Lelekovice

Lelekovice is a municipality and village in Brno-Country District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,000 inhabitants.

Lelekovice
Municipality
General view
Flag Coat of arms
Lelekovice Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°17′36″N 16°34′44″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	South Moravian
District	Brno-Country
First mentioned	1288
Area
• Total	7.29 km2 (2.81 sq mi)
Elevation	312 m (1,024 ft)
Population  (2025-01-01)[1]
• Total	2,016
• Density	277/km2 (716/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	664 31
Website	www.lelekovice.cz

Etymology

The origin of the name is unclear. It might be derived from lelek (meaning the bird 'nightjar' in Czech) or from the personal name Lelek, derived from the bird. According to other theories, it may have its root in the old Czech verb leleti ('to wave', 'to sway') or in the old Slavic word lělja ('godfather', 'father').^[2]

Geography

Lelekovice is located about 9 kilometres (6 mi) north of Brno. It lies in the Drahany Highlands. The highest point is on the ridge Babí lom at 549 m (1,801 ft) above sea level. The Ponávka Stream flows through the municipality.

History

The first written mention of Lelekovice is in a deed of the nobleman Hartman of Holštejn from 1288.^[2]

Demographics

Historical population
Year Pop. ±% 1869 604 —     1880 665 +10.1% 1890 696 +4.7% 1900 714 +2.6% 1910 806 +12.9%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 952 +18.1% 1930 1,236 +29.8% 1950 1,220 −1.3% 1961 1,264 +3.6% 1970 1,216 −3.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 1,227 +0.9% 1991 1,262 +2.9% 2001 1,362 +7.9% 2011 1,771 +30.0% 2021 1,889 +6.7%
Source: Censuses[3][4]

Transport

Lelekovice is served by the train station Česká just outside the municipality, which is located on the railway lines Brno–Křižanov and Tišnov–Hustopeče.^[5]

Sights

Church of Saints Philip and James

The main landmark of Lelekovice is the Church of Saints Philip and James. It is a valuable Gothic building with a Romanesque core, built on the site of a disappeared castle. Its present appearance is a result of neo-Gothic modifications.^[6]

On the ridge Babí lom is an eponymous observation tower. It is a concrete structure from 1961 and is 15 m (49 ft) high.^[7]

Notable people

• Kamil Hornoch (born 1972), astronomer

Honours

The asteroid 167208 Lelekovice was named in its honour by the co-discoverer Kamil Hornoch.