9. THE TOWN OF LOUNY; MY HOME TOWN
8. 2. 2009
9. THE TOWN OF LOUNY; MY HOME TOWN
1) HISTORY
First there was a settlement called Luna on the Ohře River. It was situated on an important trade route from Bohemia to Germany. In the 13th century, Czech King Přemysl Otakar II. /the second/ built a town here.
In the 15th century, the hussite period was important for Louny which belonged to the radical wing of hussitism. Master Jan Hus wrote a letter to inhabitants of Louny. His statue on Mirove Square commemorates this reformer and his relationship to our town.
There were several plague epidemics in the 16th century (that is why Plague Column was placed on Mirove Square).
Louny was a rich town at that time, hop production and winegrowing were on a good level.
In the 17th century, most of the town was damaged during the Thirty Years‘ War. Lots of houses were burnt, Swedish troops plundered the town. The importance of the town declined after that.
In the 19th century, Louny started developing again: brewery, heavy industry, financial institutions, Jirasek mills.
2) LOUNY NATIVES
LITERATURE:
Jaroslav Vrchlický (19th century)
- he was born in Louny but he didn’t spend his life there
- his real name was Emil Frida
- an important Czech playwright and poet (his famous play is Noc na Karlštejně)
- his birthhouse is in Pražská Street
- the theatre in Louny was named after him
Konstantin Biebl (20th century)
- a poet
- he was born in Slavětín near Louny
- he studied at the grammar school in Louny, then he moved to Prague
- Biebl fought in the First World War; then he studied medicine
- he suffered from depression and finally he commited suicide
ARCHITECTURE:
Kamil Hilbert
- he completed St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague at the beginning of the 20th century
- a street in Louny was named after him
MATHEMATICS
Václav Hlavatý – he died in the USA
- as a mathematician, Hlavaty was recognized worldwide
- local grammar school was named after him
SOLDIERS OF THE WORLD WAR II
Gen. František Fajtl
- a Czech pilot in the Second World War; he wrote a book about his war experience
- our school (Business Academy) was named after him
3) TRANSPORT
In Louny, you can use public transport but there are only two bus lines: 1 and 2. There is central bus stop and central railway station. Except of these, you can find more smaller bus stops or stations.
4) CULTURE
Earlier, there used to be two cinemas: the Cinema Svět and an open air cinema in the park, but the latter is out of order now. In the cinema Svět you can also enjoy your coffee in a café.
Vrchlický Theater is a modern building in the town centre. You can see comedies, concerts and dance performances.
If you have small children, you can take them to the Puppet Theatre which has a longtime tradition in this town.
Opposite the Puppet Theatre you can lend a book in the Municipal Library.
Art lovers can attend some music courses, painting courses or dance classes in local Arts school in Poděbradova Street.
Each summer a festival called „Lounské vábení“ takes place in Louny: with concerts, processions and tourist hikes.
The exhibition of animals and plants „Člověk v přírodě“ takes place at the beginning of autumn in the park.
Collections of paintings can be seen in Benedikt Rejt Gallery (near the Town Hall).
5) SPORTS
- football pitch and training-ground for dogs near Dobroměřice
- baseball field in the park
- outdoor swimming pool with switch-backs and whirlpool
- indoor swimming pool (you can have a swim there or visit a sauna or a gym)
- summer sports ground with an air hall for tennis players and a skateboard ramp
- fitness centre in Široká Street
- you can play floorball in some gyms
- the local Sokol organization keeps its longtime tradition: they have their own gym (you can play volleyball, basketball, handball, do special exercises for women, children, seniors or mothers with toddlers)
- light athletics club in the park
- cycling club with velodrome near Dobroměřice (behind the park)
- several cycling tracks in Louny and its surroundings
6) INDUSTRY , AGRICULTURE
- heavy engineering
- automobile spare parts
- hop production and brewery
7) PLACES OF INTEREST
Louny has preserved its historic centre which is surrounded by Gothic fortification walls with bastions. In the past, there used to be two Gates: Pražská Gate (near the First Basic School) which was pulled down, and Žatecká Gate which you can still admire today.
In the Gothic „House of Sokols of Mory“ you can visit the local museum. In Mírové Square there are two monuments: Plague Column and Jan Hus Statue.
The Renaissance Daliborka building houses the archive. Another building where archival materials are kept is Jewish Synagogue in Hilbertova Street.
The dominant of the town is St. Nicholas Church – built in the 16th century according to the plans of Benedikt Rejt. This church has a very special „tent-shaped“ towers (similar as the towers of the much larger St. Barbora Church in Kutna Hora).
Another churches in Louny: the Church of St. Peter and Paul near the 7th Basic School, the Church of God’s Mother near the central bus stop. Both of them were built in Gothic style.
A remarkable building is also the Baroque Hospital which was renovated and serves as a restaurant today.
8) WHERE DO PEOPLE IN LOUNY LIVE?
Lots of people live in the outskirts of town in housing estates with tall blocks of flats. There are also quiet quarters with detached houses or terraced houses. Some people also have their small gardens along the Ohře river.
9) LOUNY AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
- The town of Louny is situated in the Central Bohemian Highlands. This is a picturesque region of mountains and hills, e.g. Raná – a paradise for paragliders! There is a small view tower on Červeňák hill (the real name of this hill is „Stříbrník“). Another well-known hill is Oblík.
There is an open-air museum in Březno u Loun (you can learn something about prehistoric settlements).
The chateau Libochovice is a nice place for a trip – with its beautiful French and English gardens with peacocks.
Not far from Libochovice, the ruin Házmburk can be found. There is a wonderful view from its tower.
(If you are not from Louny, you can add some information about your home town!)
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