Benátky nad Jizerou, Mladá Boleslav, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic

🇨🇿 Benátky nad Jizerou (Benatek) is a town in Mladá Boleslav District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Administrative parts The town is made up of town parts of Benátky nad Jizerou I–III and villages of Dražice and Kbel.

Geography Benátky nad Jizerou is located about 15 km (9 mi) south of Mladá Boleslav and 30 km (19 mi) north-east of Prague. It lies on the Jizera River in the Jizera Table plateau. The highest point of the municipal territory is the hill Benátecký vrch with an elevation of 251 m (823 ft).

History The first written mention of the village of Obodř (today part of Benátky nad Jizerou III) is from 1052. In 1264, the Dražice Castle was founded. In 1346 Lord Jan of Dražice obtained permission to establish a town on a nearby hill. The town was named Nové Benátky (lit. "New Venice"). In 1349, the monastery and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary were built.

Economy The town part of Dražice is known for the manufacturer of water heaters DZ Dražice. It is the biggest company of its focus in the country, known throughout Europe. The company was founded in 1900, originally as grain warehouse, craft roller mill and bakery, later also a hydroelectric power plant. The water heaters are produced since 1956.

Sights The town is the site of a castle and observatory built by astronomer Tycho Brahe. Johann von Klenau, the Habsburg general, was born at the castle in 1758. His old Bohemian family owned the castle at the time. Later it was owned by the counts of Thun und Hohenstein.