Bezdružice

49°54′26″N 12°58′21″E / 49.90722°N 12.97250°E / 49.90722; 12.97250Country Czech RepublicRegionPlzeňDistrictTachovFirst mentioned1227Government • MayorLumír KadlecArea • Total32.00 km² (12.36 sq mi)Elevation576 m (1,890 ft)Population • Total915 • Density29/km² (74/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal codeWebsitewww.bezdruzice.cz

Bezdružice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈbɛzdruʒɪtsɛ]; German: Weseritz) is a town in Tachov District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 900 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

The villages of Dolní Polžice, Horní Polžice, Kamýk, Kohoutov, Křivce, Pačín, Řešín and Zhořec are administrative parts of Bezdružice.

Geography

Bezdružice is located about 26 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of Tachov and 33 km (21 mi) northwest of Plzeň. It lies in the Teplá Highlands. The territory is rich in small streams.

History

The first written mention of Bezdružice is from 1227. In 1360–1379, Bezdružice was owned by knight Bušek and it was in these times, when a small stone castle was built. In 1459, the village became a market town.^[2]

From 1520 to 1614, a deadly plague infected the town. During the Thirty Years' War, around 1646, the town and the castle were burnt down by the invading Swedish army. In 1712, Bezdružice was acquired by the Löwenstein princely family. At that time, the old and new castles were already standing on the site of the original castle.^[2]

In 1808, another plague hit the town, in 1809, a fire burnt down many parts of the town, and in 1815, a windstorm ravaged Bezdružice.^[3]

The town became more popular when a railway was introduced to the town. The railway quickly gentrified the town. However, the population declined during and after World War II, mainly following the expulsion of local German inhabitants.^[3]

In 1949, Bezdružice lost the town status and was incorporated into the Tachov District.^[3] In 2006, the municipality regained its town status.^[2]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 2,168 —     1880 2,158 −0.5% 1890 2,111 −2.2% 1900 2,010 −4.8% 1910 1,962 −2.4%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 1,977 +0.8% 1930 2,013 +1.8% 1950 983 −51.2% 1961 1,055 +7.3% 1970 1,034 −2.0%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 1,007 −2.6% 1991 981 −2.6% 2001 990 +0.9% 2011 894 −9.7% 2021 870 −2.7%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Transport

Bezdružice is the starting point and terminus of the railway line to Radnice via Plzeň.^[6]

Sights

Bezdružice Castle is a Gothic castle built by the Kolowrat family before 1330. The castle was partly demolished in the 18th century, but it was remodeled in the Baroque style.^[7]

The first mention of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is from 1515, however the current church was built in 1710–1711, after the old one was demolished.^[2]

Notable people

• Kryštof Harant (1564–1621), nobleman
• Louis Weinert-Wilton (1875–1945), German writer

Gallery

• 
  Former town hall
• 
  Kryštof Harant Square with the Statue of Saint Florian
• 
  Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
• 
  Bezdružice Castle

References

External links