Skalná
Skalná (Czech pronunciation: [ˈskalnaː]; until 1950 Vildštejn, German: Wildstein) is a town in Cheb District in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,900 inhabitants.
Skalná | |
|---|---|
 View of the town | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Skalná Location in the Czech Republic | |
| Coordinates: 50°10′14″N 12°21′41″E | |
| Country |  Czech Republic |
| Region | Karlovy Vary |
| District | Cheb |
| First mentioned | 1224 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Rita Skalová (ODS) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 23.44 km2 (9.05 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 465 m (1,526 ft) |
| Population (2023-01-01)[1] | |
| • Total | 1,916 |
| • Density | 82/km2 (210/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 351 34 |
| Website | www |
Administrative parts
Villages of Kateřina, Starý Rybník, Vonšov and Zelená are administrative parts of Skalná.
Etymology
The original German name Wildstein (i.e. "wild rock") is most likely derived from the location of the town on a rocky promontory, and from the abundance of game in the forests. The Czech name Vildštejn was created by transcription. After the World War II, the town was renamed Skalná (from skála, i.e. "rock").[2]
Geography
Skalná is located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of Cheb and 35 km (22 mi) west of Karlovy Vary. It lies on the border with Germany.
The eastern part of the municipal territory lies in the Cheb Basin, and the western part lies in the Fichtel Mountains. The highest point is the hill Lužský vrch at 606 m (1,988 ft) above sea level.
History
The first written mention of Vildštejn is from 1224. The settlement was founded around 1200 in the sub-castle area of Vildštejn Castle. It was owned by various noble families, most notably by the House of Gumerauer (1439–1524), by the Wirsberg family (1531–1590s), who made history not only as robbers, but also as builders of a new church and Renaissance castle, and by the Trauttenberg family (1590s–1799).[2]
In 1950, the name of the municipality was changed to Skalná.[3]
Demographics
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| Source: Censuses[4][5] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sights
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The Romanesque Vildštejn Castle was founded in 1166. It was inhabited until the 19th century, when it was transformed into a malting plant. Today it is a museum.[6]
The Soos National Nature Reserve is nicknamed "Czech Yellowstone". It is an extensive peat bog and moor, where a large number of mineral springs and pure carbon dioxide spring up in the form of mofettas. There is an educational trail leading along the bottom of a dry lake, which had salt water.[7]
The Church of Saint John the Baptist was originally a Gothic structure founded by the Teutonic Order, first mentioned in 1320. In 1705–1709, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style.[8]
In Starý Rybník there are a chateau and ruins of a Gothic castle.
Notable people
- Sigmund von Birken (1626–1681), German poet
- Johann Goldfuß (1908–1970), German luthier
- Pavel Nedvěd (born 1972), footballer, 2003 Ballon d'Or winner
References
- "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
- "Historie Skalné" (in Czech). Město Skalná. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
- "Vyhláška č. 13/1951 Sb". Zákony pro lidi (in Czech). Retrieved 2023-05-24.
- "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Cheb" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 13–14.
- "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
- "Hrad Vildštejn ve Skalné u Chebu" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
- "Národní přírodní rezervace Soos – český Yellowstone nedaleko Františkových Lázní" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
- "Kostel sv. Jana Křtitele" (in Czech). Město Skalná. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
- "Home Page" (in Czech). Město Skalná. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
