Bezdružice

Bezdružice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈbɛzdruʒɪtsɛ]; German: Weseritz) is a town in Tachov District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 900 inhabitants.

Bezdružice
Town
Bezdružice seen from the south
Bezdružice seen from the south
Flag of Bezdružice
Flag
Coat of arms of Bezdružice
Coat of arms
Bezdružice is located in Czech Republic
Bezdružice
Bezdružice
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°54′26″N 12°58′21″E
Country Czech Republic
RegionPlzeň
DistrictTachov
First mentioned1227
Government
 • MayorLumír Kadlec
Area
 • Total32.00 km2 (12.36 sq mi)
Elevation
576 m (1,890 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total915
 • Density29/km2 (74/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
349 53
Websitewww.bezdruzice.cz

Administrative parts

Villages of Dolní Polžice, Horní Polžice, Kamýk, Kohoutov, Křivce, Pačín, Řešín and Zhořec are administrative parts of Bezdružice.

Geography

Bezdružice is located about 26 km (16 mi) northeast of Tachov and 33 km (21 mi) northwest of Plzeň. It lies in the Teplá Highlands. The territory is rich in small streams.

History
Bezdružice Castle above the town

The first written mention of Bezdružice is from 1227. In 1360–1379, Bezdružice was owned by knight Bušek and it was in these times, when a small stone castle was built. In 1459, the village became a market town.[2]

From 1520 to 1614, a deadly plague infected the town. During the Thirty Years' War, around 1646, the town and the castle were burnt down by the invading Swedish army. In 1712, Bezdružice was acquired by the Löwenstein princely family. At that time, the old and new castles were already standing on the site of the original castle.[2]

In 1808, another plague hit the town, in 1809, a fire burnt down many parts of the town, and in 1815, a windstorm ravaged Bezdružice.[3]

The town became more popular when a railway was introduced to the town. The railway quickly gentrified the town. However, the population declined during and after World War II, mainly following the expulsion of local German inhabitants.[3]

In 1949, Bezdružice lost the town status and was incorporated into the Tachov District.[3] In 2006, the municipality regained its town status.[2]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±%
18692,168—    
18802,158−0.5%
18902,111−2.2%
19002,010−4.8%
19101,962−2.4%
YearPop.±%
19211,977+0.8%
19302,013+1.8%
1950983−51.2%
19611,055+7.3%
19701,034−2.0%
YearPop.±%
19801,007−2.6%
1991981−2.6%
2001990+0.9%
2011894−9.7%
2021870−2.7%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Sights

Bezdružice Castle is a Gothic castle built by the Kolowrat family before 1330. The castle was partly demolished in the 18th century, but it was remodeled in the Baroque style.[6]

The first mention of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is from 1515, however the current church was built in 1710–1711, after the old one was demolished.[2]

Notable people
  • Former town hall
    Former town hall
  • Kryštof Harant Square with the Statue of Saint Florian
    Kryštof Harant Square with the Statue of Saint Florian
  • Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
    Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
  • Bezdružice Castle
    Bezdružice Castle

References
  1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. "Historie" (in Czech). Město Bezdružice. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  3. "Bezdružice". tachovsko.com (in Czech). Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  4. "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Tachov" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 1–2.
  5. "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  6. Bělohlávek, Miloslav (1985). Hrady, zámky a tvrze v Čechách, na Moravě a ve Slezsku (in Czech). pp. 32, 37.
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