Litvínov
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Litvínov (; german: Leutensdorf) is a town in
Most District Most District ( cs, okres Most) is one of seven districts ('' okres'') located within the Ústí nad Labem Region in the Czech Republic. Its capital is the city of Most. List of municipalities Bečov - Bělušice - Braňany - Brandov - Česk ...
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 La ...
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 22,000 inhabitants. It is known as an industrial centre.


Administrative parts

Litvínov is made up of 12 town parts and villages: *Dolní Litvínov *Horní Litvínov *Chudeřín *Hamr *Horní Ves *Janov *Křížatky *Lounice *Písečná *Růžodol *Šumná *Záluží


History

The first written mention is from 1352 under the name ''Lutwinow.'' The word is made up of two
Old High German Old High German (OHG; german: Althochdeutsch (Ahd.)) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally covering the period from around 750 to 1050. There is no standardised or supra-regional form of German at this period, and Old High ...
words, ''liut'' – "people" and ''wini'' – „friend“. Originally the town consisted of two settlements – Horní Litvínov and Dolní Litvínov with forts. In 1715,
count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
Jan Josef Valdštejn founded a large
cloth Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the ...
factory, one of the first in the Czech lands. Litvínov was promoted to a town on 5 October 1852. In the 19th century, the industrialization of Litvínov deepened. Many new factories were established. Toys and wooden goods were made here, cotton was processed. The mining of
lignite Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, is a soft, brown, combustible, sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. It has a carbon content around 25–35%, and is considered the lowest rank of coal due to its relatively low heat ...
, which persists to this day, began, and after a new part of the railway was put into operation in 1870, other coal mines were opened. In a short time, a total of 19 mines were built. Employment opportunities attracted many new residents. As a result of the global economic crisis in the 1930s, the largely industrial Litvínov was also severely affected. Production was limited in factories or was completely stopped, and the mines were also affected. In 1939, a large oil refinery was founded south of the town.


Demographics


Economy

The largest
oil refinery An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where petroleum (crude oil) is transformed and refined into useful products such as gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel, asphalt base, fuel oils, heating oil, kerosene, lique ...
in the Czech Republic ( Orlen Unipetrol) is located there.


Transport

In addition to buses, trams also provide public transport. The town operates a transport company together with the neighbouring city of
Most Most or Möst or ''variation'', may refer to: Places * Most, Kardzhali Province, a village in Bulgaria * Most (city), a city in the Czech Republic ** Most District, a district surrounding the city ** Most Basin, a lowland named after the city ** A ...
.


Sport

Lítvínov is a traditional centre of ice hockey. Local club
HC Litvínov HC Litvinov, called HC VERVA Litvínov for sponsorship reasons is an ice hockey team in the Czech Extraliga. Their home arena is Ivan Hlinka Stadion in Litvínov. Honours Domestic Czech Extraliga * Winners (1): 2014–15 * Runners-up (1): 1 ...
is a stable part of the top national league ( Extraliga) for more than 50 years. Many famous ice hockey players and coaches are connected with HC Litvínov, including
Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...
gold medalists
Ivan Hlinka Ivan Hlinka (January 26, 1950 – August 16, 2004) was a Czech professional ice hockey player and coach. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in Czech ice hockey history. A big centre, his playing style was comparable to Phil ...
,
Vladimír Růžička Vladimír Růžička (; born 6 June 1963) is a Czech ice hockey coach and former professional player. Růžička was twice named the top player in the Czechoslovak Elite League, and was on the gold medal team in the Ice Hockey World Championship ...
, Jiří Šlégr,
Robert Reichel Robert Reichel (born June 25, 1971) is a Czech former professional ice hockey centre and coach. He began his career with HC Litvínov of the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League; his 49 goals in 1989–90 was the second highest total in Czechosl ...
and
Martin Ručinský Martin Ručinský (; born 11 March 1971) is a Czech former professional ice hockey player who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Ručínský was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round as the 20th overall selection in ...
.


Sights

Church of Saint Michael is the oldest and most important state-protected monument of Litvínov. It was built in 1685–1694 in the early-Baroque style. The church has been renovated many times, for the first time in 1763. During the major renovation, which took place between 1887 and 1902, the interior was significantly beautified. Waldstein's Castle (also called Litvínov Castle) serves today social and cultural purposes. It was rebuilt into the form of today's Baroque chateau between 1732 and 1743 by the architect František Maxmilián Kaňka. After the abolition of the castle garden, an English-style castle park with an area of 8 ha was established in 1878. From the end of the 19th century, the castle was used for economic purposes, and since 1964 a museum has been established here. Osada, local part of Horní Litvínov, is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone. It includes a uniform and high-quality urban area with apartment buildings built by the occupation authorities during the World War II for employees of the chemical factory in Záluží.


Notable people

* Květoslav Minařík (1908–1974), yogi and mystic * Milan Šťovíček (born 1958), politician and mayor of Litvínov in 2006–2009 and 2010–2014 * Josef Beránek (born 1969), ice hockey player and coach *
Robert Reichel Robert Reichel (born June 25, 1971) is a Czech former professional ice hockey centre and coach. He began his career with HC Litvínov of the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League; his 49 goals in 1989–90 was the second highest total in Czechosl ...
(born 1971), ice hockey player *
Eva Herzigová Eva Herzigová (born 10 March 1973) is a Czech-Italian supermodel and actress. Early life and career Herzigová was born in Litvínov, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic), the daughter of an accountant mother and an electrician father. Growing ...
(born 1973), model * Iva Frühlingová (born 1982), singer and model * Zuzana Tvarůžková (born 1983), TV presenter *
Jakub Petružálek Jakub Petružálek (born 24 April 1985) is a Czech professional ice hockey center playing for HC Litvínov of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Playing career Petružálek played in his native Czech Republic with HC Litvínov of the Czech Extraliga, a ...
(born 1985), ice hockey player


Twin towns – sister cities

Litvínov is twinned with: *
Brie-Comte-Robert Brie-Comte-Robert () is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Brie-Comte-Robert is on the edge of the plain of Brie and was formerly the capital of the ''Brie française''. "Brie" com ...
, France * Olbernhau, Germany


References


External links

*
Brief history of Litvínov
(in Czech) {{DEFAULTSORT:Litvinov Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Most District