Stráž (Tachov District)

Stráž
Church of Saint Wenceslaus at the town square
Church of Saint Wenceslaus at the town square
Flag of Stráž
Coat of arms of Stráž
Stráž is located in Czech Republic
Stráž
Stráž
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°40′9″N 12°45′52″E / 49.66917°N 12.76444°E / 49.66917; 12.76444
Country Czech Republic
RegionPlzeň
DistrictTachov
First mentioned1331
Area
 • Total53.97 km2 (20.84 sq mi)
Elevation
448 m (1,470 ft)
Population
 (2024-01-01)[1]
 • Total1,365
 • Density25/km2 (66/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal codes
348 02, 348 06
Websitewww.obecstraz.cz

Stráž (German: Neustadtl) is a market town in Tachov District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,400 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

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The villages of Bernartice, Bonětice, Bonětičky, Borek, Dehetná, Jadruž, Olešná, Souměř, Strachovice and Valcha are administrative parts of Stráž.

Geography

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Stráž is located about 17 kilometres (11 mi) southeast of Tachov and 43 km (27 mi) west of Plzeň. It lies in the Upper Palatine Forest Foothills. The highest point is the hill Homole at 579 m (1,900 ft) above sea level. The Úhlavka River flows through the municipality. The territory is rich in fishponds.

History

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The first written mention of Stráž is from 1331, when it became a market town. Existence of a Jewish community is also documented in 1331. After the Hussite Wars, the area began to be settled by Germans. From the mid-15th century, Stráž was a part of the Přimda estate.[2]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
18693,172—    
18803,170−0.1%
18903,087−2.6%
19003,009−2.5%
19102,944−2.2%
YearPop.±%
19212,800−4.9%
19302,683−4.2%
19501,380−48.6%
19611,305−5.4%
19701,145−12.3%
YearPop.±%
19801,019−11.0%
1991958−6.0%
20011,070+11.7%
20111,072+0.2%
20211,203+12.2%
Source: Censuses[3][4]

Transport

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Stráž is located on the railway line TachovDomažlice.[5]

Sights

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Church of Saint John the Baptist
Church of Saints Peter and Paul

The main landmark of Stráž is the Church of Saint Wenceslaus. It was originally a Romanesque church from the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries, rebuilt in all periods: in the Gothic in the second half of the 14th century; in the Renaissance in 1609, when the tower was added; in the Baroque in two stages – 1720–1722 and 1740s; and in 1878, when reconstruction was carried out after the fire in 1876.[6]

The Church of Saint John the Baptist is a cemetery church located on the western edge of the market town. It was built in the Baroque church in 1734.[7]

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is located in Bernartice. It is a large Baroque church, built in 1734–1739 on the site of an old Gothic church.[8]

The Jewish cemetery in Stráž is one of the oldest cemeteries of this kind in Bohemia. The first written mention of the cemetery is from 1450, but it is probably older. The preserved tombstones are from the 17–19th centuries.[9]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. ^ "Strategie rozvoje městyse Stráž a jeho částí do roku 2031" (PDF) (in Czech). Městys Stráž. 2021. pp. 15–16. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  3. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.
  4. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  5. ^ "Detail stanice Stráž u Tachova" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  6. ^ "Kostel Narození sv. Václava" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  7. ^ "Kostel sv. Jana Křtitele" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  8. ^ "Kostel sv. Petra a Pavla" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  9. ^ "Židovský hřbitov" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
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