Radnice () is a town in

Rokycany District Rokycany (; german: Rokitzan) is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 14,000 inhabitants. The town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone. Administrative parts Rokycany is made up o ...

in the

Plzeň Region Plzeň Region ( cs, Plzeňský kraj; german: Pilsner Region) is an administrative unit (''kraj'') in the western part of Bohemia in the Czech Republic. It is named after its capital Plzeň (English, german: Pilsen). In terms of area, Plzeň R ...

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 1,800 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

The village of Svatá Barbora is an administrative part of Radnice.

Geography

Radnice is located about northeast of Plzeň. It lies in the

Plasy Uplands Plasy (; german: Plass) is a town in Plzeň-North District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,800 inhabitants. It is known for its former monastery. Administrative parts Villages of Babina, Horní Hradiště, Lomnička, Neb ...

. The highest point is the hill Rovnička at above sea level. The Radnický stream flows through the town. Městský Pond is located inside the built-up area.

History

The first written mention of Radnice is from 1336, when King John of Bohemia sold it to the

Rosenberg family The House of Rosenberg ( cs, Rožmberkové, sg. ''z Rožmberka'') was a prominent Bohemian noble family that played an important role in Czech medieval history from the 13th century until 1611. Members of this family held posts at the Pragu ...

. In 1478, Radnice was acquired by the Sternberg family. From 1541 to 1620, it was owned by the Czernin family. In 1570, Radnice was promoted to a town by Emperor Maximilian II. After the

Battle of White Mountain The Battle of White Mountain ( cz, Bitva na Bílé hoře; german: Schlacht am Weißen Berg) was an important battle in the early stages of the Thirty Years' War. It led to the defeat of the Bohemian Revolt and ensured Habsburg control for the n ...

, properties of the Czernin family were confiscated, and Radnice changed owners several times. During the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, lasting from 1618 to 1648. Fought primarily in Central Europe, an estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died as a result of battle ...

, the town was looted several times. From 1758 until the abolition of manorialsm, Radnice was again property of the Rosenbergs. In the 19th century, coal mining developed in vicinity of Radnice igniting industrial development. In 1893, the railway was built. Radnice coal basin was depleted in 1986.

Transport

The railway line leading to Plzeň starts in the town.

Sights

On a hill above the town there is the Chapel of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, built by

Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer ( cs, Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer) (1 September 1689, Prague – 18 December 1751) was a Bohemian architect of the Baroque era. He was the fifth son of the German architect Christoph Dientzenhofer and the Bohemian-Ge ...

Notable people

* Isaac Mayer Wise (1819–1900), American Reform rabbi; worked here in 1843–1846 * Joseph Lewi (1820–1897), Jewish physician * Václav Kotva (1922–2004), actor

References

External links

* {{authority control Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Rokycany District Shtetls