Plzeň

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Plzeň Pilsen
From top: Cathedral of St. Bartholomew; Renaissance City hall, Great Synagogue; Techmania Science Center ; Lochotín park, New Theatre ; Prazdroj brewery gate; and brewery water tower.
Plzeň Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°44′51″N 13°22′39″E / 49.74750°N 13.37750°E / 49.74750; 13.37750
Country	UTC+2 (CEST )
Postal codes	301 00 – 326 00
Website	www.pilsen.eu

Plzeň (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpl̩zɛɲ] (listen); German and English: Pilsen, in German pronounced [ˈpɪlzn̩] (listen)) is a city in the Czech Republic. About 90 kilometres (56 miles) west of Prague in western Bohemia, it is the fourth most populous city in the Czech Republic with about 181,000 inhabitants.

The city is known worldwide for Pilsner beer, created by Bavarian brewer Josef Groll in the city in 1842.

Administrative division

Plzeň is divided into ten boroughs, which are further divided into 25 administrative parts (in brackets):

• Plzeň 1-Bolevec (Bolevec and Severní Předměstí)
• Plzeň 2-Slovany (Božkov, Černice (partly), Doudlevce (partly), Hradiště, Koterov, Lobzy (partly) and Východní Předměstí (partly))
• Plzeň 3-Bory (Doudlevce (partly), Jižní Předměstí, Litice (partly), Nová Hospoda, Radobyčice, Skvrňany, Valcha, Vnitřní Město and Východní Předměstí (partly))
• Plzeň 4-Doubravka (Bukovec, Červený Hrádek, Doubravka, Lobzy (partly), Újezd and Východní Předměstí (partly))
• Plzeň 5-Křimice
• Plzeň 6-Litice (Litice (partly))
• Plzeň 7-Radčice
• Plzeň 8-Černice (Černice (partly))
• Plzeň 9-Malesice (Dolní Vlkýš and Malesice)
• Plzeň 10-Lhota

Geography

Plzeň is located about 78 km (48 mi) southwest of Prague. The city is situated at the confluences of four rivers: Mže, Úhlava, Úslava and Radbuza. From the confluence of the Mže and Radbuza, the river is known as the Berounka. Plzeň lies mostly in the Plasy Uplands; a small parts of the municipal territory in the east and south extend into the Švihov Highlands. The highest point is the hill Chlum at 416 m (1,365 ft) above sea level. The lowest point is the river bed of the Berounka at 293 m (961 ft).^[2] The largest body of water is the České údolí Reservoir, built on the Radbuza. A system of ponds is located on the northern edge of the city.

Climate

Plzeň has a cool and

is 19. It receives on average 1,700 hours of sunshine though winters have longer periods without sunshine. Terrain features and a relatively low altitude (290 to 390 m (950 to 1,280 ft)) give some shelter from strong winds.

Winters are chilly but milder than some adjacent areas. Snow cover is erratic and lasts on average for 51 days. Though an average year has 113 days with minimum temperature below zero, the temperature falls below −15 °C (5 °F) on 5 days. The record low temperatures is around −20 °C (−4 °F). Winters are often murky with frequent long-standing haze. Spring is short, and in April to June there is blooming vegetation. Summer lasts from the end of May until the first third of September. During that period Plzeň has changeable weather which can be warm to hot. Temperatures are always above 5 degrees Celsius with nights between 8 and 18 °C (46 and 64 °F) and days between 16 and 35 °C (61 and 95 °F). Days are up to 16 hours long.

Plzeň can be hot, especially during heat waves originating in the southern

. The number of hot days above 30 °C (86 °F) is steadily growing, with 5 months (late April – early September) of possible 30+ °C days. If hot weather does occur, it is often changes after a few weeks into cold and rainy weather with incoming Atlantic-based fronts. Nights can be unpleasantly cold even in summer, with high level of humidity. Winter frosts frequently occur from the second half of November to the end of March. February is the driest month with 32 mm (1.3 in) of precipitation, and July the wettest with 80 mm (3.1 in). The only natural hazards are occasional fast changes of weather with negative consequences, e.g. floodings.

