Krakovec

Krakovec is a municipality and village in Rakovník District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 70 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The village of Zhoř is an administrative part of Krakovec.

Geography
Krakovec is located about 11 km southwest of Rakovník and 49 km west of Prague. It lies in the Plasy Uplands. The highest points are the hills Soudný vrch and Ovčín, both at 474 m above sea level. The stream Šípský potok flows through the municipality. The southern part of the municipality lies within the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area.

History
The first written mention of Krakovec is from 1370. The village of Zhoř was first mentioned in 1383. History of the villages is connected with the Krakovec Castle, which was built in 1381–1383 for Jíra of Roztoky, who was an important courtier of King Wenceslaus IV. Among the most notable owners of Krakovec were the Kolowrat family, which owned it from 1445 to 1548, and the Lobkowicz family, which bought it in 1548. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was twice burned down. It was repaired in 1660, but after a lightning strike in 1783 and a subsequent fire, the castle fell into disrepair and was never repaired again.

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

Sights
Krakovec is known for the ruins of the Krakovec Castle, where the Czech reformer Jan Hus allegedly stayed before departing for Konstanz in 1414. Today the late Gothic castle is owned by the state and is open to the public.