Vejprty Explained

Vejprty
Settlement Type:Town
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Ústí nad Labem
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Chomutov
Pushpin Map:Czech Republic
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates:50.4917°N 13.0328°W
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Jitka Gavdunová
Leader Party:ODS
Established Title:First mentioned
Established Date:1506
Area Total Km2:9.77
Elevation M:725
Population As Of:2024-01-01
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:2776
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:CET
Utc Offset1:+1
Timezone1 Dst:CEST
Utc Offset1 Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:431 91

Vejprty (in Czech pronounced as /ˈvɛjpr̩tɪ/; German: Weipert) is a town in Chomutov District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,800 inhabitants. It lies along the border with Germany. Until World War II, it was a large town.

Administrative parts

The villages of České Hamry and Výsada are administrative parts of Vejprty.

Geography

Vejprty is located about 26km (16miles) west of Chomutov and 30km (20miles) southeast of Karlovy Vary. It lies in the Ore Mountains. The highest point is below the top of the mountain Vlčí kopec, at 970m (3,180feet) above sea level. The territory stretches along the border with Germany, from which it is separated by the Polana stream. It borders the German municipalities of Bärenstein and Oberwiesenthal.

History

The first written mention of Vejprty is from 1506. In 1550, silver ore was discovered in the area. The mining settlement of Neugeschrei was established near the newly created adit, today the local part of Vejprty under the name Nové Zvolání. In 1607, Emperor Rudolf II allowed all the miners and craftsmen settled here to deal freely with their property. Vejprty was promoted to a royal mining town in 1617.[2]

Vejprty was badly damaged during the Thirty Years' War by the army of Johan Banér, and the mines were flooded. In 1688, mining was resumed and the town began to flourish again. In the first half of the 18th century, however, profitability began to decline, and mining stopped in 1751. Although mining resumed briefly in the 19th century, it ended for good in 1845. The livelihood of the inhabitants was thus gradually reoriented to the manufacture of rifles and to lacemaking. Rapid development took place in the second half of the 19th century. It was helped by the establishment of the Chomutov–Vejprty railway, which was put into operation in 1872.[2]

Transport

Vejprty is located on the railway line Chomutov–Cranzahl. However, trains run on it only on weekends in the summer season.

Sights

The most important monument is the Church of All Saints. The original church was built in 1660. In 1777–1785, it was rebuilt in Rococo style. The church tower was rebuilt after a fire caused by lightning in 1827, and in 1912 it was raised to a height of 53m (174feet).[3]

A valuable building is the Chapel of Saint Martin. It dates from the 16th century, when it replaced an old wooden church.[4]

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic. Vejprty is twinned with:[5]

Vejprty also cooperates with Gunzenhausen, Germany.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024. Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. Web site: Historie. Město Vejprty. cs. 2022-09-14.
  3. Web site: Kostel Všech svatých. National Heritage Institute. cs. 2023-06-07.
  4. Web site: Hřbitovní kaple sv. Martina s náhrobníkem. National Heritage Institute. cs. 2023-06-07.
  5. Web site: Partnerská města. Město Vejprty. cs. 2020-08-15.