Špindlerův Mlýn

Špindlerův Mlýn (; german: Spindlermühle, formerly also ''Spindelmühle'') is a town in Trutnov District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,100 inhabitants. It lies in the Giant Mountains and it is one of the most frequented ski resorts in the country.

Administrative parts

Villages of Bedřichov, Labská and Přední Labská are administrative parts of Špindlerův Mlýn.

Etymology

It received its name (literally meaning "Špindler's Mill") after a mill belonging to the Špindler family, which was moved between the surrounding settlements Bedřichov, Labská and Svatý Petr in 1765. The municipality which did not exist at that time yet was given this name due to an official error. The locals wrote a request sent to the authorities here and signed it ''written in Špindler's Mill'', but the authorities mistakenly thought that they were giving the name to a new municipality. After the merger of scattered settlements into one municipality, the name remained. One of the German variations of its name, ''Spindelmühle'', was also created by an error of authorities.

Geography

Špindlerův Mlýn lies in the northern Bohemia on the border with Poland. In Przełęcz Karkonoska, there is a pedestrian border crossing.

Situated on the southern slopes of the Kozí hřbety, part of the Giant Mountains Bohemian Ridge, at an altitude of to a.s.l., Špindlerův Mlýn is protected on all sides by the mountain peaks of Kozí hřbety, Pláň and Mt. Medvědín. In the east rises Luční hora at , the second highest mountain of the Czech Republic.

Špindlerův Mlýn lies on the confluence of the river Elbe and the Dolský creek. The Elbe source is located northwest of the town, near the Polish border and Mt. Łabski Szczyt at an altitude of . About 1 km downstream are the Elbe Falls (''Labský vodopád'') which cascade about in depth. The Labská Dam with an area of was built near Labská village in 1910–1914.

History

The area was covered by forests and not settled until the 16th century, when the first prospectors and then miners of silver and iron ore came. The miners and lumberjacks who came from Alps settled here and began to build huts. They took advantage of the experience from home and started raising cattle in the seemingly inhospitable mountains and farming in the clearings. The clearing became meadows and pastures, creating typical enclaves in the middle of forests, preserved to this day.

In the 18th century, large parts of the surrounding forests were a possession of the Habsburg minister Friedrich August von Harrach-Rohrau (1696–1749), after whom the village of Bedřichov (''Friedrichsthal'') is named. In 1793, the locals were given permission by Emperor Francis II to build the parish Church of Saint Peter.

After World War II, the remaining German-speaking population was expelled according to the Beneš decrees.

Tourism

After four travellers accommodated here in 1865, the locals recognized the tourist potential of this place, began to expand the huts and build hiking trails. The construction of the road from Vrchlabí in 1872 significantly contributed to the greater number of tourists. Poor buildings often became quality hotels. In 1909, operation of the electric lift for sledges, one of the first of its kind in Europe, started, which contributed to the reputation of the winter tourist resort.

With year-round use and with accommodation capacity of 10,000 beds, Špindlerův Mlýn is one of the most visited ski resorts in the country. There are of 11 technically snow-covered downhill runs and of cross-country trails.

Sport

During the winter season the area hosts the Europacup in freestyle skiing and SnowJam, a professional snowboarding event. Some years, e.g. 2019, the Alpine Ski World Cup has been held here. In the surroundings there are many marked hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing trails. Wildwater canoeing is also common on the Elbe river.

Sights

The main sights are the Church of Saints Peter and Paul from 1802 and reinforced concrete arch bridge from 1911.

Notable people

*Anna K (born 1965), singer; raised here

Franz Kafka stayed here for recreation in 1922 and began writing of his famous work '' The Castle''.

Twin towns – sister cities

Špindlerův Mlýn is twinned with:
* Alanya, Turkey
* Podgórzyn, Poland

References

External links

*
Official tourist portal

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spindleruv Mlyn
Cities and towns in the Czech Republic
Populated places in Trutnov District
Ski areas and resorts in the Czech Republic