Imagine stepping back in time to Cvrčovice. This village boasts a rich history, though it’s now a part of Podolanka. We are near Prague’s northeastern edge. Once, Cvrčovice held more significance than its neighboring villages. Let’s delve into its story.
Cvrčovice’s origins are shrouded in mystery. A legend suggests Prince Bedřich made a deal in 1187. He pledged Cvrčovice to Habrovec for 300 silver. Saint Peter supposedly punished him for it. The first church mention was in 1309. Yet, some believe it has Romanesque roots. The first real written record appeared in 1352. It described the village as a spiritual holding of a canon.
Cvrčovice was once divided. Part of it, likely with the church, belonged to the chapter at St. Vitus Cathedral. Another part belonged to the Vyšehrad chapter. During the Hussite wars, Prague citizens seized Cvrčovice. They leased it out. Later, Emperor Sigismund confiscated it. He then auctioned it off to Vaňek and Jan of Odice. After 1498, the Tedražice family acquired it from Vladislav II Jagellonský.
Ownership of Cvrčovice changed hands frequently. Mikuláš Bryknár of Brukštejn owned it in 1586. Václav Údrcký of Údrče followed after 1603. In 1615, Mikuláš Sekerka of Sedčice took possession. His property was confiscated for his role in an uprising. In 1623, Jiří Benedikt Beník of Petrsdorf bought Cvrčovice. The Thirty Years’ War devastated the village.
Sisters Kateřina Naglerová and Františka Hadová gained Cvrčovice in 1658. A fortress in Cvrčovice was first mentioned then. Knight Maxmilián Rudolf Rašín of Rýzmburk became the next owner. His estate included a fortress and a farm. Also included were a sheep farm and a church. The estate had a mill, Cvrčovice village and Kostomlátky. It also included a stone quarry. Jan Pavel Leopold of Walderode began building the Holy Way. It stretched from Prague to Stará Boleslav.
The Černín family of Chudenice were Cvrčovice’s last estate owners. This was from 1682. They linked it to the Vinoř estate. The Černín family kept Cvrčovice until 1848. They retained some properties until land reform in the 1920s.
Cvrčovice faced constant strain. Its location on the imperial road burdened it. Proximity to Prague meant nearly constant troop lodging. Before the Battle of Hradec Králové in 1866, the Austrian army stayed here. After their victory, Prussian troops were housed in Cvrčovice.
The close ties between Cvrčovice, Kostomlátky and Podolanka led to unity. Administrative changes after abolishing serfdom united the villages. From 1848 to 1850, they merged into Cvrčovice. Until 1918, Kostomlátky and Podolanka were parts of Cvrčovice. After Czechoslovakia formed, the municipality was called United Villages. This included Cvrčovice, Kostomlátky and Podolanka.
In 1947, a request was made to shorten the village name. Officials shortened it to Podolanka. This likely avoided postal confusion. There were similar names like Cvrčovice near Slaný. Also similar to Kostomlátky near Nymburk. Today, the Church of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist stands in Cvrčovice. It features a rectory and a former cemetery. A former farmyard and a roadside shrine can also be found here.