Hrusice

49°54′36″N 14°44′17″E / 49.91000°N 14.73806°E / 49.91000; 14.73806Country Czech RepublicRegionCentral BohemianDistrictPrague-EastFirst mentioned1205Area • Total5.43 km² (2.10 sq mi)Elevation365 m (1,198 ft)Population • Total926 • Density170/km² (440/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal codeWebsitewww.obec-hrusice.cz

Hrusice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈɦrusɪtsɛ]) is a municipality and village in Prague-East District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 900 inhabitants.

Hrusice is known as birthplace of Josef Lada and was popularized through his paintings and illustrations on Christmas and Easter postcards and children's books.

Hrusice is located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of Prague. It lies in a rolled landscape of the Benešov Uplands. The highest point is at 438 m (1,437 ft) above sea level. There are two fishponds in the municipal territory; Hrusický in the centre of the village and Hubačovský in the northwest. The stream of Hrusický potok flows through the municipality, but has only local significance.

The first written mention of Hrusice is from 1205, in a deed of King Ottokar I. Hrusice belonged to the direct administration of the Přemyslid dynasty. In 1848, the municipality gained self-government.^[2]

The municipality has experienced a significant growth in the 21st century.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 439 —     1880 409 −6.8% 1890 425 +3.9% 1900 424 −0.2% 1910 437 +3.1%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 450 +3.0% 1930 454 +0.9% 1950 572 +26.0% 1961 547 −4.4% 1970 508 −7.1%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 468 −7.9% 1991 374 −20.1% 2001 382 +2.1% 2011 679 +77.7% 2021 913 +34.5%
Source: Censuses[3][4]

The accessibility of Hrusice is good due to proximity of two major transport lines. The D1 motorway from Prague to Brno passes through the municipal territory of Hrusice.

There also operates a suburban bus line between Strančice and Stříbrná Skalice (via Mnichovice and Ondřejov) with a stop in the centre of Hrusice.

The main historical landmark of Hrusice is the Church of Saint Wenceslaus, located in the centre of Hrusice. It is an example of rural Romanesque architecture from the turn of the 12th century with a valuable sandstone portal, a work by monks from the Sázava Monastery.^[2]

Josef Lada Memorial in artist's villa, nowadays a branch of Prague-East Regional Museum, presents his life and work as well as his daughter Alena Ladová, also a renowned illustrator.^[5]

• Josef Lada (1887–1957), painter, illustrator and writer

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  Centre of Hrusice with a bus stop
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  Municipal office and a small park with bust of Josef Lada
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  Birthplace of Josef Lada
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  Lada's summer villa, nowadays his museum