City of Pilsen

Pilsen was first recorded in the 10th century, chartered in 1292, and fortified in 1295 by King Wenceslas II. The west Bohemian town of Pilsen was located on a trade route from the German borders to Prague. Since the very beginning, the town became a busy trade center located at the crossroads of two important trade routes. They were linking the Czech lands with German cities Nurembug and Regensburg.

The town was built on a chessboard plan and is an example of high-Gothic urbanism. The tower of the Church of St. Bartholomew, the highest in the Czech Republic (103 m), is the dominant feature of the town.

Pilsen’s history is closely associated with beer. Pilsen is known primarily for the products of Pilsen brewery – the beer called Pilsen. When the city was founded in 1295, King Wenceslas II gave burghers his permission to brew beer. The privilege to make beer was very profitable financially, its allowed the holder to sell beer in his house.

In the 14th century, Pilsen was the third largest town after Prague and Kutna Hora. It comprised 290 houses on an area of 20 ha. Its population was 3,000 inhabitants.

During the 15th century Hussite wars, Pilsen sided with the Catholics, as most of its inhabitants were Catholic. In 1468, the town acquired a printing press; the Troyan Chronicle, the first book published in Bohemia, was printed there.

In the mid-16th century, Pilsen flourished, ranking third among the biggest cities in Bohemia. At the end of the 16th century, Emperor Rudolf II took refuge in Pilsen when the plague epidemic hit Prague.

Pilsen experienced a tremendous growth in the first half of the 19th century. The City Brewery was founded in 1842 and the Skoda Works in 1859.

Pilsen was part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy until 1918, when it was included in newly independent Czechoslovakia. It was taken by German forces in 1939 and became a leading producer of German weapons during World War II.

With the population of 167, 000 inhabitants, Pilsen prides itself on being the seat of the University of West Bohemia and Bishopric. The city is the transportation hub and the economic and cultural center of western Bohemia.
City of Pilsen