Levín (German: Lewin) is a market town in Litoměřice District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 200 inhabitants.

Levín
Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Flag of Levín
Coat of arms of Levín
Levín is located in Czech Republic
Levín
Levín
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°36′50″N 14°17′2″E / 50.61389°N 14.28389°E / 50.61389; 14.28389
Country Czech Republic
RegionÚstí nad Labem
DistrictLitoměřice
First mentioned1352
Area
 • Total4.90 km2 (1.89 sq mi)
Elevation
438 m (1,437 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total160
 • Density33/km2 (85/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
411 45
Websitewww.mestyslevin.cz

Administrative parts edit

The village of Horní Vysoké is an administrative part of Levín.

Etymology edit

The name is derived from the personal name Lev, meaning "Lev's (castle, court)".[2]

Geography edit

Levín is located about 13 kilometres (8 mi) northeast of Litoměřice and 18 km (11 mi) east of Ústí nad Labem. It lies in the Central Bohemian Uplands and within the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area. The highest point is a hill at 559 m (1,834 ft) above sea level.

History edit

The first written mention of Levín is from 1352. At the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, during the rule of Václav of Vartenberk, Levín was promoted to a market town. In 1402 at the latest, the potters' guild was founded in Levín. The town was known for pottery until the beginning of the 20th century, when the supply of good quality clay was exhausted. It was the only place in the country with such long continuous production.[3]

There was a climatic spa in Horní Vysoké. It was founded in the first third of the 19th century, but ceased to exist during World War II. [3]

Demographics edit

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18691,235—    
18801,158−6.2%
18901,085−6.3%
1900957−11.8%
1910876−8.5%
YearPop.±%
1921847−3.3%
1930843−0.5%
1950326−61.3%
1961313−4.0%
1970237−24.3%
YearPop.±%
1980157−33.8%
199192−41.4%
200197+5.4%
2011123+26.8%
2021146+18.7%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Transport edit

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

Sights edit

 
Former town hall

The main landmark of Levín is the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It was built in the late Baroque style in 1788. After the fire in 1791, it was rebuilt in 1798. The Baroque rotunda of the church is supposed to resemble a potter's wheel and thus reminds of the tradition of this craft in Levín.[3][6]

A notable building is the former town hall. It was built in the late Baroque and Neoclassical styles in 1793.[7]

The ruin of the Levín Castle is located on a hill above Levín. It was built in the 13th century or at the beginning of the 14th century. In the 1420s, during the Hussite Wars, the castle was destroyed. In 1699, a bell tower was built next to the ruins using material from the castle. From the ruins, only the relics of the fortress wall have survived to this day.[8]

Notable people edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. ^ Profous, Antonín (1949). Místní jména v Čechách II: CH–L (in Czech). p. 513.
  3. ^ a b c "Základní informace o obci" (in Czech). Městys Levín. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  4. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Litoměřice" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 5–6.
  5. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  6. ^ "Kostel Povýšení sv. Kříže" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  7. ^ "Radnice" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  8. ^ "Zřícenina hradu Levín" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-04-24.

External links edit