Větrný Jeníkov

Větrný Jeníkov (Windig Jenikau) is a market town in Jihlava District in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 600 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The village of Velešov is an administrative part of Větrný Jeníkov.

Geography
Větrný Jeníkov is located about 10 km northwest of Jihlava. It lies in the Křemešník Highlands. The highest point is a hill at 702 m above sea level. There are several ponds around the market town.

History
The first written mention of Jeníkov is from 1226. In 1346, the village was promoted to a market town. From 1436 to the 1570s, Jeníkov was owned by the Trčka of Lípa family. Since 1572, the market town has been called Větrný Jeníkov. Between 1619 and 1635, it was again owned by the Trčkas of Lípa, but their properties were confiscated as a result of the Battle of White Mountain.

Around 1660, Větrný Jeníkov was acquired by the Trauttmansdorff family. In 1719–1744, the estate was a property of Knight Jan of Minetti. During his rule, the market town prospered. There was the development of guilds and the construction of representative buildings. Based on Minetti's will, the estate was inherited in 1744 by Vlašský špitál, which was a charity organization in Prague.

The village of Velešov was founded around 1300, but was completely destroyed in 1421 (during the Hussite Wars). A new settlement was founded near Větrný Jeníkov in 1730 and was named Velešov after its predecessor.

Transport
There is no railway or major road running through the municipality. The D1 motorway from Prague to Brno leads north of Větrný Jeníkov, beyond the municipal borders.

Sights
The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is a small rural church. It was built in the Baroque style in 1720–1735.

The castle was originally a fortress, rebuilt into a Baroque aristocratic residence in 1723–1729. In 1904–1907, it was rebuilt into its present Neo-Baroque form. Today it houses the municipal office.

The Jewish cemetery is located in the southern part of the municipal territory. It was founded in the first half of the 17th century. The oldest preserved tombstone dates from 1652.

The landmark of Velešov is a belfry from 1829.