# Louny

> town in Czech Republic

**Wikidata**: [Q616877](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q616877)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louny)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/louny

## Summary
Louny is a town and municipality with authorized municipal office located in the Czech Republic, serving as the capital of the Louny District. Situated on the Ohře river, the settlement dates back to at least the 12th century, with the earliest written record occurring in 1115 and its inception dated to 1200. As of January 1, 2025, the town has a population of 18,068 and covers an area of approximately 24.14 square kilometers.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** A city, municipality with town privileges, and district town within the Czech Republic; also a Czech municipality with expanded powers.
*   **Location:** Situated in the Louny District (Ústí nad Labem Region) at coordinates 50.357°N, 13.797°E. It is located on the Ohře river.
*   **Area:** 24.139311 square kilometers.
*   **Elevation:** 185 meters above sea level.
*   **Population:** 18,068 (as of January 1, 2025); consisting of 9,389 males and 8,679 females.
*   **Housing:** Contains 2,406 houses (as of 2024).
*   **History:** Earliest written record is 1115; town inception is dated to 1200.
*   **Demonym:** Residents are called "Louňan" (male), "Louňanka" (female), or colloquially "Louňák" / "Louňačka".
*   **Leadership:** The current mayor (Head of Government) is Milan Rychtařík, who assumed office on October 24, 2022.
*   **Postal Code:** 440 01.
*   **License Plate Code:** U.
*   **Twin Towns:** Zschopau (Germany), Veneux-les-Sablons (France), Lučenec (Slovakia), and Barendrecht (Netherlands).

## FAQs
**What is the demographic profile of Louny?**
As of March 26, 2021, the mean age in Louny was 43.1 years. The town has a gender distribution of approximately 9,389 males and 8,679 females as of the 2025 census.

**What is the historical timeline of sovereignty for Louny?**
Louny has been part of numerous sovereign states, including the Duchy of Bohemia (until 1198), the Austrian Empire (1804–1867), Austria–Hungary (1867–1918), Czechoslovakia (1918–1992, with a period as the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia from 1939–1945), and the Czech Republic (starting January 1, 1993).

**Which administrative regions and bodies does Louny belong to?**
Louny is the capital of the Louny District and is classified as a municipality with authorized municipal office and expanded powers. It is historically part of the region of Bohemia.

**Who are Louny's international twin towns?**
Louny maintains town twinning relations with Zschopau (since 1972), Veneux-les-Sablons (since 2004), Lučenec (since 1995), and Barendrecht (since approximately 1990/1993). It previously had a relationship with Suzdal which ended in 1980.

**Where can official government data about Louny be found?**
The town maintains an official website (available in Czech, English, and German) and an RSS feed. It has an ISDS ID (data box ID) of `gc9bxmk` for official electronic communication.

## Why It Matters
Louny serves as a significant administrative and historical hub within the Czech Republic. As the capital of the Louny District and a municipality with expanded powers, it functions as a center for local governance, providing authorized municipal offices for the surrounding region. Its history, spanning from the Duchy of Bohemia through the Habsburg Monarchy to modern Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic, offers a case study in Central European political shifts. The town preserves its cultural heritage through institutions documented in "Otto's Encyclopedia" and the "Topographia Bohemiae," while its active participation in international town twinning agreements highlights its ongoing engagement with the broader European community.

## Notable For
*   **Administrative Center:** Serves as the capital of the Louny District and holds the status of a Czech municipality with expanded powers.
*   **Historical Continuity:** possesses a documented history spanning over 900 years, with a written record dating to 1115.
*   **Population Trends:** Detailed population records exist from 1869 (4,260 residents) to the present day, showing significant growth in the 20th century followed by recent stabilization around 18,000.
*   **Geographic Location:** Situated directly on the Ohře river, bordering 15 other municipalities including Postoloprty, Dobroměřice, and Černčice.
*   **Cultural Documentation:** Described by historical sources such as "Otto's encyclopedia" and the "Vlastenský slovník historický."

## Body

### Geography and Location
Louny is located in the region of Bohemia within the Czech Republic. It covers a total area of 24.139311 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 185 meters above sea level. The town is situated on or next to the body of water known as the Ohře river.

Its precise coordinates are 50.357078 latitude and 13.796762 longitude. The town shares borders with 15 administrative parts: Raná, Smolnice, Chlumčany, Chraberce, Černčice, Postoloprty, Cítoliby, Jimlín, Lenešice, Chožov, Blšany u Loun, Brodec, Vršovice, Líšťany, and Dobroměřice. The town falls within the UTC+01:00 timezone (standard time) and UTC+02:00 (daylight saving time).

