Šluknov | |
|---|---|
 Míru Square with the Column of the Holy Trinity | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Šluknov Location in the Czech Republic | |
| Coordinates:51°0′14″N14°27′10″E / 51.00389°N 14.45278°E /51.00389; 14.45278 | |
| Country |  Czech Republic |
| Region | Ústí nad Labem |
| District | Děčín |
| First mentioned | 1281 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Tomáš Kolonečný |
| Area | |
• Total | 47.47 km2 (18.33 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 340 m (1,120 ft) |
| Population (2024-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 5,698 |
| • Density | 120/km2 (310/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 407 77 |
| Website | www |
Šluknov (Czech pronunciation:[ˈʃluknof];German:Schluckenau) is a town inDěčín District in theÚstí nad Labem Region of theCzech Republic. It has about 5,700 inhabitants. It lies on the border with Germany and it is the northernmost town of the country. The town centre with the castle and area of Křížový vrch are well preserved and are protected by law as anurban monument zone.
Šluknov consists of eight municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):[2]
Šluknov is located about 30 kilometres (19 mi) northeast ofDěčín and 47 km (29 mi) northeast ofÚstí nad Labem. It lies in the salient region ofŠluknov Hook on the border with Germany. It is the northernmost town of the Czech Republic.
Šluknov is situated in theLusatian Highlands. The highest point is located on the slopes of the Hrazený mountain at 567 m (1,860 ft) above sea level. The territory of Šluknov is rich in small watercourses; the longest of them is the stream Rožanský potok. Other notable streams are Lesní potok, which supplies a set of fishponds, and Stříbrný potok, which flows through the built-up area.
The first written mention of Šluknov is from 1281. The first owners was the noble family ofBerka of Dubá. Under their administration, Šluknov became the administrative and economic centre of the Czech part of their estate. The family'scoat of arms is to this day theinescutcheon in the town's coat of arms. In 1359, Šluknov was promoted to a town.[3]
During the reign of KingGeorge of Poděbrady, the property of Berka of Dubá was confiscated and Šluknov was acquired by Wartenberg family. Next owners of the estate were families of Schleinitz,Mansfeld,Dietrichstein, andHarrach. Before the town became independent, last owner of the estate was count Erwin LeopoldNostitz-Rieneck.[3]
Šluknov was struck by many fires, the largest of them were in 1634, 1710 and 1838, when almost the whole town burned down.[4]
During theThirty Years' War, the town was repeatedly severely damaged bySwedish army. In 1813, the town was plundered by a 100,000 man army during theNapoleonic Wars.[5]
Until 1918, the town was part ofAustria-Hungary, head of the district of the same name, one of the 94Bezirkshauptmannschaften inBohemia.[6]
In 1930, Šluknov was home to 5,578 inhabitants who were largely ethnicGerman. Prior toWorld War II, Šluknov was a centre inCzechoslovakia for the pro-NazistSudeten German Party (SdP) led byKonrad Henlein. This was one reason why, in March 1939,Adolf Hitler chose the town as the first stop of theWehrmacht during the German annexation ofSudetenland. The Wehrmacht continued on to occupyPrague and establish theProtectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.[7]
From 1938 to 1945, the town was annexed toNazi Germany and administered as part of theReichsgau Sudetenland. After World War II, the town returned to Czechoslovakia and the German inhabitants wereexpelled under the terms ofBeneš decrees.
The town has a significantRomani population.[8]
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| Source: Censuses[9][10] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The town suffers from its location on the periphery of the Czech Republic. There is persistently high unemployment rate, low supply of services and poor quality of healthcare. Most industrial production has ended and revenues from tourism are insufficient.[11]
In Rožany is the road border crossingŠluknov-Rožany /Sohland an der Spree to Germany.
Šluknov is located on the railway line Děčín–Rumburk via Germany. The town is served by two train stations:Šluknov andŠluknov zastávka. In the territory of Šluknov is also the train station serving the adjacent village ofValdek.[12]
Šluknov is home to two secondary schools and one of them is focused onforestry. There are three primary schools, including aspecial school.[13]
The Šluknov Castle is the main landmark of the town. It was built in the Renaissance style in the 16th century by the Schleinitz family, when it replaced an old fortress from 1487. In the 17th century, Baroque modifications were made.[14] In 1986, Šluknov Castle was burned down. After twenty years of decay, it was repaired. In addition to exhibition and event rooms located in the building, there is a tourist information office. The castle park is often used for public events.[15]
Míru Square is the historic centre of the town. Its main landmarks are the Baroque column of the Holy Trinity, built in 1751–1752, and anEmpire style fountain dating from 1794.[16]
The Church of Saint Wenceslaus is the third church on its place. The previous were burn down by fires in 1634 and 1710 and the current early Baroque church was built in 1711–1722.[17]
The hill Křížový vrch is a valuable complex of sacral buildings, includingStations of the Cross, several chapels and statues. The complex was consecrated in 1756.[18]
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