The Town of Kostelec nad Labem

is located on the left bank of the river Labe ( Elbe ), already settled in the stone and bronze age. In the rolling countryside on a small hill was a little church built dedicated to St. Martin. Beside the churche a small walled churchyard was established. The settlement of Kostelec nad Labem grow rapidly as willagers from further up the river Labe migrated downward in search of greater land. Due to the established church and the name of the river Labe the town became known as Kostelec nad Labem ( Church upon the Elbe ).

The town was probably established, by royal charter, by the Bohemian king Premysl Otakar II. in the second half of the 13.th century. The first known inhabitants of the town were the Borsz's of Osek, it later belonged to the queen Eliska Premyslovna and it became a dower town of the Bohemian queens. ................(will continue)