Běleč (Tábor District)

49°32′27″N 14°50′14″E / 49.54083°N 14.83722°E / 49.54083; 14.83722Country Czech RepublicRegionSouth BohemianDistrictTáborFirst mentioned1375Area • Total12.23 km² (4.72 sq mi)Elevation457 m (1,499 ft)Population • Total201 • Density16/km² (43/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal codeWebsitewww.obecbelec.cz

Běleč is a municipality and village in Tábor District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 200 inhabitants.

The villages of Bzová and Elbančice are administrative parts of Běleč.

Běleč is located about 18 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of Tábor and 67 km (42 mi) northeast of České Budějovice. It lies in the Vlašim Uplands. The highest point is at 673 m (2,208 ft) above sea level. The Blanice River flows along the western border.

The first written mention of Běleč is from 1375. History of the village is connected with the Šelmberk Castle, which was founded here at the beginning of the 14th century.^[2]

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 559 —     1880 569 +1.8% 1890 489 −14.1% 1900 468 −4.3% 1910 450 −3.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 457 +1.6% 1930 400 −12.5% 1950 287 −28.2% 1961 279 −2.8% 1970 253 −9.3%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 230 −9.1% 1991 183 −20.4% 2001 187 +2.2% 2011 168 −10.2% 2021 194 +15.5%
Source: Censuses[3][4]

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

The most important monument is the ruin of the Šelmberk Castle. The castle was founded before 1318. In the 16th century, it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. At the end of the 16th century, it lost its residential function, and fell into disrepair during the 17th century. The main preserved element is the 26 m (85 ft) high bergfried.^[5]