Chrudim facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chrudim
Town
Resselovo Square
Flag Coat of arms
Chrudim Location in Czech Republic
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Pardubice
District	Chrudim
First mentioned	1055
Area
• Total	33.21 km2 (12.82 sq mi)
Elevation	240 m (790 ft)
Population  (2024-01-01)
• Total	23,441
• Density	705.84/km2 (1,828.12/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	537 01

Chrudim is a town in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It is home to about 23,000 people. This makes it the second largest town in the region. The old town center is very well preserved. It is even protected by law as a special historic area.

What is Chrudim Made Of?

Chrudim includes several town parts. These are named Chrudim I, II, III, and IV. It also has villages like Medlešice, Topol, Vestec, and Vlčnov.

Where Did the Name Come From?

The name Chrudim comes from a personal name. It means "Chrudim's castle."

Chrudim's Location and Nature

An aerial view of Chrudim's historic center

Chrudim is located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of Pardubice. Most of the town lies in the Svitavy Uplands. The highest point nearby is Podhůra hill, which is 356 meters (1,168 feet) above sea level. This hill is in the southern part of the town's area. This area also reaches into the Iron Mountains. The Chrudimka River flows right through the town.

A Look at Chrudim's History

The Church of Assumption of the Virgin Mary

People have lived in the Chrudim area for a very long time. The oldest signs of settlement are from about 7,000 years ago. Many different groups of people lived here over time. Since the 7th or 8th century, Slavs have lived in this area.

The first time Chrudim was written about was in 1055. This was when Duke Bretislav I passed away here. King Ottokar II officially founded Chrudim as a royal town in 1276. He chose this spot because it was on an important route. This route went from Prague to Moravia. From 1307, Chrudim became a "dowry town." This meant it was managed by the Bohemian Queens.

During the Hussite Wars, Chrudim supported the anti-Catholic side. Because of this, many German-speaking people left the town. After that, Chrudim became a town mostly of Czech people. The town also opposed the ruling Habsburg family during two revolts. These were in 1547 and 1618–1620. Both times, there were serious problems for Chrudim. The town was also badly affected by the Thirty Years' War. Many people who were not Catholic had to leave during this time.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Chrudim became less important for business and government. However, it grew into a major center for education and culture. This earned it the nickname "Athens of Eastern Bohemia." In 1871, a railway was built. This helped the town become important for business again. Until 1918, Chrudim was part of Austria-Hungary.

How Many People Live in Chrudim?

Chrudim has about 23,441 people living there as of 2024. The number of people living in the town has grown a lot over the years. For example, in 1869, there were about 10,000 people. By 1991, the population had more than doubled to over 23,000.

What Kind of Work Do People Do?

The Column of the Transfiguration in Resselovo Square

There are no very large factories in Chrudim. One medium-sized company is BASF Stavební hmoty Česká republika. This company makes building materials. The biggest employer in Chrudim is Arriva autobusy a.s. This company has over 1,000 employees. They focus on bus transport for people in and around the town.

Getting Around Chrudim

Chrudim is located where two main roads meet. One road connects Čáslav to the D35 motorway. The other connects Hradec Králové and Pardubice to Žďár nad Sázavou and the D1 motorway.

The town also has train lines. These connect Pardubice to Havlíčkův Brod and Chrudim to Moravany. There are four train stations in Chrudim: Chrudim, Chrudim město, Chrudim zastávka, and Medlešice. There is also a small airport south of the town. It was built in 1937.

Culture and Fun

Chrudim is famous for its Loutkářská Chrudim Festival. This festival started in 1951. It is the oldest continuous festival of puppetry in the world.

Sports in Chrudim

Chrudim has a professional football team called MFK Chrudim. Since 2018, they have played in the Czech National Football League. The town also used to have a motorcycle speedway track until 1970.

Places to See in Chrudim

Mydlářovský House and parts of the old town walls

The most important building in Chrudim is the Church of Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It is located on the main town square. This church was first built before 1349. It was damaged by fires and rebuilt in 1857. Other old churches include the Church of Saint Catherine and the Church of Saint Michael.

Resselovo Square is the main square in the old town. It has many old, well-kept houses. The town hall is also here. In the middle of the square, there is a beautiful stone column called the Column of the Transfiguration.

One of the town's special buildings is the Mydlářovský House. It has unique arches and three towers that look like they are from the East. Today, this house is home to the Museum of Puppetry Culture. Another important place is the Chrudim Regional Museum.

The old town center was once surrounded by town walls. Most of these walls, including some towers, are still standing today.

Famous People from Chrudim

• Josef Ressel (1793–1857), an inventor.
• Dagmar Pecková (born 1961), a famous opera singer.
• Petr Průcha (born 1982), an ice hockey player.

Towns Chrudim is Friends With

Chrudim is twinned with these towns:

• Motovun, Croatia
• Oleśnica, Poland
• Svidník, Slovakia
• Znojmo, Czech Republic

See also

In Spanish: Chrudim para niños