Benešov nad Ploučnicí (german: Bensen) is a town in

Děčín District Děčín District ( cs, okres Děčín) is one of seven districts ('' okres'') located within the Ústí nad Labem Region in the Czech Republic. Its capital is the city of Děčín. Complete list of municipalities Arnoltice - Benešov nad Ploučn ...

in the

Ústí nad Labem Region Ústí nad Labem Region or Ústecký Region ( cs, Ústecký kraj, , ), is an administrative unit ( cs, kraj) of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western part of the historical land of Bohemia, and named after the capital, Ústí nad Labem ...

of the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

. It has about 3,600 inhabitants. The historic town centre with the castle complex is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Administrative parts

The village of Ovesná is an administrative part of Benešov nad Ploučnicí.

Etymology

The name is derived from the personal name

Beneš Beneš (feminine Benešová) is a common Czech and Slovak surname. The surname was derived from the shortened Czech form of the given name Benedict (Latin name of meaning "blessed", see also the surname Benedict). In the old Czech orthography the ...

, meaning "Beneš's (castle/court)". Beneš was a shortened variant of the name Benedikt.

Geography

Benešov nad Ploučnicí is located about southeast of

Děčín Děčín (; german: Tetschen, 1942–1945: ''Tetschen–Bodenbach'') is a city in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 47,000 inhabitants. It is the 7th largest municipality in the country by area. Administrative parts D ...

and northeast of

Ústí nad Labem Ústí nad Labem (, , ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 92,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of its eponymous region and district. It is a major industrial centre and, besides being an active river port, is an important railway ju ...

. It lies in the

Central Bohemian Uplands Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

and within the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area. The highest point is the Hlídka hill at above sea level. The

Ploučnice The Ploučnice (german: Polzen) is a river in the Czech Republic. It is a tributary of the Elbe, which it flows into in Děčín. It is long, and its basin area is about , of which in the Czech Republic. References External links * Horáčko ...

river flows through the town.

History

The first written mention of Benešov is from 1311. The town was probably founded in the 1230s. Existence of the church is first mentioned in 1352. During the

Hussite Wars The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars or the Hussite Revolution, were a series of civil wars fought between the Hussites and the combined Catholic forces of Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, the Papacy, European monarchs loyal to the Cat ...

, the town was conquered by the Orebite army of Jan Roháč of Dubá. Half of the population was killed and the town burned down. After the war, the estate became property of the Wartenberg family. In 1511, the Wartenbergs sold Benešov to the Trčka of Lípa family. During the rule of Fridrich Trčka of Lípa in the first half of the 16th century, the town experienced its greatest development. He had rebuilt the local medieval castle into an aristocratic residence (today known as Horní Zámek) and had built a new castle for his son (today Dolní Zámek). Development continued in the second half of the 16th century, when Benešov was owned by the Salhausen family. After the last Salhausen died in 1620, the Benešov estate was divided between the

Thun und Hohenstein The House of Thun und Hohenstein, also known as Thun-Hohenstein, belonged to the historical Austrian and Bohemian nobility. There is one princely and several comital branches of the family. The princely branch of the family lived at Děčín (Te ...

and

Clary und Aldringen The House of Clary und Aldringen, also known as Clary-Aldringen, is one of the most prominent Austro-Hungarian princely families. Originally from Friuli, Northern Italy, one branch of the family moved to the County of Tyrol around 1500 and to the ...

families.

Demographics

Transport

Benešov nad Ploučnicí is located on the railway lines

Liberec Liberec (; german: Reichenberg ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 103,000 inhabitants and it is the fifth-largest city in the country. It lies on the Lusatian Neisse, in a basin surrounded by mountains. The city centre is well preser ...

–Děčín and Děčín–

Rumburk Rumburk (; german: Rumburg) is a town in Děčín District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 11,000 inhabitants. It lies on the border with Germany. Administrative parts Rumburk is made up of town parts of Rumburk ...

Sights

The town is known for its castle complex, made up of seven buildings in the

Saxon Renaissance The Saxon Renaissance (in German: ''Sächsische Renaissance'') is a regional type of architecture from the Renaissance particularly in the area of the Electorate of Saxony on the middle Elbe. Influences that formed the style came primarily from ...

style. It contains two castles (called ''Dolní'' and ''Horní'' – "Upper" and "Lower"), Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother of God, and three houses. The complex was built by the Salhausen noble family in the 16th century.

Notable people

Kurt Pscherer Kurt Pscherer (3 June 1915 – 13 April 2000) was an Austrian actor and theatre director. Life and career Pscherer was born in Beneschau. Before Pscherer came to the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz as State Director in 1963, he was head directo ...

(1915–2000), Austrian theatre director *

Roland Ducke Roland Ducke (19 November 1934 – 26 June 2005) was a German professional football player. His younger brother Peter was also a successful footballer.

(1934–2005), German footballer *

Peter Ducke Peter Ducke (born 14 October 1941) is a Sudeten German and a former East German football player. He was born in Bensen, Sudetenland, Germany during World War II. His older brother Roland was also a successful footballer. Ducke played most of h ...

(born 1941), German footballer

Twin towns – sister cities

Benešov nad Ploučnicí is twinned with: *

Heidenau Heidenau is a town in the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district, in Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the left bank of the Elbe, 13 km southeast of Dresden (centre). In 2015, it became known for riots by local far-right forces ...

, Germany

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Benesov nad Ploucnici Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Děčín District