Louny
Encyclopedia
Louny (ˈlou̯nɪ; ) is a town in the Ústí nad Labem Region
of the Czech Republic
. It is situated on the River Ohře
.
, although the Thirty Years' War
depopulated the city. The second half of the 19th century witnessed the economic growth of the area.
The town lies on a railway junction and a factory for overhauling railway engines and rolling stock was established in 1873 which became a major employer and contributed to the town's expansion during the early 20th century. The former state company has now been privatized, but remains the town's largest employer with a workforce of 750.
Other industries include a brewery (from the hops which grown in the region) and a factory making porcelain electrical insulators for power cables, etc.
The town's architecture was formed mainly in the 19th and 20th centuries when many old buildings were torn down. Nevertheless, the most important architectural feature is Roman Catholic
St. Nicholas Church, erected between 1517 and 1537 in the late Gothic
style. One of the architects was Benedikt Rejt
. It incorporates a tower from an earlier church which was otherwise destroyed along with most of the town by a major fire in 1517.
Parts of the city ramparts remain, as does the Žatec gate which dates from 1500 but was reconstructed in 1872.
An Open-Air Museum of Archeology is located in nearby Březno.
Ústí nad Labem Region
Ústí nad Labem Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western part of its historical region of Bohemia...
of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. It is situated on the River Ohře
Ohre
The Ohře is a 316 km long river in Germany and the Czech Republic , left tributary of the Elbe. The basin area of the river has a size of 6,255 km², of which 5,614 km² are in the Czech Republic and 641 km² in Germany...
.
History
The city was founded in the 12th century (the first known written record dates from 1115). The Church of St Peter stands on the site of the original fort. The original name was Luna, which is retained in the name of a local park, Pramen Luna, and accounts for the Moon as part of the town's emblem . The town developed and expande during the reign of Ottokar I of BohemiaOttokar I of Bohemia
-External links:...
, although the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
depopulated the city. The second half of the 19th century witnessed the economic growth of the area.
The town lies on a railway junction and a factory for overhauling railway engines and rolling stock was established in 1873 which became a major employer and contributed to the town's expansion during the early 20th century. The former state company has now been privatized, but remains the town's largest employer with a workforce of 750.
The town's architecture was formed mainly in the 19th and 20th centuries when many old buildings were torn down. Nevertheless, the most important architectural feature is Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
St. Nicholas Church, erected between 1517 and 1537 in the late Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style. One of the architects was Benedikt Rejt
Benedikt Rejt
Benedikt Rejt was a leading medieval architect in Bohemia, today's Czech Republic. He built Vladislav Hall in Prague Castle, St...
. It incorporates a tower from an earlier church which was otherwise destroyed along with most of the town by a major fire in 1517.
Parts of the city ramparts remain, as does the Žatec gate which dates from 1500 but was reconstructed in 1872.
An Open-Air Museum of Archeology is located in nearby Březno.
Famous people
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in 1827, (c. 1790-?). - Kamil Hilbert, architect, (1869-1933).
- Václav HlavatýVáclav HlavatýVáclav Hlavatý was a noted Czech-American mathematician, who wrote on the theory of relativity and corresponded extensively with Albert Einstein on the subject. In particular, Hlavatý solved some very difficult equations relating to Einstein's Unified field theory, which was featured in the news...
, mathematician, (1894-1969). The Gymnázium V. Hlavatého (Secondary Grammar School) is named after him. - Karel Konrád, novelist, (1899-1871).
- Jaroslav VrchlickýJaroslav VrchlickýJaroslav Vrchlický was one of the greatest Czech lyrical poets. He was born Emil Frida, Vrchlický being a pseudonym.He also wrote epic poetry, plays, prose and literary essays and translated widely from various languages, introducing e.g. Dante, Goethe, Shelley, Baudelaire, Poe, and Whitman to...
, poet, (1853-1912). - Zdeněk SýkoraZdeněk SýkoraZdeněk Sýkora was a Czechoslovakian modern abstract painter and sculptor, and a pioneer of using computers in art.-Early life:...
, painter, (1920–2011).
- Kristýna PlíškováKristýna PlíškováKristýna Plíšková is a Czech tennis player. She won the 2010 Wimbledon Championships in junior singles, beating Sachie Ishizu 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, while her twin sister Karolína is the 2010 Australian Open junior singles champion....
, tennis player - Karolína PlíškováKarolína PlíškováKarolína Plíšková is a professional Czech tennis player. Her highest WTA singles ranking is 168, which she reached on 24 May 2010. Her career high in doubles is 239, which she reached on 1 August 2011. Her twin sister Kristýna is also a tennis player...
, tennis player