Lešany (Benešov District)

Lešany is a municipality and village in Benešov District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 900 inhabitants.

Lešany
Municipality
Centre of Lešany
Flag Coat of arms
Lešany Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°50′39″N 14°31′30″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Central Bohemian
District	Benešov
First mentioned	1185
Area
• Total	14.44 km2 (5.58 sq mi)
Elevation	318 m (1,043 ft)
Population  (2025-01-01)[1]
• Total	905
• Density	63/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	257 44
Website	www.obeclesany.com

Administrative division

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

• Lešany (378)
• Břežany (464)
• Nová Ves (28)

Geography

Lešany is located about 13 kilometres (8 mi) northwest of Benešov and 20 km (12 mi) south of Prague. It lies in the Benešov Uplands. The highest point is the hill Chocholouš at 388 m (1,273 ft) above sea level. The Sázava River flows through the municipality.

History

The first written mention of Lešany is from 1185. The village often changed owners, who were various less important nobles. In 1683, the Metropolitan Chapter at Saint Vitus purchased Lešany and made it the centre of a small estate.^[3]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 965 —     1880 890 −7.8% 1890 940 +5.6% 1900 963 +2.4% 1910 983 +2.1%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 1,007 +2.4% 1930 968 −3.9% 1950 951 −1.8% 1961 815 −14.3% 1970 708 −13.1%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 621 −12.3% 1991 550 −11.4% 2001 551 +0.2% 2011 695 +26.1% 2021 870 +25.2%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Transport

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

Sights

Lešany Castle

The main landmark of Lešany is the Lešany Castle. It was built in 1683 on the site of an old fortress from the 14th century. The castle was then modified in the mid-18th century, and partially rebuilt after a fire in 1903.^[6]

The municipality is known for of the Military Museum Lešany that is located in the former artillery barracks.^[3]

Notable people

• František Hrubín (1910–1971), poet and writer; grew up here
• Libuše Benešová (born 1948), politician and former mayor of Lešany; lives here