Klecany

Klecany is a town in Prague-East District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,900 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The villages of Drasty, Klecánky and Zdibsko are administrative parts of Klecany.

Etymology
According to the most probable theory, the name is derived from the Czech word klec (i.e. 'cage') and refers to the fact that people who lived here had the duty of making falconry cages for the king.

Geography
Klecany is located about 5 km north of Prague. It lies in the Prague Plateau, on the right bank of the Vltava River. The highest point is at 300 m above sea level.

History
The first written mention of Klecany is from 1316. In 1507, it was promoted to a market town by King Vladislaus II. Among the notable owners of Klecany were members of the noble families of Lobkowicz, Trautmannsdorf, Sternberg and Clam-Gallas.

In 1994, Klecany obtained the title of a town.

Transport
The D8 motorway (part of the European route E55) from Prague to Ústí nad Labem passes through the eastern part of the municipal territory.

Sights
The main landmark of Klecany is the Klecany Castle. After it was destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt to its current neo-Empire form in 1924. Today the castle is privately owned and inaccessible to the public.

In Drasty is a valuable farmyard from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Notable people

 * Václav Beneš Třebízský (1849–1884), writer; worked here as a chaplain in 1876–1884