Měčín Explained

Měčín
Settlement Type:Town
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Plzeň
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Klatovy
Pushpin Map:Czech Republic
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates:49.4839°N 13.4094°W
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Stanislav Skala
Established Title:First mentioned
Established Date:1352
Area Total Km2:38.91
Elevation M:475
Population As Of:2024-01-01
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:1125
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:CET
Utc Offset1:+1
Timezone1 Dst:CEST
Utc Offset1 Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:335 01, 340 12

Měčín (German: Metschin) is a town in Klatovy District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,100 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

The villages of Bíluky, Hráz, Nedanice, Nedaničky, Osobovy, Petrovice, Radkovice and Třebýcina are administrative parts of Měčín.

Etymology

The name Měčín was derived from the female personal name Mečě, which arose from the Germanic name Metze (an abbreviation of Mechthild). The settlement was probably once owned by someone with that name.[2]

Geography

Měčín is located about 12km (07miles) northeast of Klatovy and 28km (17miles) south of Plzeň. The municipal territory lies mostly in the Švihov Highlands, but it also extends into the Blatná Uplands in the southeast. The highest point is the hill Chlumec at 616m (2,021feet) above sea level.

History

The first written mention of Měčín is from 1352. From 1413, it was a market town. In the 14th century, it was part of the Švihov estate. In the 15th century, Měčín formed a separate estate, but in the 16th century it again belonged to Švihov. In 1610–1653, it was part of the Žinkovy estate, then it belonged to the estates of Roupov and Červené Poříčí. From 1746 until the estanblishment of a sovereign municipality in 1848, it belonged to Žinkovy.[3]

Transport

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipal territory.

Sights

The main landmark of Měčín is the Church of Saint Nicholas. It is originally a late Gothic church from the third quarter of the 14th century, which was gradually rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1726 and 1776–1777.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024. Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. Book: Profous, Antonín. Místní jména v Čechách III: M–Ř. 42. 1951. cs.
  3. Web site: Historie města Měčín. Město Měčín. cs. 2023-12-08.
  4. Web site: Kostel sv. Mikuláše. National Heritage Institute. cs. 2023-12-08.