Abertamy
Encyclopedia
Abertamy is a town in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic
. It is located in Ore Mountains about 16 km (10 mi) north of Karlovy Vary
and has a population of 1,413 (2005). With an altitude of 840 meters above sea level, the place serves as a winter sports center.
The village of Hřebečná is the administrative part of Abertamy.
Abertamy is first mentioned in written documents from 1529, when miners started to settle in the area. During 1531-1558 silver
was mined here. In 1579 Abertamy obtained township rights. On September 15, 1590, a strong earthquake
was recorded here. After the Thirty Years' War
silver mining stopped, and only the mining of tin
continued. Abertamy lost its town rights, and the area was forcibly recatholicized after the war. During the 19th century manufacturing of glove
s began and expanded in the 20th century. In 1876 Abertamy again obtained town status.
In 1910 the town had 4,200 inhabitants. In 1921 Abertamy was electrified. It was annexed into the Third Reich in 1938; in 1945 German speaking people were expelled and local industry was nationalised. In 1947 Abertamy had about 1,200 inhabitants.
Intensive mining of uranium ore had started (and prisoners from nearby communist Jáchymov concentration camp were forced to work there under cruel conditions). In 1998 the factory producing gloves closed down.
Since 1946, Abertamy has had a secondary school specialising in forest industry
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. It is located in Ore Mountains about 16 km (10 mi) north of Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is a spa city situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately west of Prague . It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370...
and has a population of 1,413 (2005). With an altitude of 840 meters above sea level, the place serves as a winter sports center.
The village of Hřebečná is the administrative part of Abertamy.
History
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
was mined here. In 1579 Abertamy obtained township rights. On September 15, 1590, a strong earthquake
1590 Neulengbach earthquake
The Neulengbach earthquake of 1590 occurred on September 15, 1590 shortly before midnight amidst a long series of much weaker seismic activity starting on June 29, 1590 and with aftershocks reported until November 12...
was recorded here. After the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
silver mining stopped, and only the mining of tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
continued. Abertamy lost its town rights, and the area was forcibly recatholicized after the war. During the 19th century manufacturing of glove
Glove
A glove is a garment covering the hand. Gloves have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb; if there is an opening but no covering sheath for each finger they are called "fingerless gloves". Fingerless gloves with one large opening rather than individual openings for each...
s began and expanded in the 20th century. In 1876 Abertamy again obtained town status.
In 1910 the town had 4,200 inhabitants. In 1921 Abertamy was electrified. It was annexed into the Third Reich in 1938; in 1945 German speaking people were expelled and local industry was nationalised. In 1947 Abertamy had about 1,200 inhabitants.
Intensive mining of uranium ore had started (and prisoners from nearby communist Jáchymov concentration camp were forced to work there under cruel conditions). In 1998 the factory producing gloves closed down.
Since 1946, Abertamy has had a secondary school specialising in forest industry
Attractions
- Near the town is the 1028 meter-high mountain Plešivec. The area is actively used for winter and summer sports, with many tourists coming from nearby GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. - A church building from 1534, current baroqueBaroqueThe Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style from 1736, renovated in the first half of 19th century. The building was renovated again in the 1990s and in 2003. - A large formation of rocks known as Dračí skály (Dragon's rocks)
Famous people associated with Abertamy
- Josef Porkert (1829–1895), manufacturer of pianos
- Horst SieglHorst SieglHorst Siegl is a Czech former football striker. He played for Czechoslovakia and later Czech Republic, for both he played total 23 matches and scored 7 goals...
(1969), a football player
External links
- Municipality website (cz)
- Unofficial website (cz)