Krásná Lípa

Krásná Lípa
Town
Flag
Coat of arms
Country Czech Republic
Region Ústí nad Labem
District Děčín
Commune Rumburk
Elevation 426 m (1,398 ft)
Coordinates CZ 50°54′48″N 14°30′32″E / 50.91333°N 14.50889°E / 50.91333; 14.50889Coordinates: CZ 50°54′48″N 14°30′32″E / 50.91333°N 14.50889°E / 50.91333; 14.50889
Area 31.39 km2 (12.12 sq mi)
Population 3,644
Density 116 / km2 (300 / sq mi)
First mentioned 1361
Mayor Jan Kolář
Timezone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 407 46
Location in the Czech Republic
Wikimedia Commons: Krásná Lípa
Statistics: statnisprava.cz
Website: www.krasnalipa.cz

Krásná Lípa (Czech pronunciation: [ˈkraːsnaː ˈliːpa]; German: Schönlinde) is a town in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has c. 3,500 inhabitants.

History

In 1361, a settlement was recorded on the Tollenstein (Tolstejn). Later, about 30 families from Upper Franconia (Germany) colonized the place. In 1654 the community had 36 farm houses and 60 craftsman houses, mainly linen weavers. John Barnes, an English expert on textile industry, was hired in 1731 to found a spinning factory in the town.

Economic development was further stimulated by the construction of the railway in 1869 and on 5 January 1870 Krásná Lípa became a corporate town. In 1910 the town reached its greatest population, with 6930 inhabitants. Along with other parts of the former Austrian Empire, Schönlinde became part of Czechoslovakia in 1919, now called Krásná Lípa, after having been attached to German Austria for some months.

Czechoslovak armed soldiers patrolling the town centre of Krásná Lípa (German: Schönlinde) in the Sudeten Region, September, 1938.
Notice the German language used by the country inn in the background.

The expulsion of Germans after World War II in 1945–1946 reduced the population by half and more than 300 deserted houses were demolished, others dilapidated. One of the Germans who was deported from the Sudetenland was Gerhard Mitter, then age 10, who would become a race driver for Porsche.

Square and church in Krásná Lípa

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Krásná Lípa.
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