Tachau

Tachov
Town
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Plzeň
District	Tachov
Commune	Tachov
Parts	Bíletín, Malý Rapotín, Mýto, Oldřichov (Tachov District), Světce, Tachov (Tachov District), Velký Rapotín, Vítkov (Tachov District)
River	Mže
Center	Náměstí Republiky
- elevation	483 m (1,585 ft)
- coordinates	49°47′43″N 12°37′59″E / 49.79528°N 12.63306°E / 49.79528; 12.63306Coordinates: 49°47′43″N 12°37′59″E / 49.79528°N 12.63306°E / 49.79528; 12.63306
Area	40.85 km2 (15.77 sq mi)
Population	12,638 (2015)
Density	309/km2 (800/sq mi)
First mentioned	1115
Mayor	Jiří Struček
Timezone	CET (UTC+1)
- summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	347 01
Location in the Czech Republic
Website: www.tachov-mesto.cz

Tachov
Municipality with Extended Competence
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Pilsen
Parts	Bor, Planá u Mariánských Lázní, Tachov
Area	947.92 km2 (365.99 sq mi)
Population	35,140 (2005-31-12)
Density	37/km2 (96/sq mi)

Tachov (Czech pronunciation: [ˈtaxof]; German: Tachau) is a town in the Pilsen Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Mže River, some 55 km (34 mi) to the west from the region capital of Pilsen.

Tachov is also the seat of the Municipality with Extended Competence and the Municipality with Commissioned Local Authority.

Tachov is a city situated in the west part of the Czech Republic very close to the German border, and it lies in the middle of protected landscape area known as the Czech Forest. There is a one river flowing through the town and the whole region of Tachov, the river Mže. Tachov occupies an area of 4 095 ha and has about 12 640 inhabitants. This interesting town is a part of the Plzeň County, but the City of Tachov is divided into small neighborhoods like Biletín, Malý Rapotín, Mýto, Oldřichov, Světce, Velký Rapotín, and Vítkov. The head of the city is Jiří Struček. He is also at the same time a deputy governor of Pilsen Region. Although the district is mostly agricultural, Tachov has more of engineering industry and machinery. Some of the products that are manufactured here are molds for plastic injection, ski sticks, doors, windows, or many different types of components for car industry. Also, if you are a fan of good beer, in local restaurants and pubs you can have a taste of Chodovar, beer with a long tradition and good reputation, which is produced in a brew - house that lies in the village close to Tachov. The transport is realized by bus or by train. Tachov was built up in the valley surrounded by a variety of landscapes, and so you can find green forests, woods, and hills as well as wide fields with yellow turnip around here. Thanks to its historical and cultural wealth, it is a great touristic place and it offers a lot of activities to do. Though it is just a small town, Tachov has its own unforgettable beauty.

The area was inhabited by humans around 8,000-6,000 BCE. The first written document mentioning Tachov comes from 1115. King Ottokar II of Bohemia (1233–1278) built a new castle with a massive round stone tower there. He also founded a walled town near the castle.

During the Hussite Wars (1419-1434), the city was several times besieged and conquered. In 1427, Prokop the Great defeated the crusaders near Tachov. The Thirty Years War (1618-1648) damaged the city considerably. In 1664, Count Johann Anton Losy became the new proprietor. The Losy family began conversion of the medieval castle to a large baroque château. In 1784, the title passed to the Windisch-Graetz family. The Windisch-Graetzs, in their turn, rebuilt the house in the classical style at great expense.