Municipality in Central Bohemian, Czech Republic
Velka Dobra
is a municipality and village in
Kladno District
in the
Central Bohemian Region
of the
Czech Republic
. It has about 1,800 inhabitants.
Etymology
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Velka Dobra means literally "Great Good" or "Large Good". The name refers to "good water" or "fertile land". There were formerly two separate municipalities, Mala Dobra and Velka Dobra, earlier called Ho?ej?i and Dolej?i Dobra (i.e. "Upper" and "Lower").
[2]
Geography
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Velka Dobra is located about 4 kilometres (2 mi) southwest of
Kladno
and 16 km (10 mi) northwest of
Prague
. It lies in the
K?ivoklat Highlands
. The highest point is the hill Veselov with an elevation of 429 m (1,407 ft).
History
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There is evidence of human inhabitation in the region of Velka Dobra since
prehistory
. A late 19th century
archaeological
investigation led by
Josef Szombathy
discovered a large middle
Bronze Age
(ca. 1200 BCE) grave site near the village in the forest of Hora. A monument constructed over 50 years stood over the largest grave mound. Around sixty graves were investigated, yielding bronze weapons, tools and utensils, several of which were sent for display at museums in
Prague
and
Vienna
.
[2]
The first written mention of Dobra is from 1328, when two strongholds existed in the area, the lower at the site of the modern school on Komenskeho Square and the upper stronghold (still standing) at the junction of the main roads.
[3]
The longest ruling owners of the area were the noble families of Kladensky of Kladno (1412?1543) and ??arsky of ??ar (1543?1688). After that, the owners changed frequently.
[2]
In 1548, Mala Dobra had eight inhabitants and Velka Dobra nine inhabitants. The area sustained extensive damage during the
Thirty Years' War
. After 1648, 6 out of 14 farms in Velka Dobra were abandoned. Gradually, the number of houses and inhabitants increased.
[4]
After 1700, the former upper defensive stronghold was converted into a granary.
[5]
In 1929, the
Unho??
administrative district was abolished and Mala and Velka Dobra became parts of Kladno District. In 1935, the municipalities of Mala Dobra and Velka Dobra were merged.
[2]
Demographics
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Historical population
| Year
| Pop.
| ±%
|
|---|
| 1869
| 748
| ?
|
|---|
| 1880
| 976
| +30.5%
|
|---|
| 1890
| 1,070
| +9.6%
|
|---|
| 1900
| 1,145
| +7.0%
|
|---|
| 1910
| 1,323
| +15.5%
|
|---|
| | Year
| Pop.
| ±%
|
|---|
| 1921
| 1,377
| +4.1%
|
|---|
| 1930
| 1,319
| ?4.2%
|
|---|
| 1950
| 1,263
| ?4.2%
|
|---|
| 1961
| 1,274
| +0.9%
|
|---|
| 1970
| 1,180
| ?7.4%
|
|---|
| | Year
| Pop.
| ±%
|
|---|
| 1980
| 1,029
| ?12.8%
|
|---|
| 1991
| 1,008
| ?2.0%
|
|---|
| 2001
| 1,084
| +7.5%
|
|---|
| 2011
| 1,681
| +55.1%
|
|---|
| 2021
| 1,853
| +10.2%
|
|---|
|
| Source: Censuses
[6]
[7]
|
Transport
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The
D6 motorway
from Prague to
Karlovy Vary
runs through the municipality.
Kladno Airport is located in the municipality. It is a public domestic civil airport.
[8]
Sights
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Chapel of the Finding of the Holy Cross
A statue of
John of Nepomuk
dates from 1753. The Chapel of the Finding of the Holy Cross was built in 1765. In 1816, it was demolished and rebuilt in its current form.
[5]
Notable people
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- Vaclav Nosek
(1892?1955), Communist politician, Minister of the Interior in 1945?1953
- Toma? Kaberle
(born 1978), ice hockey player
References
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External links
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]