Villages of Dvory, Nadlesí and Údolí are administrative parts of Loket.
Etymology
Ohře below the castle
Both Loket and Elbogen mean "elbow" in Czech and German, respectively. The town got its name due to the town centre being surrounded on three sides by the Ohře River, and the shape the river takes is similar to that of an elbow.[2]
Geography
Loket is located about 6 kilometres (4 mi) east of Sokolov and 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Karlovy Vary. It lies mostly in the Slavkov Forest, only the northwestern part of the town extends into the Sokolov Basin. The highest point is the hill Zelenáč at 707 m (2,320 ft) above sea level. The Ohře River flows through the town.
History
In the second half of the 12th century, a royal castle Loket was built on a landmark promontory within the Ohře River bend.[2] It used to be called the "Key to the Kingdom of Bohemia". Soon after, a small town, first mentioned in 1234, arose below the castle.[2]
In the early 15th century the royal town was fortified and turned into an important focal point of the Bohemian Crown. In the course of the 19th century, the town became famous for its local porcelain factory. However, industrial production was located in the surrounding towns.
From 1938 to 1945, Loket was occupied by Nazi Germany and administered as part of the Reichsgau Sudetenland. In 1945, the German population was expelled according to the Beneš decrees. In the late 20th century, the castle underwent a complete reconstruction and was subsequently open to the public.
Loket is the starting point of the railway line to Chomutov.[5]
Culture
Loket hosts an annual opera festival, which takes place in an open-air amphitheatre with the castle as a backdrop. The festival, called Loketské kulturní léto ("Loket Cultural Summer"), was established in 2000.[6] The amphitheatre has a capacity of 1,800 seated spectators.[7]
Sport
Loket hosts the annual Czech Motocross Grand Prix.[8]
Sights
Loket Castle
The most visited historical monument in the town is Romanesque Loket Castle. In the days of the House of Luxembourg, the castle served as a temporary residence of members of the royal family. During the Thirty Years' War it was conquered and plundered by Swedish troops. The abandoned castle burned down in 1725, and was rebuilt into a regional jail in 1822.[9]
The Church of Saint Wenceslaus was built in the Baroque style in 1701–1734. It replaced an older Gothic church.[10]
Loket fielded an assignment at Loket Castle and Svatoš rocks during the finale of the 21st season of the Dutch reality television series Wie is de Mol?.[12]
Notable people
Ferdinand Pfohl (1862–1949), German music critic and composer
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Czech Republic
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