Extreme values for years 2011 and 2012: An extremely cold day of 2011 had −7.6 °C (18.3 °F) on average (23 February), −0.7 to −13.3 °C (30.7 to 8.1 °F) and extremely hot day 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) on average (24 August, 19.5 to 32.8 °C (67.1 to 91.0 °F). The year 2012 had the coldest day on 12 February with minimum plummeting to −22.1 °C (−7.8 °F) and maximum around −3.7 °C (25.3 °F) with average −14.9 °C (5.2 °F). The hottest day of 2012 occurred on 21 August with daily maximum temperature 33.9 °C (93.0 °F) and minimum staying on 19.4 °C (66.9 °F) with all day average on 25.5 °C (77.9 °F). Absolute minimum and maximum for both years were −22.1 °C (−7.8 °F) (February 2012) and 37.4 °C (99.3 °F) during August 2012.

Number of rainy/snowy days for 2011: 78; number of days with frost: 76; number of days with minimal temperatures below −10 °C (14 °F): 12; number of days with average temperature below zero: 35; number of days with daily average temperature higher than 10 °C (50 °F): 188; number of days with daily average higher than 20 °C (68 °F): 32. Total amount of precipitation for year 2011: 529.1 mm (20.83 in); average year humidity value: 80.8%. Maximal temperature: 33.3 °C (91.9 °F); minimal temperature −14.8 °C (5.4 °F). Average 2011 temperature: 9.7 °C (49 °F); average speed of wind: 4.7 km/h (2.9 mph), mainly from SSE.

Number of days with frost was 96 during year 2012; 18 days had minima below −10 °C (14 °F) and 165 days with an average temperature on or above 10.0 °C (50.0 °F). Number of days with maxima on or above 20.0 °C (68.0 °F) was 42.

History

Middle Ages

Plzeň was first mentioned as a castle in 976, as the scene of a battle between Duke

.

During the

: Kronika trojánská), the first book published in Bohemia, was printed on it.

17th century

Emperor

From the end of the 17th century, the architecture of Plzeň has been influenced by the

cultural heritage preservation

since 1989.

19th century

In the second half of the 19th century Plzeň, already an important trade centre for

employed over 30,000 workers.

After 1898 the second largest employer was the National Railways train workshop, with about 2,000 employees: this was the largest rail repair shop in all Austria-Hungary. Between 1861 and 1877, the Plzeň railway junction was completed and in 1899 the first tram line started in the city. This burst of industry had two important effects: the growth of the local Czech population and of the urban poor. After 1868 first Czech mayor of the city was elected.

World War II

Following

might be able to unite them with their German-speaking neighbours.

Following the

Between 17 and 26 January 1942, over 2,000 Jewish inhabitants, most of Plzeň's Jewish population, were deported by the Nazis to the

Theresienstadt concentration camp

.

The German-speaking population was expelled from the city after the end of the war in 1945, according to the provisions of the Potsdam Agreement. All of their property was confiscated.

On 6 May 1945, in the final days before the

. Elements of the 3rd Army, as well as units from the 1st Army, remained in Plzeň until late November 1945.

Communist era

After the

Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk

. The statue has since been re-erected.

The next year, a West German homing pigeon was lost near the Czechoslovak border. It returned two days later, bearing a strong anticommunist message, signed "Unbowed Pilsen." The bird, named Leaping Lena, was taken to the United States, where it was celebrated as a Cold War hero.^[6][7][8]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 31,436 —     1880 48,834 +55.3% 1890 64,158 +31.4% 1900 91,334 +42.4% 1910 112,008 +22.6%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 122,354 +9.2% 1930 134,288 +9.8% 1950 127,447 −5.1% 1961 140,106 +9.9% 1970 153,524 +9.6%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 171,599 +11.8% 1991 173,791 +1.3% 2001 166,118 −4.4% 2011 170,322 +2.5% 2021 174,007 +2.2%
Source: Censuses[9][10]

Economy

Plzeň is a centre of business in the western part of the Czech Republic.

