Plasy ( Czech pronunciation: [ˈplasɪ] ; German : Plass ) is a town in Plzeň-North District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic . It has about 3,000 inhabitants. It is known for its former monastery of the same name, which is protected as a national cultural monument .
50-468: The villages of Babina, Horní Hradiště, Lomnička, Nebřeziny and Žebnice are administrative parts of Plasy. Plasy is located about 19 kilometres (12 mi) north of Plzeň . It lies in the Plasy Uplands . The highest point is the hill Spálená hora at 514 m (1,686 ft) above sea level. The Střela River flows through the town. The foundation of the town is connected with the foundation of
100-695: A centre of resistance against the Hussites. During the Thirty Years' War in the early 17th century the city was temporarily occupied after the Siege of Plzeň . In the 19th century, the city rapidly industrialised and became home to the Škoda Works , which became one of the most important engineering companies in Austria-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia . The city is known worldwide as
150-681: A clear, golden beer. By 1853, the beer was available at 35 pubs in Prague . In 1856, it came to Vienna and in 1862 to Paris. In 1859, Pilsner Bier was registered as a brand name at the Chamber of Commerce and Trade in Plzeň. In 1898, the Pilsner Urquell trademark was created to put emphasis on being the original brewery ( Urquell, meaning 'original source'). Some beers are labeled Urtyp Pilsener (UP) meaning they are brewed according to
200-476: A currency reform in 1953, which caused a wave of discontent, including the Plzeň uprising . On 1 June 1953, over 20,000 people, mainly workers at the Škoda Works, began protesting against the government. Protesters forced their way into the town hall and threw communist symbols, furniture and other objects out of the windows. The protest caused a retaliation from the government. As part of its retaliation, they destroyed
250-478: A depth of 12 m (39 ft). Built in 1532, the former water tower was integrated into the city's fortification system at Prague Gate. Another storey was added in 1822 in French Imperial style. The Gothic portal dating from the 1500s and coming from another house, which had been demolished, was added in 1912. Above the portal there is a commemorative plaque dedicated to Dr Josef Škoda (a professor at
300-862: A reconstruction of episcopacy). The current bishop is Filip Štojdl. The Czech Evangelical Lutheran Church is headquartered in Plzeň. St. Paul's Lutheran Church is a church of the Czech Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plzeň. The other churches also present in Plzeň are the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Czech Republic, the United Methodist Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church,
350-520: A total of 818,700 inhabitants. The diocesan see is in St. Bartholomew's Cathedral on Republiky Square in Plzeň. The diocese is divided into 10 vicariates with a total of 72 parishes. The seat of the West Bohemian seniorate (literary presbytery; Central European protestant equivalent of a diocese) of Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren is currently set in Plzeň. The current senior is Miroslav Hamari,
400-465: Is a centre of business in the western part of the Czech Republic. Since the late 1990s the city has experienced high growth in foreign investment. In 2007, Israeli mall developer Plaza Centers opened the Pilsen Plaza , a 20,000 m (220,000 sq ft) shopping mall and entertainment centre featuring a multiplex cinema from Cinema City Czech Republic . Plzeň produces about two-thirds of
450-451: Is from 976. The city of New Plzeň was founded nearby in 1295 by King Wenceslaus II . The old settlement then became known as Starý Plzenec and New Plzeň became known as Plzeň. It quickly became an important city on trade routes leading from Bohemia to Nuremberg and Regensburg . The first written mention about beer brewing is from 1307. In the 14th century, the city had about 3,000 inhabitants on an area of 20 ha (49 acres), making it
500-469: Is home to football club FC Viktoria Plzeň , one of the most successful clubs in the Czech league, and ice hockey club HC Škoda Plzeň . Plzeň is divided into ten boroughs, which are further divided into 25 administrative parts (in brackets): Plzeň is located about 78 km (48 mi) west of Prague . The city is situated at the confluences of four rivers: Mže , Úhlava , Úslava and Radbuza . From
