Libočany

Libočany
Village
Country Czech Republic
Region Ústí nad Labem
District Louny
Commune Žatec
Coordinates 50°20′01″N 13°30′21″E / 50.33361°N 13.50583°ECoordinates: 50°20′01″N 13°30′21″E / 50.33361°N 13.50583°E
Area 5.71 km2 (2.2 sq mi)
Population 523
Density 92 / km2 (238 / sq mi)
First mentioned 1226
Mayor Jiří Hudeček
Timezone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 43975
Location in the Czech Republic
Wikimedia Commons: Libočany
Statistics: statnisprava.cz
Website: [1]

The small village of Libočany (German: Liebitschan (bei Saaz) or Liebotschan), in Ústí nad Labem Region, Czech Republic, stands near the town of Žatec on a bank of the Ohře River, by the mouth of the small tributary Liboc River. It has a population of 523 (2006 census).[2] It is famous for Václav Hájek z Libočan, the most renowned Czech chronicler of Baroque times, who was probably born there.

History

The Chateau, today the seat of the Geodesy Institute

First mentioned in 1226, it was on property of the Premonstratensian monastery in Doksany. Václav Karel Schroll of Schrollenberg built a new château on the site of an older stronghold with a new church and clergyman's house in Rococo style (1770). The château had a large park with statues and fountains in the back.

The church, built in 1773, is dedicated to All Saints. The vault paintings depict the scenes from lives of some patron saints. The organ was made in 1775.

Before 1918 Libočany was part of the Bohemian part of the Austrian Empire. In 1919 it became part of the newly independent Czechoslovakia. In 1938, along with the Sudetenland, it was annexed by Germany after the Munich Agreement. In 1945 it was restored to Czechoslovakia and most of its German speaking inhabitants were expelled.

Beer

The "Liebotschan Brauerei" brewery in 1906

The brewery from the 19th century produced beer even for US trade with a stock in New York.[3] The Liebotschaner Beer was among four Bohemian beer brands exported to the USA (the others were Pilsner Urquell, Budweiser Bier, and Michelob). The latter place, as well as Liebotschan, are located in the Saaz hops region, and bear Czech language names since 1918.[4] Several local American breweries have produced beer under the name of the former Austrian village, or abbreviated to Lieb (e.g. Chattanooga Brewing Co. in Tennessee,[5] Stegmaier Brewing Company,[6] or Lion Brewery, Inc., Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania;[7] Genesee's Liebotschaner Beer was pronounced best of Rochester's post repeal brews in 1932[8]

The production of beer in Libočany ended after World War I when the Austrian Empire was dissolved and Czechoslovakian authorities took over. The buildings of the brewery were demolished in 1939. After World War II, in socialist Czechoslovakia, it was replaced by a collective farm.

Notable people

References

  1. "Titulní stránka: Obec Libočany". Libocany.cz. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
  2. European Business Enterprise a.s. "obec Libočany - Český informační server" (in Czech). Statnisprava.cz. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  3. 3.0 3.1
  4. "Přesměrování článků z původních stránek | Konkursní noviny" (in Czech). Konkursni-noviny.cz. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  5. "Keg Labels". Usbeerstuff.com. 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  6. "American Brews- Man of 1000 Beers". Web.archive.org. 2009-10-27. Archived from the original on 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  7. "Famous persons from Czech history". Czech.cz. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
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