Solnice

Solnice (Solnitz) is a town in Rychnov nad Kněžnou District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,400 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The village of Ještětice is an administrative part of Solnice.

Etymology
The word solnice (derived from the Czech word sůl, i.e. 'salt') denoted a place where salt was traded, stored or taxed.

Geography
Solnice is located about 5 km northeast of Rychnov nad Kněžnou and 28 km east of Hradec Králové. It lies mostly in the Orlice Table, only small parts of the municipal territory in the east extend into the Orlické Foothills. The highest point is at 390 m above sea level.

History
Solnice was probably founded on a trade route from western and southern lands to the Baltic region. The first written mention of Solnice is from 1321, when it was owned by Jan of Meziříčí. In 1386, the settlement obtained various rights and began to be referred to as a town.

Transport
The I/14 road (the section from Náchod to Ústí nad Orlicí) runs through the town.

Solnice is served by two train stations and stops called Solnice and Solnice zastávka, located on the railway line from Hradec Králové that terminates here. However, the Solnice station is situated outside the premises of the town, in neighbouring Kvasiny.

Sights
The main landmark of Solnice is the Church of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. It was built in the early Baroque style in 1681–1686, modified into its present pseudo-style form in 1869–1870.

The architectural landmark of the town square is the town hall. It was built in the Empire style in the first half of the 19th century.

A cultural monument is the former Renaissance fortress, built in 1560–1565. Today, the building serves as a hostel.