Zbečno

Zbečno is a municipality and village in Rakovník District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 600 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The village of Újezd nad Zbečnem is an administrative part of Zbečno.

Etymology
The initial name of the village was Stbečna. The origin of the name is unclear. It could be derived from the word stéblo ('stalk') or from the old word jistba, which denoted a log cabin or a type of bridge pillar.

Geography
Zbečno is located about 15 km southeast of Rakovník and 32 km west of Prague. It lies in the Křivoklát Highlands and within the Křivoklátsko Landscape Protected Area, which administration have its seat here.

The municipality is situated at the confluence of the Berounka River and Klíčava Stream. Klíčava Reservoir is located on the Klíčava Stream in the northernmost part of the municipal territory.

History
The first written mention of Zbečno is from 1003. After the Křivoklát Castle was built, it became part of the Křivoklát estate.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Zbečno was promoted to a market town by King Vladislaus II, but it was severely damaged in the Thirty Years' War and in the second half of the 17th century, it was again only a village. In 1685, Zbečno was bought by the Waldstein family and ceased to be a royal property.

In 1950–1953, Klíčava Reservoir was built, and Zbečov became a centre of tourism.

Transport
Zbečno is located on the railway line Beroun–Rakovník. The municipality is served by two train stations: Zbečno and Újezd nad Zbečnem.

Sights
The main landmark of Zbečno is the Church of Saint Martin. The original Romanesque church probably existed already at the end of the 11th century. It was rebuilt in the Gothic style in the 1470s. In 1714–1716, the church was rebuilt into its current Baroque form.