Toužim (Czech pronunciation: [ˈtouʒɪm]; German: Theusing) is a town in Karlovy Vary District in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,600 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as urban monument zone.

Toužim
Former town hall at the town square
Former town hall at the town square
Flag of Toužim
Coat of arms of Toužim
Toužim is located in Czech Republic
Toužim
Toužim
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°3′38″N 12°59′6″E / 50.06056°N 12.98500°E / 50.06056; 12.98500
Country Czech Republic
RegionKarlovy Vary
DistrictKarlovy Vary
First mentioned1354
Government
 • MayorAlexandr Žák
Area
 • Total98.55 km2 (38.05 sq mi)
Elevation
612 m (2,008 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total3,559
 • Density36/km2 (94/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
364 20
Websitewww.touzim.cz

Administrative parts edit

Villages of Bezděkov, Branišov, Dobrá Voda, Dřevohryzy, Kojšovice, Komárov, Kosmová, Lachovice, Luhov, Nežichov, Políkno, Prachomety, Radyně, Smilov and Třebouň are administrative parts of Toužim.

Geography edit

Toužim is located about 21 kilometres (13 mi) south of Karlovy Vary. It lies in the Teplá Highlands. The highest point is the hill Třebouňský vrch at 825 m (2,707 ft) above sea level. The Střela River originates in the municipal territory and flows through the town proper.

History edit

The first written mention of Toužim is in a document from 1354, where there was written about the site of a Premonstratensian provostry. The surrounding fortified town was founded in 1469.[2]

Demographics edit

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18695,075—    
18805,109+0.7%
18905,155+0.9%
19005,052−2.0%
19105,104+1.0%
YearPop.±%
19215,085−0.4%
19304,898−3.7%
19502,462−49.7%
19612,680+8.9%
19703,594+34.1%
YearPop.±%
19803,949+9.9%
19913,864−2.2%
20013,798−1.7%
20113,710−2.3%
20213,457−6.8%
Source: Censuses[3][4]

Transport edit

Toužim lies on the railway line of local importance heading from Rakovník to Bečov nad Teplou.[5]

Sights edit

 
Toužim Castle
 
Marian column on the square

The main landmark of the historic centre is the castle complex, formed by two castle buildings, a manorial brewery and fragments of town walls.[6]

The parish deanery Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was built after 1488. The original late Gothic church building was damaged by fires and rebuilt in 1738–1742. The northern Gothic tower and the Baroque side chapel of Christ the Sufferer from 1699 have been preserved.[6]

The former town hall on the town square is a Neoclassical-Empire building with a Gothic core. It was rebuilt to its present form after numerous fires. In the middle of the town square is a Marian column from 1705, a fountain from the mid-18th century, and a modern sculpture of King George of Poděbrady, after whom the square is named.[6]

Notable people edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. ^ "Vznik Toužimi" (PDF) (in Czech). Město Toužim. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  3. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Karlovy Vary" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 19–20.
  4. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  5. ^ "Detail stanice Toužim" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  6. ^ a b c "Městská památková zóna" (PDF) (in Czech). Město Toužim. Retrieved 2022-06-16.

External links edit