Bezdružice (; ) is a town in

Tachov District Tachov District () is a district in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Tachov. Administrative division Tachov District is divided into two administrative districts of municipalities with extended competence: Tacho ...

in the

Plzeň Region Plzeň Region or Plzeňský Region (also known as Pilsen Region; ) is an Regions of the Czech Republic, administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the western part of the historical land of Bohemia and named after the capital, Plz ...

of the

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

. It has about 900 inhabitants.

Administrative division

Bezdružice consists of nine municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): *Bezdružice (770) *Dolní Polžice (5) *Horní Polžice (28) *Kamýk (4) *Kohoutov (0) *Křivce (12) *Pačín (6) *Řešín (33) *Zhořec (12)

Etymology

The name is derived from the personal name Bezdruh, meaning "the village of Bezdruh's people".

Geography

Bezdružice is located about northeast of

Tachov Tachov (; ) is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 14,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Mže River. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone. Administrative division Tachov ...

and northwest of

Plzeň Plzeň (), also known in English and German as Pilsen (), is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the Statutory city (Czech Republic), fourth most populous city in the Czech Republic with about 188,000 inhabitants. It is located about west of P ...

. It lies in the

Teplá Highlands Teplá () is a town in Cheb District in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,900 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as urban monument zone. Administrative division Teplá cons ...

. The highest point is at above sea level. The municipal 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 A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rura ...

. From 1520 to 1614, a deadly plague infected the town. During the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...

, around 1646, the town and the castle were burnt down by the invading

Swedish army The Swedish Army () is the army, land force of the Swedish Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. Beginning with its service in 1521, the Swedish Army has been active for more than 500 years. History Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1 ...

. 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. 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. The town became more popular when a railway was introduced to the town. The railway quickly

gentrified Gentrification is the process whereby the character of a neighborhood changes through the influx of more affluent residents (the "gentry") and investment. There is no agreed-upon definition of gentrification. In public discourse, it has been us ...

the town. However, the population declined during and after

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, mainly following the expulsion of local German inhabitants. In 1949, Bezdružice lost the town status and was incorporated into the Tachov District. In 2006, the municipality regained the town status.

Demographics

Transport

Bezdružice is the starting point and terminus of the railway line from/to

Radnice Radnice () is a town in Rokycany District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,800 inhabitants. Administrative division Radnice consists of two municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): *Radnice ...

via Plzeň.

Sights

Bezdružice Castle is a Gothic castle built by the

Kolowrat family The House of Kolowrat is a Czech noble familyHouse of Kolowrat history
kolowrat.cz/en. Citation: " < ...

before 1330. The castle was partly demolished in the 18th century, but it was remodeled in the

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

style. 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.

Notable people

Kryštof Harant Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice (, 1564 – 21 June 1621) was a Czech nobleman, traveler, humanist, soldier, writer and composer. He joined the Protestant Bohemian Revolt in the Lands of the Bohemian Crown against the House of Habsbur ...

(1564–1621), nobleman * Louis Weinert-Wilton (1875–1945), German writer

Gallery

Bezdružice (2).jpg, Former town hall Bezdružice (4).jpg, Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Zamek Bezdruzice.JPG, Bezdružice Castle

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bezdruzice Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Tachov District