Čáslav

This article is about a town in the Czech Republic. For other uses, seeČáslav (disambiguation).

Čáslav (Czech pronunciation:[ˈtʃaːslaf];German:Tschaslau) is a town inKutná Hora District in theCentral Bohemian Region of theCzech Republic. It has about 11,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as anurban monument zone.

Čáslav
Town
Jana Žižky z Trocnova Square with the town hall and Church of Saints Peter and Paul
Flag Coat of arms
Čáslav Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates:49°54′42″N15°23′42″E / 49.91167°N 15.39500°E /49.91167; 15.39500
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Central Bohemian
District	Kutná Hora
First mentioned	1052
Government
• Mayor	Jaromír Strnad
Area
• Total	26.46 km² (10.22 sq mi)
Elevation	231 m (758 ft)
Population (2025-01-01)^[1]
• Total	10,399
• Density	390/km² (1,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	286 01
Website	www.meucaslav.cz

Administrative division

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Čáslav consists of three municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):^[2]

Čáslav-Nové Město (9,078)
Čáslav-Staré Město (894)
Filipov (182)

Etymology

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The name is derived from the personal name Čáslav.^[3]

Geography

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Čáslav is located about 9 kilometres (6 mi) southeast ofKutná Hora and 30 km (19 mi) southwest ofPardubice. It lies in a flat agricultural landscape of theCentral Elbe Table. The Brslenka Stream flows through the town and supplies several ponds, including Podměstský in the town centre. TheKlejnárka River crosses the western part of the municipal territory.

History

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Otakar's Tower

The history of Čáslav begins in the 9th century with the founding of agord and settlement called Hrádek. In the 11th century, it became aPřemyslid administrative centre. A new royal town with a huge square was founded by KingOttokar II of Bohemia next to Hrádek in around 1250. In 1421, Bohemian parliament debated in Čáslav and voted in a newHussite government.^[4]

Two large fires in 1452 and 1522 severely damaged the town. During theThirty Years' War, in 1639 and 1642, Čáslav was devastated and burnt down bySwedish troops. The town however recovered and in 1715, Čáslav became the centre of aregion.^[4]

Jewish population

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From the 14th century there was a Jewish settlement in Čáslav, but in the 15th century the Jews were expelled. In the middle of the 19th century, only one Jewish family lived in the town. After the equality of the Jews in 1867, many from the area moved to the town of Čáslav. Around 1893, 245 Jews lived in the town, which was about 1–2% of the population.^[5]

Demographics

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Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1869	6,312	—
1880	7,178	+13.7%
1890	8,396	+17.0%
1900	9,174	+9.3%
1910	9,318	+1.6%

Year	Pop.	±%
1921	9,460	+1.5%
1930	10,635	+12.4%
1950	9,407	−11.5%
1961	10,107	+7.4%
1970	10,317	+2.1%

Year	Pop.	±%
1980	9,950	−3.6%
1991	10,107	+1.6%
2001	9,904	−2.0%
2011	10,129	+2.3%
2021	10,154	+0.2%

Source: Censuses^[6]^[7]

Air base

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Old Town across Podměstský Pond

To the northeast of the town, there is an active air base of theCzech Air Force, called the 21st Tactical Air Force Base. This base is responsible for protecting the airspace of the Czech Republic.^[8]

Transport

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Čáslav is located on the interregional railway linePrague–Žďár nad Sázavou. It is also the starting point of a line of local importance toTřemošnice.^[9]

Sport

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The town's football club,FK Čáslav, plays in the lower amateur tiers. The club was founded in 1902 as SK STELLA (Hvězda) Čáslav. In 2006–2013, the club played in theCzech National Football League.^[10]

Notable is the Athletics Club Čáslav. Two of its most known sportswomen areLudmila Formanová andJarmila Kratochvílová, both World champions in 800 m sprint.^[11]

Sights

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Synagogue

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is an early Gothic building from the end of the 13th century. The building included the Romanesque Church of St. Michael from the 11th century (today's sacristy), which originally stood here.^[4]

The town area was delimited by walls, which are preserved in one third of their original length. A unique monument of the Čáslav Gothic fortifications is the cylindrical Otakar's Tower, which stood at the Brod Gate.^[4]

Čáslav Town Museum, one of the oldest regional museums in Bohemia, was founded in 1864. Its building is from 1884.^[12]

Thesynagogue was built between 1899 and 1900 inMoorish style, designed by architectWilhelm Stiassny. It was used until 1939 by the local Jewish community, which was then almost totally wiped out duringthe Holocaust. AfterWorld War II the abandoned building saw use as a warehouse, and then (between 1970–1989) as a gallery. In 1994, however, it was returned to the Jewish Community inPrague and has recently been restored.^[5]

In 1910, part of theskull of the Hussite generalJan Žižka was discovered in Čáslav parish church. The skull is exhibited in Žižka's Hall of Čáslav Town Hall.^[13]