Poustka

Municipality in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

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Coat of arms

50°8′25″N 12°17′54″E / 50.14028°N 12.29833°E / 50.14028; 12.29833Country

Czech RepublicRegionKarlovy VaryDistrictChebFirst mentioned1275Area

• Total6.98 km² (2.69 sq mi)Elevation

515 m (1,690 ft)Population

(2023-01-01)^[1]

• Total164 • Density23/km² (61/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal code

350 02

Websitewww.poustka.cz

Poustka (German: Oed) is a municipality and village in Cheb District in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 200 inhabitants. It is known for the Seeberg Castle.

Administrative parts

The village of Ostroh is an administrative part of Poustka.

Geography

Poustka is located about 8 kilometres (5 mi) northwest of Cheb and 40 km (25 mi) west of Karlovy Vary. It lies in the Fichtel Mountains. The highest point is the hill Kozinec with an altitude of 551 m (1,808 ft). The Slatinný Stream flows through the municipality.

History

The first written mention of Poustka is from 1275.^[2] Ostroh was first mentioned in 1322.^[3] The villages developed typically for the castle grounds, they provided the background for the castle. Farmers and people working at the castle lived here. It used to be a strategic point, but later the original function of the castle changed and it became mainly an administrative centre.^[2] Among the notable owners of the castle were the families of Schlick, Juncker, Zedtwitz and Nostitz.^[3]

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1869	734	—
1880	806	+9.8%
1890	734	−8.9%
1900	662	−9.8%
1910	660	−0.3%

Year	Pop.	±%
1921	542	−17.9%
1930	552	+1.8%
1950	148	−73.2%
1961	115	−22.3%
1970	109	−5.2%

Year	Pop.	±%
1980	114	+4.6%
1991	99	−13.2%
2001	117	+18.2%
2011	153	+30.8%
2021	159	+3.9%

Source: Censuses^[4]^[5]

Transport

The I/64 road from Františkovy Lázně to the Czech-German border in Aš runs through the municipality.

Sights

The main landmark is the Seeberg Castle in Ostroh. It was built between 1250 and 1275. It originally served as a ministerial castle. The original Romanesque castle was later rebuilt in Gothic and Renaissance styles. It consists of a Romanesque and Gothic palace with a Renaissance wing. Today the castle is open to the public.^[6]

The Church of Saint Wolfgang was built in the Gothic style in 1470–1478. it was baroque rebuilt in 1721–1724.^[7]

References

^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
^ ^a ^b "Poustka" (in Czech). Atlas Česka. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
^ ^a ^b "Hrad Seeberg" (in Czech). Obec Poustka. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Cheb" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 13–14.
^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
^ "Hrad Ostroh, Seeberg" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
^ "Kostel sv. Wolfganga" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-01-18.