Nelahozeves

Nelahozeves is a municipality and village in Mělník District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,200 inhabitants. It lies in the Lower Ohře Table, on left bank of the Vltava River. Nelahozeves is known for the Nelahozeves Castle and as the birthplace of Antonín Dvořák, who is considered to be one of the greatest Czech composers.

Administrative division

Nelahozeves consists of five municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):

Nelahozeves (1,018)
Hleďsebe 1.díl (204)
Hleďsebe 2.díl (44)
Lešany (845)
Podhořany (50)

Etymology

The name was derived from the personal name Nelahoda. It was the probable founder of the village.

Geography

Nelahozeves is located about north of Prague. It lies in the Lower Ohře Table. The municipality is situated on the left bank of the Vltava River. The highest point is at above sea level.

History

The first written mention of Nelahozeves is from 1352, when the Church of Saint Andrew already existed. The village was owned by the royal chamber and then by the Metropolitan Chapter at Saint Vitus. After the Hussite Wars, it was again property of Czech kings.

In 1850, the railway was opened.

Demographics

Transport

Nelahozeves is located on the railway line Prague–Ústí nad Labem.

Sights

thumb|Church of Saint Andrew

thumb|Birth house of Antonín Dvořák

The main landmark of Nelahozeves is the Nelahozeves Castle. It is a Renaissance castle, built by the builder Bonifaz Wolmut in 1553–1613. The castle is an example of the castello fortezza, a design with faux architectural defenses, including decorative bastions and an entry bridge without a moat. The building is decorated by sgraffiti that depict scenes from Greek mythology and the Old Testament. The most noteworthy of the castle's interior rooms is the Knight's Hall, which dates from 1564. The castle was confiscated from the Lobkowicz family in 1948 and returned to them in 1993. Today it features an exhibition of historical period rooms, demonstrating the lifestyle of a Bohemian noble family in the mid-19th century. The castle also houses part of the Lobkowicz collection of paintings.

The birth house of Antonín Dvořák is a Baroque house with a small museum focusing on his life. Until 2019, it was operated by the National Museum in Prague; since 2019 it has been operated by the Lobkowicz family.