Raspenava (Czech pronunciation: [ˈraspɛnava]; German: Raspenau) is a town in Liberec District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,800 inhabitants.

Raspenava
View of Raspenava
View of Raspenava
Coat of arms of Raspenava
Raspenava is located in Czech Republic
Raspenava
Raspenava
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°54′15″N 15°6′53″E / 50.90417°N 15.11472°E / 50.90417; 15.11472
Country Czech Republic
RegionLiberec
DistrictLiberec
First mentioned1343
Government
 • MayorJosef Málek
Area
 • Total
41.28 km2 (15.94 sq mi)
Elevation
331 m (1,086 ft)
Population
 (2024-01-01)[1]
 • Total
2,849
 • Density69/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
463 61
Websiteraspenava.cz

Etymology

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The original German name Raspenau was derived from the personal name Raspe and meant "Raspe's floodplain". The Czech name was created by transliteration of the German one.[2]

Geography

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Raspenava is located about 15 kilometres (9 mi) north of Liberec, in a salient region of Frýdlant Hook. It lies mostly in the Frýdlant Hills. The southern part of the municipal territory extends into the Jizera Mountains and includes the highest point of Raspenava, located below the top of the Poledník mountain at 858 m (2,815 ft) above sea level. The Smědá River flows through the town.

Two thirds of the territory are situated in the Jizerské hory Protected Landscape Area. Half of the Czech part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site named Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe is situated in the southernmost part of the territory of Raspenava.

History

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The first written mention of Raspenava is from 1343. The village was located on the left bank of the Smědá River, and there were several small hamlets on the right bank. Raspenava was originally an agricultural village, but its character began to change in the 16th century. In 1512, a hammer mill was built here, and later an ironworks and a lime factory were established.[3]

In 1962, the settlements were merged into the town of Raspenava.[3]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
18694,012—    
18804,179+4.2%
18904,266+2.1%
19004,647+8.9%
19104,764+2.5%
YearPop.±%
19214,262−10.5%
19304,359+2.3%
19503,012−30.9%
19613,197+6.1%
19703,106−2.8%
YearPop.±%
19802,963−4.6%
19912,708−8.6%
20012,847+5.1%
20112,801−1.6%
20212,730−2.5%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Transport

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Raspenava is located on the railway lines heading from Liberec to Jindřichovice pod Smrkem and to Černousy, and is the starting point of a short line of local importance to Bílý Potok.[6]

Sights

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Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

The main landmark of Raspenava is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It was built in the neo-Baroque style in 1906–1907.[7]

Notable people

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Twin towns – sister cities

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Raspenava is twinned with:[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. ^ Profous, Antonín (1951). Místní jména v Čechách III: M–Ř (in Czech). p. 542.
  3. ^ a b "Historie a památky" (in Czech). Město Raspenava. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  4. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.
  5. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  6. ^ "Detail stanice Raspenava" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  7. ^ "Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  8. ^ "Partnerská města" (in Czech). Město Raspenava. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
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