Želenice (German: Sellnitz) is a municipality and village in Most District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has approximately 489 inhabitants (as of 2026).
Geography Želenice lies approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) north-east of Most, 27 km (17 mi) south-west of Ústí nad Labem, and 70 km (43 mi) north-west of Prague. It is situated at an elevation of 211 metres (692 ft) above sea level. The municipality covers an area of 9.75 km² (3.76 sq mi).
Administrative Division The municipality consists of two municipal parts: Želenice and Liběšice.
History The first written mention of Želenice dates back to 1307, when a certain Macinta de Zelenicz resided there. Archaeological surveys indicate that the area was inhabited as early as the Paleolithic period, with notable finds also from the Celtic era. During the 14th century, a fortress (now defunct) with a demesne farm was built in the village. The Church of St. Wenceslaus was established in the 14th century, with the first mention found in registers of papal tithes from 1352. Over the centuries, the village passed through the hands of various noble families, including the Stupicové of Želenice, the Lords of Koldice, the Novohradský of Kolovraty, the Kaplíř of Sulevice, the House of Šternberk, the House of Martinic, the Dietrichstein family, and finally the Lobkowicz family, under whose ownership it remained until 1848 as part of the Bílina estate. In 1848, Želenice became an independent municipality. A railway line through Želenice and Liběšice was opened in 1872, with a stop established in Želenice in 1888.
Demographics According to historical censuses, the population peaked at 791 in 1930. As of the 2021 census, the population was 453. The population has fluctuated over time, with a notable decline after World War II and a gradual recovery in recent decades.
Transport The village is served by railway lines 130 (Chomutov–Most–Ústí nad Labem) and 131 (Obrnice–Bílina–Teplice–Ústí nad Labem) at the Želenice zastávka stop. Bus connections link Želenice with Most and Braňany.
Notable Features
- A parsonage building from the mid-19th century, featuring banded rustication on the ground floor, stands as a dominant feature of the village square.
- Agricultural homesteads from the 19th century are part of the historic village core.
- Želenický hill (Želenický vrch) is a notable geological site containing nephelinite phonolite, where minerals such as natrolite, aegirine, sodalite, nepheline, sanidine, analcime, titanite, magnetite, and hainite-(Y) have been documented.
