and rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style in the 18th and 19th centuries.[7]

Among the tourist destinations are the Aviation Museum Deštná with exhibits about Czechoslovak RAF pilots in World War II, and Rope Museum of Karel Klik, which presents the rope-making craft.[8]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. ^ a b "Historie Deštné" (in Czech). Město Deštná. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  3. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Jindřichův Hradec" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 5–6.
  4. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  5. ^ "Kostel sv. Ottona s křížem" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  6. ^ "Proč je deštenský kostel zasvěcen patronovi s neobvyklým jménem sv. Otton?" (in Czech). Město Deštná. 2019-05-22. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  7. ^ "Kaple sv. Jana Křtitele" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  8. ^ "Muzea" (in Czech). Město Deštná. Retrieved 2023-12-04.

External links[edit]