Stráž pod Ralskem

Stráž pod Ralskem (until 1946 Vartenberk, German: Wartenberg (am Rollberg)) is a town in Česká Lípa District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,900 inhabitants.

Stráž pod Ralskem
Town
5. května Square
Flag
Coat of arms
Stráž pod Ralskem
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°42′10″N 14°48′4″E
Country Czech Republic
RegionLiberec
DistrictČeská Lípa
First mentioned1283
Government
 • MayorZdeněk Hlinčík
Area
 • Total21.58 km2 (8.33 sq mi)
Elevation
310 m (1,020 ft)
Population
 (2021-01-01)[1]
 • Total3,899
 • Density180/km2 (470/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
471 27
Websitewww.strazpr.cz

Etymology

The local castle was called Wartenberg (Warte auf Berge meant ("guard on the hill" in German). Vartenberk was Czech transcription of name. The modern name of the town 'Stráž means literally "guard" in Czech, pod Ralskem refers to its location below the hill Ralsko.[2]

History
Vartenberk Castle

The first written mention is from 1283, when a castle was built here. The castle and the settlement were called Wartenberg and their owners became known as Wartenberg family. In 1504, the Wartenberg family sold the manor to Bartholomew Hirschpergar, who rebuilt the Gothic castle to a chateau.[2]

At the end of the 19th century, tourism began to develop and Stráž pod Ralskem turned into a resort. In 1963, uranium ore was found and tourism has partly given way to industrialization.[2] The uranium ore mining ended in 1996.[3]

Economy

Stráž pod Ralskem is known for its jailhouse.

Notable people
Statue of Joseph II in the town

References
  1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2021". Czech Statistical Office. 2021-04-30.
  2. "Historie města" (in Czech). Město Stráž pod Ralskem. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  3. "Těžba uranu: největší ekologická zátěž v kraji" (in Czech). Českolipský deník. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
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