Benátky nad Jizerou

Benátky nad Jizerou (Benatek) is a town in Mladá Boleslav District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 7,900 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Administrative parts
The town is made up of the town parts of Benátky nad Jizerou I–III and the villages of Dražice and Kbel.

Geography
Benátky nad Jizerou is located about 15 km south of Mladá Boleslav and 30 km northeast of Prague. It lies in the Jizera Table. The highest point is the hill Benátecký vrch at 251 m above sea level. The Jizera River flows through the town.

History
The first written mention of the village of Obodř (today part of Benátky nad Jizerou III) is from 1052. In 1264, the Dražice Castle was founded. In 1346 Lord Jan of Dražice obtained permission to establish a town on a nearby hill. The town was named Nové Benátky (lit. "New Venice"). In 1349, the monastery and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary were built.

Economy
The village of Dražice is known for the manufacturer of water heaters DZ Dražice. It is the biggest company of its focus in the country, known throughout Europe. The company was founded in 1900, originally as grain warehouse, craft roller mill and bakery, later also a hydroelectric power plant. The water heaters are produced since 1956.

Transport
The D10 motorway from Prague to Turnov passes through the municipal territory.

Sights
The town is the site of a castle and observatory built by astronomer Tycho Brahe. Johann von Klenau, the Habsburg general, was born at the castle in 1758. His old Bohemian family owned the castle at the time. Later it was owned by the counts of Thun und Hohenstein.

Notable people

 * Johann von Werth (1591–1652), German general; lived and died here
 * Franz Benda (1709–1786), violinist and composer
 * Johann Georg Benda (1713–1752), violinist and composer
 * Georg Benda (1722–1795), violinist and composer
 * Joseph Benda (1724–1804), violinist and composer
 * Johann von Klenau (1758–1819), field marshal
 * Zdeněk Kalista (1900–1982), historian and poet

Twin towns – sister cities
Benátky nad Jizerou is twinned with:
 * 🇨🇿 Hustopeče, Czech Republic
 * 🇸🇰 Modra, Slovakia


 * 🇩🇪 Reinsdorf, Germany
 * 🇩🇪 Roßdorf, Germany