| Louňovice pod Blaníkem | |
| Settlement Type: | Market town |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Central Bohemian |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Benešov |
| Pushpin Map: | Czech Republic |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the Czech Republic |
| Coordinates: | 49.6372°N 14.8467°W |
| Established Title: | First mentioned |
| Established Date: | 1149 |
| Area Total Km2: | 17.11 |
| Elevation M: | 400 |
| Population As Of: | 2024-01-01 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 657 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | CET |
| Utc Offset1: | +1 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 257 06 |
Louňovice pod Blaníkem (German: Launiowitz) is a market town in Benešov District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 700 inhabitants.
The villages of Býkovice, Mrkvová Lhota, Rejkovice and Světlá are administrative parts of Louňovice pod Blaníkem.
Louňovice pod Blaníkem is located about southeast of Benešov and 52km (32miles) southeast of Prague. It lies in the Vlašim Uplands. The highest point is the mountain of Velký Blaník at 638m (2,093feet) above sea level, notable as the object of one of the most popular national legends. The Blanice River flows through the municipal territory. The entire territory lies within the Blaník Protected Landscape Area.
The first written mention of Louňovice is from 1149, when there was founded a women's Premonstratensian monastery. In 1420, the monastery was burned down by the Hussites. From 1436 to 1547, Louňovice was property of the town of Tábor. The then-owner of Louňovice Oldřich Skuhrovský had built a Renassaince fortress in the second half of the 16th century. From 1672 until the 20th century, Louňovice was owned by the archbishopric of Prague.[2] [3]
There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.
The Louňovice pod Blaníkem Castle is located on the town square. The former fortress was extended into the current castle in 1652. Today it houses the tourist infocentre and a museum.[3]
The second landmark of Louňovice pod Blaníkem is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It is a Baroque building with a Gothic core.[4]
The most popular tourist destination is the mountain Velký Blaník with an observation tower on its top. On the top of Malý Blaník is a ruin of the Chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene.[5]