550-585: Is located on the railway line heading from Plzeň to Žihle and Most . The monastery complex is the most significant landmark of Plasy, protected as a national cultural monument . It contains the former monastery, Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Baroque granary with the Royal Chapel of Saints Wenceslaus and Mary Magdalene, and abbot's residence. In 1661–1666, the church was rebuilt in
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#1732790163910600-557: Is the České údolí Reservoir, built on the Radbuza. A system of fishponds is located on the northern edge of the city. Plzeň has a cool and temperate Oceanic climate (Cfb). The average annual precipitation is 525 mm (21 in). The annual average temperature is 8.4 °C (47.1 °F). The extreme temperature throughout the year ranged from −28.0 °C (−18.4 °F) on 12 February 1985 to 40.1 °C (104.2 °F) on 27 July 1983. The first written mention of Plzeň Castle
650-697: The Wehrmacht , and Czech contributions, particularly in the field of tanks, were noted. The Nazis operated a Gestapo prison in the city, and a forced labour camp in the Karlov district. Between 17 and 26 January 1942, the majority of the city's Jewish population, over 2,000 people, were deported by the Nazis to the Theresienstadt concentration camp in Terezín . On 6 May 1945, in the final days before
700-473: The Battle of White Mountain in 1620, the monastery's financial situation improved, most of it former properties were returned to it, and the construction of new buildings on the monastery grounds began. The monastery was abolished in 1785 by decree of Emperor Joseph II . In 1826, the monastery building with the whole estate was purchased by Klemens von Metternich , who is buried here in the family tomb. Plasy
750-610: The Czech Handball Extraliga . The motorcycle speedway team PK Plzeň race at the Plzeň speedway track . The track has hosted significant speedway events including qualifying rounds of the Speedway World Team Cup . The most prominent sights of Plzeň are the Gothic St. Bartholomew's Cathedral , founded in the late 13th century, whose tower, at 102 m (335 ft), is the highest in
800-576: The Metternich family . Plze%C5%88 Plzeň ( Czech pronunciation: [ˈpl̩zɛɲ] ), also known in English and German as Pilsen ( German: [ˈpɪlzn̩] ), is a city in the Czech Republic . It is the fourth most populous city in the Czech Republic with about 186,000 inhabitants. It is located about 78 kilometres (48 miles) west of Prague , at
850-693: The Nazis after 1933 in the hope that Adolf Hitler might be able to unite them with their German-speaking neighbours. Following the Munich Agreement in 1938, Plzeň became a frontier town as the creation of the Sudetenland moved Nazi Germany 's borders closer to the city's outer limits. During the German occupation from 1939 to 1945, the Škoda Works in Pilsen was forced to provide armaments for
900-609: The Vienna University ), who was born next door on 10 December 1805. A popular tourist attraction is the Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery tour where visitors can discover the history of beer. Pilsner Pilsner (also pilsener or simply pils ) is a type of pale lager . It takes its name from the Bohemian city of Plzeň ( German : Pilsen ), where the world's first pale lager (now known as Pilsner Urquell )
950-504: The cellars beneath their brewery. This changed in 1993 with the use of large cylindrical tanks. Small samples are still brewed in a traditional way for taste comparisons. A modern pale lager termed a pilsner may have a very light, clear colour from pale to golden yellow, with varying levels of hop aroma and flavour. The alcohol strength of beers termed pilsner vary but are typically around 4.5%–5% (by volume). There are categories such as "European-Style Pilsner" at beer competitions such as
1000-547: The end of World War II in Europe , Plzeň was liberated from Nazi Germany by the 16th Armored Division of General George Patton 's 3rd Army . Also participating in the liberation of the city were elements of the 97th and 2nd Infantry Divisions supported by the Polish Holy Cross Mountains Brigade . Other Third Army units liberated major portions of Western Bohemia. The rest of Czechoslovakia
1050-763: The Church of Brethren, the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, the Greek Catholic Church, and others. The University of West Bohemia in Plzeň is well known for its Faculty of Law, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Applied Science in particular. Martin Luther Elementary School (Základní škola Martina Luthera) is a private Christian school of the Czech Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plzeň. Plzeň
