Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou

Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou (German: Reichenau) is a town in Jablonec nad Nisou District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,900 inhabitants.

Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou
Town
View over the viaduct
Flag Coat of arms
Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°41′2″N 15°9′0″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Liberec
District	Jablonec nad Nisou
First mentioned	1361
Government
• Mayor	Tomáš Levinský
Area
• Total	12.26 km2 (4.73 sq mi)
Elevation	435 m (1,427 ft)
Population  (2024-01-01)[1]
• Total	2,865
• Density	230/km2 (610/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	468 02
Website	www.rychnovjbc.cz

Administrative division

Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou consists of two municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):^[2]

• Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou (2,671)
• Pelíkovice (52)

Geography

Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou is located about 4 kilometres (2 mi) south of Jablonec nad Nisou. The northern part of the municipal territory with the town proper lies in the western tip of the Giant Mountains Foothills. The southern part lies in the Ještěd–Kozákov Ridge and includes the highest point of Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou, the hill Bienerthův vrch at 614 m (2,014 ft) above sea level. The upper course of the Mohelka River flows through the town.

History

The first written mention of Rychnov is from 1361. It was probably founded by Cistercians from Mnichovo Hradiště in the 13th century.^[3]

In 1856, the railway was built. It helped to the development of the region, from which Rychnov also benefited.^[3]

During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1944–1945, the Germans operated a subcamp of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp, whose prisoners were hundreds of men, mostly Poles, but also Czechs, the French, etc.^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 3,052 —     1880 3,036 −0.5% 1890 3,450 +13.6% 1900 3,803 +10.2% 1910 3,584 −5.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 3,040 −15.2% 1930 3,616 +18.9% 1950 1,858 −48.6% 1961 2,005 +7.9% 1970 1,924 −4.0%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 1,967 +2.2% 1991 1,822 −7.4% 2001 2,013 +10.5% 2011 2,589 +28.6% 2021 2,723 +5.2%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Transport

The I/35 expressway (part of the European route E442) from Liberec to Turnov runs along the western municipal border. The I/65 road, which connects the I/35 with Jablonec nad Nisou, runs north of the town.

Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou is located on the railway line Liberec–Pardubice.

Sights

Church of Saint Wenceslaus

The most valuable building in the town is the Church of Saint Wenceslaus. The original wooden church building was as old as the town.^[7] The current church was built in the early Baroque style in 1704–1712.^[8]

There is a town museum with expositions of concentration camp and local paintings.^[9]