Chrast (Chrudim District)

Chrast is a city in Okres Chrudim in the Pardubice Region Region in the Czech Republic. It is located in the territory of Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.

History

Chrast was founded in the second half of the 13th century by the Benedictine monastery in Podlažice. After the destruction of the monastery by the Hussites, it was taken from them. Until 1427 it belonged to the Hussite Jakub of Kroměšín, then the Jiřík of Brezović from which it passed to the Crown of Bohemia, to the East Bohemian nobleman William Kostka Postupic transferred the administration. After his death in 1436 pledged by King Sigismund the rule Chrast jan, Pardus of Vrátkov (Jan Pardus Vratkova z ), which she handed to Zdeněk Kostka Postupic, it remained with his descendants until 1539. They were followed by the Slavata of Chlum and Košumberk. Under Albrecht Slavata of Košumberk a castle was built in the Renaissance style in the second half of the 16th century. Beginning of the 17th century came to the Chrast Berka of Dubé, of which it passed to the Schwanberger. In 1664 it was acquired by the Archbishop of Prague, Ernst Adalbert von Harrach, who transferred it to the newly established Diocese of Hradec Kralove to its financial resources.

After the abolition of patrimonial Chrast made ​​from 1850 onwards an independent municipality. 1853, became a town. 1868 Chrast received a railroad connection to the line German Brod - Pardubice, making an economic revival followed.

Attractions

• The Chrast castle was built in the second half of the 16th century by Albrecht Slavata of Košumberk as a Renaissance castle. It was in the first half of the 18th century, rebuilt by the bishops of Hradec Kralove to a four-winged castle in Baroque style and expanded and served as the summer residence of the bishops. In 1950 the castle was confiscated by the communist government of Czechoslovakia and transferred into state ownership. 1958 was declared a National Monument.
• The Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk in the country park was built in 1728.
• The Church of the Holy Trinity was built from 1612 to 1618. The main altar painting of the Holy Family and the panel paintings of John the Baptist created in 1695 Michael Willmann.
• Cemetery church of St. Martin of 1350
• Water tower of 1662 in the district Chrašice
• Church of St. Margaret from 1696 with former monastery brewery in Podlažice
• Church of St. John the Baptist from 1696 in Podskala

Districts

To Chrast include the districts

• Chacholice ( Chacholitz )
• Podlažice ( Podlaschitz ) and
• Skala (scale)

In the northeast of Chrast is the settlement Chrašice.

Personalities

Sons and daughters of the town

• Hanus Fantl (1917-1942), Czech poet and victims of National Socialism
• Ludwig August Frankl of Hochwart (1810-1894), Austrian writer and poet
• Antonín Machek (1775-1844), Czech painter

Other personalities

• Mořic Pícha (1869-1956), bishop of Hradec Kralove, buried in Chrašice