Nové Strašecí

Nové Strašecí is a town in Rakovník District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,700 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The village of Pecínov is an administrative part of Nové Strašecí.

Etymology
The name Strašecí is derived from the personal name Strašata, meaning "Strašata's (settlement)". The attribute nové ('new') is used from 1554, after the town was completely rebuilt as a result of a large fire.

Geography
Nové Strašecí is located about 13 km northeast of Rakovník and 32 km west of Prague. It lies in the Džbán range. The highest point is the hill Mackova hora at 488 m above sea level.

History
The first written mention of Strašecí is from the period 1334–1343. Shortly after, the village was promoted to a market town. It was a part of the Křivoklát estate, owned by the royal chamber. During the 15th century, Strašecí lost its privileges, but in 1503, it was promoted to a town by King Vladislaus II. In 1553, the town was destroyed by large fire and entirely rebuilt.

Pecínov was first mentioned in 1556. The original part of the settlement disappeared after World War II due to fire clay mining and remained only the upper part of the settlement, which was established in the 1830s.

Transport
The D6 motorway (part of the European route E48) from Prague to Karlovy Vary passes through the town.

Nové Strašecí is located on the railway line Prague–Rakovník via Kladno.

Sights
The main landmark of Nové Strašecí is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It was built in the Gothic style in the mid-14th century and modified in Baroque and Neoclassical styles.

The town hall with a tower is of Renaissance origin. After the house was damaged by several fires, it was reconstructed to its present form in the 1830s.

On the hill Mackova hora is an eponymous observation tower. The tower is 36 m high and 98 stairs lead to the viewing platform at a height of 21 m.

Notable people

 * Viktor Oliva (1861–1928), painter and illustrator

Twin towns – sister cities
Nové Strašecí is twinned with:
 * 🇩🇪 Welden, Germany