Since the late 1990s the city has experienced high growth in foreign investment. In 2007, Israeli mall developer Plaza Centers opened the Pilsen Plaza, a 20,000 m² (220,000 sq ft) shopping mall and entertainment centre featuring a multiplex cinema from Cinema City Czech Republic.

Plzeň produces about two-thirds of the Plzeň Region GDP, even though it contains only 29.8% of its population.^[11] Based on these figures, the city of Plzeň has a total GDP of approximately $7.2 billion, and a per capita GDP of $44,000. While part of this is explained by commuters to the city, it is one of the most prosperous cities in the Czech Republic.

The Škoda company, established in Plzeň in 1859, has been an important element of Austro-Hungarian, Czechoslovak and Czech engineering, and one of the biggest European arms factories. During the Communist era (1948–1989) the company's production had been directed to the needs of the Eastern Bloc. Disarray in the era after the Velvet Revolution, and unsuccessful efforts to gain new Western markets, resulted in sales problems and debts. After a huge restructuring process, the company was divided into several subsidiaries, which were later sold. The most important successors companies are Škoda Transportation and Doosan Škoda Power.^[12]

Many foreign companies now have manufacturing bases in Plzeň, including Daikin, Hisense and Panasonic. There has been much discussion of redeveloping those large areas of the Škoda plant which the company no longer uses.

Stock, located in the Božkov district, is the biggest distillery in the Czech Republic.

Pilsner beer

Plzeň is well known for the Pilsner Urquell (since 1842) and Gambrinus (since 1869) breweries, currently owned by Asahi Group Holdings.

Plzeň is an important city in the history of beer, including the development of Pilsner.^[13] In 1375, Bohemian King Charles IV endowed the Dobrow Monastery near Plzeň with the beer right, and it is one of the oldest breweries to survive to modern times.^[14][15] Many breweries were located in the interconnected deep cellars of the city.^[16][17]

The officials of Plzeň founded a city-owned brewery in 1839, Bürger Brauerei (Citizens' Brewery, now

produced a clear, golden beer which was regarded as a sensation. Improving transport meant that this new beer was soon available throughout Central Europe and Pilsner Brauart-style brewing was widely imitated.

In 1859, "Pilsner Bier" was registered as a brand name at the Chamber of Commerce and Trade in Plzeň. In 1898, the Pilsner Urquell trade mark was created to put emphasis on it being the original brewery.

Transport

Trams, trolleybuses and buses

The Plzeň metropolitan area is largely served by a network of trams, trolleybuses and buses operated by the PMDP. Like other continental European cities, tickets bought from vending machines or small shops are valid for any transport run by the city of Plzeň. For residents of the city, a Plzeň Card can be purchased and through a system of "topping up" be used on any public transport with no limitations, as long as it is paid up and valid. Tickets can be purchased in vehicles with a contactless smart card.^[19]

Rail

Plzeň is an important centre of Czech railway transport, with the crossing of five main railway lines:

• line Nr. 170: Prague – Beroun – Plzeň – Cheb
• line Nr. 180: Plzeň – Domažlice – Furth im Wald (Germany)
• line Nr. 183: Plzeň – Klatovy – Železná Ruda
• line Nr. 160: Plzeň – Žatec
• line Nr. 190: Plzeň – České Budějovice

Plzeň main railway station (Plzeň hlavní nádraží) serves all five of these lines.

Road

The most important transport link in the city is the D5 highway connecting Prague and Nuremberg.

Air

A public domestic and private international airport is located 11 km south-west from Plzeň, at the nearby village of Líně.

Religion

Since 31 May 1993 Plzeň has been the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Plzeň. The first bishop (current bishop emeritus) was František Radkovský. The current bishop is Tomáš Holub. The diocese covers an area with a total of 818,700 inhabitants.^{[citation needed]} The diocesan see is in St. Bartholomew's Cathedral on Republiky Square in Plzeň. The diocese is divided into 10 vicariates with a total of 72 parishes.