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#17327901639101100-547: The Cistercian monastery. The Plasy Monastery was founded in 1144 by then Prince Vladislaus II . The monastery experienced the greatest development during the reign of King Wenceslaus I , and its property gradually grew to cover 50 surrounding villages. The development of the monastery ended during the Hussite Wars , when it was burned down in 1421. The entire 15th and 16th centuries mean a period of deep decline. After
1150-760: The Czech Republic, the Renaissance Town Hall, and the Moorish Revival Great Synagogue , the second largest synagogue in Europe, after the Dohány Street Synagogue in Budapest . There is also a 20 km (12 mi) historic tunnel and cellar network, among the longest in Central Europe. Part of this network is open to the public for tours of about 750 m (2,500 ft) in length and down to
1200-745: The Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren in Plzeň, known as The Western congregation located in the Western part of the city in the borough of Jižní předměstí and The Congregation of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren in Chrást located in Chrást in the very east of Plzeň-City District. The seat of Plzeň diocese of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church is located in Plzeň (although the bishop has resided in Mirovice for several years due to
1250-603: The Hussite Wars. From the end of the 17th century, the architecture of Plzeň has been influenced by the Baroque style. The city centre has been under cultural heritage preservation since 1989. In the second half of the 19th century Plzeň, already an important trade centre for Bohemia , near the Bavarian/German border, began to industrialise rapidly. In 1869 Emil Škoda founded the Škoda Works , which became
1300-534: The Plzeň Region GDP, even though it contains only 29.8% of its population. Based on these figures, the city of Plzeň has a total GDP of approximately $ 7.2 billion, and a per capita GDP of $ 44,000. While part of this is explained by commuters to the city, it is one of the most prosperous cities in the Czech Republic. The Škoda company, established in Plzeň in 1859, has been an important element of Austro-Hungarian, Czechoslovak and Czech engineering, and one of
1350-457: The art of triple decoction mashing . The combination of pale colour from the new malts, Plzeň's remarkably soft water, Saaz noble hops from nearby Žatec ( Saaz in German) and Bavarian-style lagering produced a clear, golden beer which was regarded as a sensation. Improving transport meant that this new beer was soon available throughout Central Europe and Pilsner Brauart -style brewing
1400-443: The beer right, and it is one of the oldest breweries to survive to modern times. Many breweries were located in the interconnected deep cellars of the city. The officials of Plzeň founded a city-owned brewery in 1839, Bürger Brauerei (Citizens' Brewery, now Plzeňský Prazdroj ), and recruited Bavarian brewer Josef Groll (1813–1887) who produced the first batch of modern Pilsner beer on 5 October 1842. This included mastering
1450-816: The beer's clarity and shelf-life . Part of this research benefited from the knowledge already expounded on in a book (printed in German in 1794, in Czech in 1799) written by Czech brewer František Ondřej Poupě (German: Franz Andreas Paupie ) (1753–1805) from Brno . The Plzeň brewery recruited the Bavarian brewer Josef Groll (1813–1887) who, using the local ingredients, produced the first batch of pale lager on 5 October 1842. The combination of Plzeň's remarkably soft water, local Saaz noble hops from nearby Žatec , low-protein Moravian barley malt prepared by indirectly heated kilning, and Bavarian -style lagering produced
1500-839: The biggest European arms factories. During the Communist era (1948–1989) the company's production had been directed to the needs of the Eastern Bloc . Disarray in the era after the Velvet Revolution , and unsuccessful efforts to gain new Western markets, resulted in sales problems and debts. After a huge restructuring process, the company was divided into several subsidiaries, which were later sold. The most important successors companies are Škoda Transportation and Doosan Škoda Power . Many foreign companies now have manufacturing bases in Plzeň, including Daikin , Hisense and Panasonic . The software provider company ZF Openmatics
