Knovíz

Knovíz is a municipality and village in Kladno District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 600 inhabitants. It gave its name to the Knovíz culture.

Etymology
The name is derived from the personal name Knovid, meaning "Knovid's (court)".

Geography
Knovíz is located about 7 km north of Kladno and 20 km northwest of Prague. It lies in an agricultural landscape in the Prague Plateau. The highest point is at 332 m above sea level.

History
The territory of today's Knovíz was inhabited already in the Neolithic period, which is proven by finds dating back about 6000 years. The Knovíz culture, an archeological culture of Bronze Age, is named after this site.

The first written mention of Knovíz is from 1088, when King Vratislaus II donated the village to the Vyšehrad Chapter. Among the most notable owners of the village were the House of Schwarzenberg.

Transport
The D7 motorway from Prague to Chomutov passes through the municipality.

The railway line Louny–Kralupy nad Vltavou runs through the municipality, but there is no train stop. The municipality is served by the stop in neighbouring Podlešín.

Sights
The main landmark of Knovíz is the Church of All Saints. It was originally an early Gothic building from the 14th century. The massive tower was added in the 18th century. The church was completely rebuilt in the 19th century. Next to the church is Hus' Pulpit, a sandstone formation where, according to legend, Jan Hus preached on his way to Konstanz.

Notable people

 * Alois Pravoslav Trojan (1815–1893), lawyer and politician
 * Jan Švankmajer (born 1934), filmmaker and artist; had a studio here