### History and Sovereignty
The earliest written record of Louny dates to 1115, with the town's inception formally dated to the year 1200. Throughout its history, the town has been incorporated into various sovereign states:
*   **Duchy of Bohemia:** Until 1198.
*   **Kingdom of Bohemia:** 1198 until August 10, 1804.
*   **Austrian Empire:** August 11, 1804 until March 29, 1867.
*   **Austria–Hungary:** March 30, 1867 until 1918.
*   **Czechoslovakia:** October 28, 1918 until March 14, 1939, and again from May 9, 1945 until December 31, 1992.
*   **Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia:** March 15, 1939 until May 8, 1945.
*   **Czech Republic:** January 1, 1993 to present.

The town contains administrative territorial entities such as Nečichy, Brloh, and the main town of Louny itself. Historical descriptions of the town can be found in "Otto's encyclopedia," "Vlastenský slovník historický," and "Topographia Bohemiae, Moraviae et Silesiae."

### Demographics and Housing
Louny has extensive demographic records dating back to 1869 when the population was 4,260. The population grew significantly during the industrial era, peaking at over 23,000 in 1980 (based on historical administrative division data) before stabilizing.
*   **2021 Census:** 17,563 usually resident population (9,150 male / 8,413 female). Mean age: 43.1 years.
*   **2025 Projection:** 18,068 residents (9,389 male / 8,679 female) based on domicile.

In terms of housing, the town had 463 houses in 1869. This number grew to 2,406 houses by 2024. The town uses the postal code 440 01.

### Governance and Administration
The local government is headed by a Mayor (Head of Government). Recent mayors include:
*   **Jan Kerner:** Served from November 11, 2002, to February 13, 2012.
*   **Pavel Janda:** Served from November 5, 2018, to October 24, 2022.
*   **Milan Rychtařík:** The current mayor, having started his term on October 24, 2022.

The town is officially recognized as a "municipality with authorized municipal office" (since November 24, 1990) and a "Czech municipality with expanded powers." Its Czech registration ID (IČO) is 00265209, and its ISDS ID for data messaging is `gc9bxmk`. The official email address is `podatelna@mulouny.cz`.

### International Relations
Louny participates in town twinning (sister city) programs with several European municipalities:
*   **Zschopau (Germany):** Twinning started May 4, 1972.
*   **Veneux-les-Sablons (France):** Twinning started July 14, 2004.
*   **Lučenec (Slovakia):** Twinning started in 1995.
*   **Barendrecht (Netherlands):** Twinning started between 1990 and 1993.
*   **Suzdal (Russia):** Former twin town; relationship ended in 1980.

### Identifiers and Symbols
The town utilizes various symbols and identifiers:
*   **Coat of Arms:** "Coat of arms of Louny" (Image available).
*   **Flag:** Image hosted on Wikimedia Commons.
*   **Seal:** A historical seal from the 14th century is documented.
*   **Wikidata / Wikipedia:** The entity has a Wikidata description as a "town in Czech Republic" and Wikipedia articles in 36 languages (including English, German, French, etc.).
*   **Other IDs:** VIAF ID 125514037, GeoNames ID 3071507, and a Quora topic "Louny."

## References

1. [Source](https://www.mulouny.cz/filemanager/files/11834.pdf)
2. archINFORM
3. Source
4. Register of territorial identification, addresses and real estates
5. Czech location identification system
6. [Source](http://www.svobodnyhlas.cz/archiv/2002/hlas34_4.pdf)
7. [Source](http://www.veneuxlessablons.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130&Itemid=285)
8. [Source](http://zatecky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/louny_lucenec_navsteva_20160817.html)
9. [Source](http://www.barendrecht.nl/bestuur-en-organisatie-bd/samenwerkingen_48675/item/stedenband-louny_53629.html)
10. [Source](http://bydleni.idnes.cz/uprava-suzdalskeho-namesti-v-lounech-dwb-/architektura.aspx?c=A130404_1912779_usti-zpravy_alh)
11. Virtual International Authority File
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18. Population in municipalities - 1 January 2018
19. Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2005
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21. Population in municipalities - 1 January 2020
22. Population in municipalities - 1 January 2021
23. Population in municipalities - 1 January 2022
24. Population in municipalities – 1 January 2023
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27. [Register of territorial identification, addresses and real estates](https://www.cuzk.cz/ruian/Poskytovani-udaju-ISUI-RUIAN-VDP/Ciselniky-ISUI.aspx)
28. GeoNames
29. Malý lexikon obcí České republiky - 2017
30. Quora
31. Statistical lexicon of municipalities of the Czech Republic – 2024
32. [Source](https://www.govdirectory.org/czech-republic/)
33. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
34. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
35. [Seznam datových schránek : Orgány veřejné moci. Ministry of the Interior](https://www.mojedatovaschranka.cz/sds/datafile?format=xml&service=seznam_ds_ovm)
36. Mapy.com
37. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
38. [Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands](https://biblio.hiu.cas.cz/records/048ebacf-c2a8-46eb-8987-51ef6707b4ab)
39. Provenio