1550-561: The city and its surroundings, linked to the city by commuting and migration. It has about 328,000 inhabitants. Plzeň is well known for the Pilsner Urquell (since 1842) and Gambrinus (since 1869) breweries , currently owned by Asahi Group Holdings. Plzeň is an important city in the history of beer, including the development of Pilsner . In 1375, Bohemian King Charles IV endowed the Dobrow Monastery near Plzeň with
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1600-539: The city is the D5 highway connecting Prague and Nuremberg . A public domestic and private international airport is located 11 km south-west from Plzeň, at the nearby village of Líně . Since 31 May 1993 Plzeň has been the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Plzeň . The first bishop (current bishop emeritus) was František Radkovský. The current bishop is Tomáš Holub. The diocese covers an area with
1650-502: The city of Plzeň. For residents of the city, a Plzeň Card can be purchased and through a system of "topping up" be used on any public transport with no limitations, as long as it is paid up and valid. Tickets can be purchased in vehicles with a contactless smart card. Plzeň is an important centre of Czech railway transport, with the crossing of five main railway lines: Plzeň main railway station ( Plzeň hlavní nádraží ) serves all five of these lines. The most important transport link in
1700-528: The confluence of four rivers: Mže , Úhlava , Úslava and Radbuza , together forming the Berounka River. Founded as a royal city in the late 13th century, Plzeň became an important town for trade on routes linking Bohemia with Bavaria . By the 14th century it had grown to be the third largest city in Bohemia. The city was besieged three times during the 15th-century Hussite Wars , when it became
1750-569: The confluence of the Mže and Radbuza, the river is known as the Berounka . Plzeň lies mostly in the Plasy Uplands , with small parts of the municipal territory extending into the Švihov Highlands to the east and south. The highest point is the hill Chlum at 416 m (1,365 ft) above sea level. The lowest point is the river bed of the Berounka at 293 m (961 ft). The largest body of water
1800-512: The early Baroque style. The new convent building was built in 1711–1740 by Jan Santini Aichel and after his death by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer . Today the complex is open to the public and offers guided tours. The former Church of Saint Wenceslaus was built in the Gothic style and rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1690. After the abolition of the monastery, it was modified into the family tomb of
1850-529: The home of Pilsner beer, created by Bavarian brewer Josef Groll in the city in 1842; today, the Pilsner Urquell Brewery is the largest brewery in the Czech Republic. Plzeň serves as the main business centre of West Bohemia and the capital of the Plzeň Region . The city is a cultural heritage zone known for its Baroque architecture , and was European Capital of Culture in 2015. Plzeň
1900-553: The most important and influential engineering company in the country and a crucial supplier of arms to the Austro-Hungarian Army . By 1917 the Škoda Works employed over 30,000 workers. After 1898 the second largest employer was the National Railways train workshop, with about 2,000 employees: this was the largest rail repair shop in all Austria-Hungary . Between 1861 and 1877, the Plzeň railway junction
1950-399: The oldest book in Bohemia is Statuta written by Arnošt of Pardubice , which was printed in 1476. Emperor Rudolf II made Plzeň his seat from 1599 to 1600. During the Thirty Years' War the town was taken by Mansfeld in 1618 after the Siege of Plzeň and it was not recaptured by Imperial troops until 1621. Wallenstein made it his winter quarters in 1633. Accused of treason and losing
2000-399: The original process, although many breweries use this accolade for their top beer. The introduction of modern refrigeration to Germany by Carl von Linde in the late 19th century eliminated the need for caves for beer storage, enabling the brewing and storing of cool fermenting beer in many new locations. Until 1993 the Pilsner Urquell brewery fermented its beer using open barrels in
