Memorial of Petr Chelčický in Chelčice
The first written mention of the village of Chelčice dates back to 1352. A preserved chronicle exists from 1872.
The history of Chelčice, according to written sources, begins in 1390 when the original noble family Hrůza of Chelčice resided at the nearby Helfenburk Castle near Bavorov. In 1444, Lord Oldřich of Rožmberk purchased Prachatice and appointed Václav Hrůza of Chelčice as burgrave. In the second half of the century, Chelčice came under the ownership of the Knights of Malovice.
The name of Petr Chelčický, an important medieval religious reformer, is also associated with Chelčice. In 2010, after extensive restoration of a medieval monument, the Memorial of Petr Chelčický was established in the village.
The Chelčice area is known for its strong tradition in fruit cultivation. As early as 1860, written records describe how cherries were carried in baskets from Chelčice to the market in České Budějovice. Some regionally important varieties were bred in Chelčice, such as the cherry “Libějovická raná” or the apple “Petr Chelčický”, followed later by others. Intensive orchards began to be planted in 1967. Today, the Chelčice area cultivates the latest varieties of apples, cherries, sour cherries, and currants. Chelčice is also known throughout the Czech Republic for developing and applying biological methods in orchard protection.
