| Litoměřice | |||
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Cathedral of St. Stephen with belfry.
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| Country | Czech Republic | ||
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| Region | Ústí nad Labem | ||
| District | Litoměřice | ||
| Commune | Litoměřice | ||
| River | Elbe, Ohře | ||
| Elevation | 136 m (446 ft) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Area | 17.99 km2 (6.95 sq mi) | ||
| Population | 25,517 (2006-10-02) | ||
| Density | 1,418 / km2 (3,673 / sq mi) | ||
| Founded around | 10th century | ||
| - Royal status | 1219 | ||
| Mayor | Ladislav Chlupáč | ||
| Timezone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 412 01 | ||
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Location in the Czech Republic
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| Wikimedia Commons: Litoměřice | |||
| Statistics: statnisprava.cz | |||
| Website: www.litomerice.cz/ | |||
Litoměřice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈlɪtomɲɛr̝ɪtsɛ]; German: Leitmeritz) is a town at the junction of the rivers Elbe (Czech: Labe) and Ohře (German: Eger) in the north part of the Czech Republic, approximately 64 km (39,7 mi) northwest of Prague.
The area within the Ústí nad Labem Region is called Garden of Bohemia thanks to mild weather conditions important for growing fruits and grapes. During the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, many pensionists chose it over more southern areas of the Empire.
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One of the oldest Czech towns, Litoměřice was established in the 10th century on the site of an early medieval Slavic fort. A royal-town statute was granted in 1219. From the 12th to the 17th century it was a significant trading center in the Holy Roman Empire. The German population suffered during the 15th century Hussite Wars. After the Protestant insurrection that triggered the Thirty Years' War and the Protestants' defeat in the Battle of White Mountain, the population of the city had to accept Catholicism or leave the town, which became a bishop's residency in 1655. As a result, the Czech population shrank and the town became largely Germanized.
After the Austro-Hungarian Empire was dissolved in late 1918, the areas along the border with Germany, where a majority of the former Austrian citizens spoke German language, tried to join German Austria (which in turn aimed to join Germany), but Czechoslovak troops prevented this. In 1919, all of Bohemia and Moravia was put under the Czechoslovak rule by the Treaty of St. Germain, including the large area stretching around central Bohemia and Moravia. Known as Sudetenland, the region became the subject of political controversy in the following years. Slavs settled there again, but remained a minority. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, German troops occupied the Sudetenland. The Czech population, which had grown to about 5,000 people, had to leave again.
In the final stages of World War II, German troops retreated to escape the advancing Red Army. The Czech resistance took control of the castle on 27 April 1945, and after a few days they started negotiations with the German commander about the terms of his surrender. The Wehrmacht capitulated in the night after 8 May, but German troops fled on 9 May, just before Soviet troops entered the town on 10 May 1945. Most of the German population of the town was expelled by the Beneš decrees in August 1945, along with about 2.5 million other Czechoslovak citizens of German ethnicity.
There are several main sights already visible when approaching Litoměřice. St. Stephen's cathedral at the Dome Square (Dómské náměstí) was built in 1664-1668 at the place of roman basilica. The interior is almost completely authentic with main and six side altars and a lot of original paintings. Right next to the dome is a Bishop Residency built in 1683-1701 by Giulio Broggio. On the main square there is All-Saints Church and within distance there is an Annunciation (Lady Day) Church, another masterpiece built by the son of Giulio Broggio, Octavio. The old town hall (now city museum) and Black Eagle House (Dům u černého orla) on the main square are also worthy a look. The symbol of the city is a chalice, since the watchout tower on the Town Hall has this shape. There are numerous cellars connected by an extensive web of underground ways under the town. In some places the cellars were built in three floors. The ways are about three kilometers long and they belong to one of the longest in the Czech Republic. Unfortunately, only 336 meters of these underground ways are open to the public. You can notice the ancient town wall when entering the town. The original town wall was built in the Gothic style. Northern Bohemian Gallery of Creative Arts (SGVU) is based close the main square. Extensive collection spans from 13th century to contemporary art with numerous other exhibitions during the year.
There are several successful sportsmen who were born, lived or are living in Litoměřice, among other olympic medalists, world champions or Stanley Cup winners:
Litoměřice is twinned with: