Kunvald (German: Kunewalde, Kunwald) is a market town in Ústí nad Orlicí District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 900 inhabitants. It is known as the place where the Moravian Church was founded.

Kunvald
Church of Saint George
Church of Saint George
Flag of Kunvald
Coat of arms of Kunvald
Kunvald is located in Czech Republic
Kunvald
Kunvald
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°7′45″N 16°30′0″E / 50.12917°N 16.50000°E / 50.12917; 16.50000
Country Czech Republic
RegionPardubice
DistrictÚstí nad Orlicí
First mentioned1363
Area
 • Total
29.33 km2 (11.32 sq mi)
Elevation
450 m (1,480 ft)
Population
 (2024-01-01)[1]
 • Total
941
 • Density32/km2 (83/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
561 81
Websitewww.kunvald.info

Administrative parts

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The villages of Bubnov, Končiny, Kunačice, Záhory and Zaječiny are administrative parts of Kunvald.

Etymology

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The German name Kunwald means "Kun's forest". The Czech name is a transcription of the German one.[2]

Geography

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Kunvald is located about 18 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of Ústí nad Orlicí and 52 km (32 mi) east of Pardubice. It lies in the Orlické Foothills. The highest point of the municipal territory is the Homole hill at 653 m (2,142 ft) above sea level. The brook Horský potok flows through the market town.

History

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The first written mention of Kunvald is from 1363. It was founded in the second half of the 13th century.[3]

The Moravian Church was founded in Kunvald in "Na Sboru" House in 1457, when followers of the reformator Gregory the Patriarch found refuge on the estate of King George of Poděbrady.[4]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
18692,308—    
18802,327+0.8%
18902,319−0.3%
19002,091−9.8%
19102,009−3.9%
YearPop.±%
19211,849−8.0%
19301,744−5.7%
19501,215−30.3%
19611,188−2.2%
19701,094−7.9%
YearPop.±%
19801,013−7.4%
19911,027+1.4%
20011,015−1.2%
2011967−4.7%
2021890−8.0%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Transport

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"Na Sboru" House

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

Sights

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Brethren Linden

"Na Sboru" House is open to the public and contains an exposition on the history of the Moravian Church (Unity of the Brethren). Other memorable places, reminiscent of the work of the Moravian Church, are the Brethren Linden, which was planted here by members before leaving their homeland; a place called Jordán, where there used to be a well where the new members were baptized; a praying mine where the brothers hid and gathered for worship in times of oppression; a monument to John Amos Comenius from 1910, which stands in the original burial ground; and a smithy, from which the first bishop of the Unity allegedly came.[4]

Notable people

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Twin towns – sister cities

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Kunvald is twinned with:[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. ^ Profous, Antonín (1949). Místní jména v Čechách II: CH–L (in Czech). pp. 450–451.
  3. ^ "Historie" (in Czech). Městys Kunvald. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  4. ^ a b "Domek Na Sboru" (in Czech). Městys Kunvald. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  5. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.
  6. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  7. ^ "Starostové navštívili velvyslanectví USA" (in Czech). Orlický deník. 2018-02-14. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
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