Nové Strašecí

Nové Strašecí is a town in Rakovník District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,700 inhabitants.

Nové Strašecí
Town
Town hall
Flag Coat of arms
Nové Strašecí Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°9′12″N 13°53′57″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Central Bohemian
District	Rakovník
First mentioned	1343
Government
• Mayor	Karel Filip
Area
• Total	13.32 km2 (5.14 sq mi)
Elevation	470 m (1,540 ft)
Population  (2025-01-01)[1]
• Total	5,686
• Density	430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	271 01
Website	www.novestraseci.cz

Administrative division

Nové Strašecí consists of two municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):^[2]

• Nové Strašecí (5,488)
• Pecínov (218)

Etymology

The name Strašecí is derived from the personal name Strašata, meaning "Strašata's (settlement)". The attribute nové ('new') is used from 1554, after the town was completely rebuilt as a result of a large fire.^[3]

Geography

Observation tower on Mackova hora

Nové Strašecí is located about 13 kilometres (8 mi) northeast of Rakovník and 32 km (20 mi) west of Prague. It lies in the Džbán range. The highest point is the hill Mackova hora at 488 m (1,601 ft) above sea level.

History

The first written mention of Strašecí is from the period 1334–1343. Shortly after, the village was promoted to a market town. It was a part of the Křivoklát estate, owned by the royal chamber. During the 15th century, Strašecí lost its privileges, but in 1503, it was promoted to a town by King Vladislaus II. In 1553, the town was destroyed by large fire and entirely rebuilt.^[4]

Pecínov was first mentioned in 1556. The original part of the settlement disappeared after World War II due to fire clay mining and remained only the upper part of the settlement, which was established in the 1830s.^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 3,169 —     1880 3,336 +5.3% 1890 3,256 −2.4% 1900 3,348 +2.8% 1910 3,693 +10.3%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 3,257 −11.8% 1930 3,650 +12.1% 1950 2,895 −20.7% 1961 3,451 +19.2% 1970 3,294 −4.5%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 4,449 +35.1% 1991 4,996 +12.3% 2001 5,054 +1.2% 2011 5,278 +4.4% 2021 5,706 +8.1%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Transport

The D6 motorway (part of the European route E48) from Prague to Karlovy Vary passes through the town.

Nové Strašecí is located on the railway line Prague–Rakovník via Kladno.^[7]

Sights

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

The main landmark of Nové Strašecí is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It was built in the Gothic style in the mid-14th century and modified in Baroque and Neoclassical styles.^[8]

The town hall with a tower is of Renaissance origin. After the house was damaged by several fires, it was reconstructed to its present form in the 1830s.^[9]

On the hill Mackova hora is an eponymous observation tower. The tower is 36 m (118 ft) high and 98 stairs lead to the viewing platform at a height of 21 m (69 ft).^[10]

Notable people

• Viktor Oliva (1861–1928), painter and illustrator
• Jaromír Spal (1916–1981), actor

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic

Nové Strašecí is twinned with:^[11]

• Welden, Germany