The Royal town of Slaný ( [ˈslaniː]; German: Schlan) is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, located about 25 km northwest of Prague. The town is part of the Prague metropolitan area.
The town is situated in the Slaný Plain (the northwestern part of a geomorphologic whole called the Prague Plain). A creek called Červený potok (Red creek) flows through it from the southwest to the northeast. Its dominant feature is Slaný Hill.
The Bohemian Chronicle of Václav Hájek records Slaný as having been founded in 750, at the site of a salt spring below Slaný Hill. (slaný is Czech for "salty".) The Benedictines established a hospital and church in 1136. Wenceslas II chartered the settlement as a town either in 1295 or 1305. The town was captured by the Taborites in 1425, during the Hussite Wars, and remained in their hands until 1434. It also participated in the Bohemia revolt that opened the Thirty Years' War, and suffered greatly after the nearby battle of White Mountain.
Since the middle of the 19th century, Czech has been the dominant language there. Industrial development was delayed until around 1860. An important engineering factory was built in 1872 and more followed. A factory producing batteries was founded in 1918. The infrastructure and amenities of a modern city have been gradually added since the second half of the 19th century.
The villages of Dolín, Želevčice, Lotouš, Blahotice, Netovice, Kvíc, Kvíček, Trpoměchy and Otruby are all administrative parts of Slaný.
The town of Slaný is situated at the crossing of the Prague - Louny, Prague - Karlovy Vary roads. The Prague - Most railway also goes through the town.
Important buildings and tourist sights
the town hall, symbol of the town (house from 1378, rebuilt after 1896 and in 1840) The Trinitarian Church, built 1581-1602, a monastery built in 1655-1662former college of Piarists (built 1658, rebuilt 1877), today a museumSt. Gothard's Gothic Church (originally from the 13th century)Renaissance housesnearby ruins of Gothic Okoř Castleoutdoor museum of army in the village Smečno (shows pre-World War II fortifications)museum of historical cars in the village Hobšoviceopen-air museum about mining in the village VinařiceVáclav Beneš Třebízský (1849–1884), priest and novelist, born in Třebíz near SlanýKarl Josef Biener from Bienenberg (1731–1798), archeologist and coin collectorFrantišek Bílek (1885–1972), founder of Czech modern livestock breedingLadislav Čepelák (1924–2001), painter and graphic artistFrantišek Duras (1851–1931, photographer, director of the museum of SlanýJaroslav Fencl (1913 - ?), graphic artist, lived and worked in SlanýOskar Fischer (1876-1942), MD, studied dementia.Josef František Frič (1804–1876) - lawyer, promoted Czech language in the legal areaJosef Holub (1870–1957), painter, born in SlanýEduard Hradec (1918), co-founder of Czech modern urologyJindřich Hulinský, historian, archivist, wrote about the city and area historyDominik Kynský (1777–1848), writer and translatorJosef Lacina (1850–1907), historian, historical writer (pen-name Kolda Malínský), maintained town archiveJan Malypetr (1873–1947), politician, prime minister of Czechoslovakia, died thereFrantišek Karel Miltner (1797–1874), archeologist, coin collector, active in politics around 1848Václav Moucha (1933), archeologist, born thereJosef Matěj Navrátil (1787–1869), painter, born thereVáclav Nejtek (1899–1958), academic sculptor, several of his statues can be found in the townJosef Pacák, professor of organic chemistry at Charles University Martin Přibyl, priest, national revivalist, royal archivist in exile in BerlinKarel Scheinpflug (1869–1948), writer, entrepreneurOlga Scheinpflugová (1902–1968), actress and author, born thereVáclav Smetáček (1906–1986), composer, conductorMiloslav Stiebr, professor at Charles University, lawyer and juridical historianJaroslav Suchý (1926–1975), anthropologistRudolf Štech (1858–1908), architect, reconstructed town hallVáclav Štech (1859–1947) writer, dramatist, co-founder of the Museum of SlanýVáclav Vilém Štech (1885–1974), historian of arts, journalistJan Šultys from Felsdorf (Johann Schulz von Felsdorf), later on mayor of the town of Kutná HoraJiří Tlustý, hockey player, a forward with the Winnipeg Jets of the NHLRudolf Urbánek (1877–1962), historian, professor at the University of BrnoFerdinand Velc (? - 1920), painter, art historian, journalistDaniel Vepřek (1600–1657), chronicler of the town, born thereKarel Alois Vinařický (1803–1869), writer and translatorJakub Voráček, hockey player, a forward with the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHLPetr Hanzal (1970), rebel, free spirit and notable emigrant, born there