The seat of the West Bohemian seniorate (literary presbytery; Central European protestant equivalent of a diocese) of Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren is currently set in Plzeň. The current senior is Miroslav Hamari, the preacher of Koranda parish congregation of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren in Plzeň, commonly known as Koranda congregation located in the city centre of Plzeň. The senioral churchwarden is Josef Beneš, the parish churchwarden of the same congregation. There are two other parish congregations of Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren in the Plzeň-City District – The Western congregation of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren in Plzeň, known as The Western congregation located in the Western part of the city in the borough of Jižní předměstí and The Congregation of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren in Chrást located in Chrást in the very east of Plzeň-City District.

The seat of Plzeň diocese of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church is located in Plzeň (although the bishop has resided in Mirovice for several years due to a reconstruction of episcopacy). The current bishop is Filip Štojdl.

The Czech Evangelical Lutheran Church is headquartered in Plzeň.^[20] St. Paul's Lutheran Church is a church of the Czech Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plzeň.^[21]

The other churches also present in Plzeň are the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Czech Republic, the United Methodist Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church of Brethren, the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, the Greek Catholic Church, and others.

Education

The University of West Bohemia in Plzeň is well known for its Faculty of Law, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Applied Science in particular.

Martin Luther Elementary School (Základní škola Martina Luthera) is a private Christian school of the Czech Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plzeň.^[22][20]

Culture

Plzeň was a European Capital of Culture in 2015, along with Mons in Belgium.

Sport

The ice hockey club

Home Monitoring Aréna

. The football club FC Viktoria Plzeň plays in the Czech First League and belongs among the most successful clubs in the Czech Republic. Viktoria Plzeň has played in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. The team plays its home games at Doosan Arena. Handball club Talent Plzeň plays in the Czech Handball Extraliga.

Sights

The most prominent sights of Plzeň are the Gothic St. Bartholomew's Cathedral, founded in the late 13th century, whose tower, at 102 m (335 ft), is the highest in the Czech Republic, the Renaissance Town Hall, and the Moorish Revival Great Synagogue, the second largest synagogue in Europe, after the Dohány Street Synagogue in Budapest. There is also a 20 km (12 mi) historic tunnel and cellar network, among the longest in Central Europe. Part of this network is open to the public for tours of about 750 m (2,500 ft) in length and down to a depth of 12 m (39 ft).

Built in 1532, the former water tower was integrated into the city's fortification system at Prague Gate. Another storey was added in 1822 in French Imperial style. The Gothic portal dating from the 1500s and coming from another house, which had been demolished, was added in 1912. Above the portal there is a commemorative plaque dedicated to Dr Josef Škoda (a professor at the Vienna University), who was born next door on 10 December 1805.

A popular tourist attraction is the Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery tour where visitors can discover the history of beer.

Museums

• Franciscan Monastery – Museum of Christian Art
• Západočeské muzeum v Plzni

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

Plzeň is twinned with:^[24]

Gallery

• 

  Náměstí Republiky, the city's main square

• 

  Research Library

• 

  Town hall

• 

  Josef Kajetán Tyl Theatre

• 

  Museum of Western Bohemia

• 

  Sokolovna (seat of the Sokol organization)

• 

  Faculty of Law of the University of West Bohemia

• 

  District Court

• 

  Municipal Library

References

External links

• Official website
• Tourist Information Server
• Official website of the candidature of Pilsen candidature 2015 Cultural Capital of Europe
• Description of Plzeň
• PMDP – Public Transport of Plzeň
• Plzeň at the official website of the Czech Republic
• Description of Plzeň
• University of West Bohemia
• Pilsner Pubs – restaurant and gastronomy guide to the city
• A-Plzen.com – Tourist Information
• Plzenska.com – articles about Plzeň
• WebCams from Plzeň