2050-466: The preacher of Koranda parish congregation of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren in Plzeň, commonly known as Koranda congregation located in the city centre of Plzeň. The senioral churchwarden is Josef Beneš, the parish churchwarden of the same congregation. There are two other parish congregations of Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren in the Plzeň-City District – The Western congregation of
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2100-535: The statue of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk , the first president of Czechoslovakia. The statue has since been re-erected. In 1954, a West German homing pigeon was lost near the Czechoslovak border. It returned two days later, bearing a strong anticommunist message, signed "Unbowed Pilsen." The bird, named Leaping Lena , was taken to the United States, where it was celebrated as a Cold War hero. Plzeň
2150-479: The support of his army, he fled the town on 23 February 1634 to Eger/Cheb where he was assassinated two days later. The town was increasingly threatened by the Swedes in the last years of the war. The city commander Jan van der Croon strengthened the fortifications of Plzeň from 1645 to 1649. Swedish troops passed the town in 1645 and 1648 without attacking it. The town and region have been staunchly Catholic despite
2200-520: The third largest city in Bohemia after Prague and Kutná Hora . During the Hussite Wars , it was the centre of Catholic resistance to the Hussites : Prokop the Great unsuccessfully besieged it three times, and it joined the league of Catholic nobles against King George of Poděbrady . In the 1470s and 1480s, the city had the first printing press in Bohemia. The first book printed here and therefore
2250-771: Was a European Capital of Culture in 2015, along with Mons in Belgium. The ice hockey club HC Škoda Plzeň plays in the Czech Extraliga . The team plays its home games at Home Monitoring Aréna . The football club FC Viktoria Plzeň plays in the Czech First League and belongs among the most successful clubs in the Czech Republic. Viktoria Plzeň has played in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League . The team plays its home games at Doosan Arena . Handball club Talent Plzeň plays in
2300-497: Was completed and in 1899 the first tram line started in the city. This burst of industry had two important effects: the growth of the local Czech population and of the urban poor. After 1868 the first Czech mayor of the city was elected. Following Czechoslovak independence from Austria-Hungary in 1918 the ethnic German minority in the countryside bordering the city of Plzeň hoped to be united with Austria and were unhappy at being included in Czechoslovakia. Many allied themselves to
2350-405: Was founded and is headquartered in this city. There has been much discussion of redeveloping those large areas of the Škoda plant which the company no longer uses. Stock , located in the Božkov district, is the biggest distillery in the Czech Republic. The Plzeň agglomeration was defined as a tool for drawing money from the European Structural and Investment Funds . It is an area that includes
2400-418: Was liberated from German control by the Soviet Red Army . Elements of the 3rd Army, as well as units from the 1st Army, remained in Plzeň until late November 1945. After the end of the war, the city's ethnic German minority population was expelled and their property was confiscated in accordance to the provisions of the Potsdam Agreement . After the 1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état , the government launched
2450-517: Was produced in 1842 by Pilsner Urquell Brewery . The city of Plzeň was granted brewing rights in 1307. Until the mid-1840s, most Bohemian beers were top- fermented . The Pilsner Urquell Brewery, originally called in German : Bürger-Brauerei Pilsen ( Czech : Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň , English: Plzeň Citizens' Brewery ), is where Pilsen beer was first brewed. Brewers had begun aging beer made with cool fermenting yeasts in caves ( lager , i.e., German : gelagert [stored]), which improved
2500-493: Was widely imitated. In 1859, "Pilsner Bier" was registered as a brand name at the Chamber of Commerce and Trade in Plzeň. In 1898, the Pilsner Urquell trade mark was created to put emphasis on this being the brewery where the style originated. The Plzeň metropolitan area is largely served by a network of trams, trolleybuses and buses operated by the PMDP. Like other continental European cities, tickets bought from vending machines or small shops are valid for any transport run by
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