Křižany

Municipality in Liberec, Czech Republic

Flag

Coat of arms

50°44′19″N 14°54′5″E / 50.73861°N 14.90139°E / 50.73861; 14.90139Country

Czech RepublicRegionLiberecDistrictLiberecFirst mentioned1352Area

• Total28.58 km² (11.03 sq mi)Elevation

386 m (1,266 ft)Population

(2023-01-01)^[1]

• Total844 • Density30/km² (76/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal code

463 53

Websitewww.obeckrizany.cz

Křižany (German: Kriesdorf) is a municipality and village in Liberec District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 800 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

The village of Žibřidice is an administrative part of Křižany.

Geography

Křižany is located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) west of Liberec. In lies mostly in the Ralsko Uplands, only the eastern part of the municipal territory extends into the Ještěd–Kozákov Ridge. The highest point is the hill Malý Ještěd at 754 m (2,474 ft) above sea level. The built-up area is situated in the valley of the stream Ještědský potok.

History

The first written mention of Křižany is from 1352. Until 1684, there was a fortress.^[2]

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1869	3,409	—
1880	3,192	−6.4%
1890	2,895	−9.3%
1900	2,670	−7.8%
1910	2,494	−6.6%

Year	Pop.	±%
1921	2,317	−7.1%
1930	2,371	+2.3%
1950	1,169	−50.7%
1961	986	−15.7%
1970	891	−9.6%

Year	Pop.	±%
1980	740	−16.9%
1991	678	−8.4%
2001	652	−3.8%
2011	776	+19.0%
2021	849	+9.4%

Source: Censuses^[3]^[4]

Transport

Křižany is located on the railway line Liberec–Děčín.

Sights

The main landmark of Křižany is the Church of Saint Maximilian. It was originally a Gothic church from the 14th century, rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 17th century. The tower was added in 1684.^[5]

The Church of Saints Simon and Jude is located in Žibřidice. It dates from the 1670s.^[6]

In Žibřidice is the Museum of Nativity Scenes and the Martin Chaloupka's astronomical clock, a modern astronomical clock created in a former electrical substation. In 2023, the owner decided to move the museum and the astronomical clock from Kryštofovo Údolí.^[7]

Notable people

Josef Vacke (1907–1987), artist and painter; lived here

References

^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
^ "Historie obce Křižany" (in Czech). Obec Křižany. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Liberec" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 9–10.
^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
^ "Kostel sv. Maxmiliána" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
^ "Kostel sv. Šimona a Judy" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
^ "Orloj Martina Chaloupky v obci Žibřidice – dříve býval v Kryštofově Údolí". CzechTourism. Retrieved 22 February 2024.