Železná Ruda

Železná Ruda consists of five municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):{{cite web |title=Public Census 2021 – basic data|url=https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4690&katalog=33475&pvo=SLD21043-CO|work=Public Database|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|language=cs|date=2022}}

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

• Železná Ruda (1,133)
• Alžbětín (76)
• Debrník (17)
• Hojsova Stráž (137)
• Pancíř (8)
• Špičák (261)

{{div col end}}

The Czech name Železná Ruda and the historic German name Eisenstein means 'iron ore'. It refers to rich deposits of iron ore that were found and mined here.{{cite web |title=Historie Železné Rudy|url=https://www.zelezna-ruda.cz/zeleznaruda/fr.asp?tab=snet&id=2532&burl=&pt=TUHS|publisher=Železná Ruda|language=cs|access-date=2021-06-11}}

{{stack|File:Černé jezero zabírané z karové stěny.JPG}}

Železná Ruda is located about {{convert|29|km|abbr=on}} south of Klatovy and {{convert|66|km|abbr=on}} south of Plzeň, on the border with Germany. It lies in a wild mountainous terrain of the Bohemian Forest. The town is surrounded with thick coniferous woods. The highest mountain in the municipal territory is Jezerní hora with an elevation of {{convert|1344|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The southeastern part of the territory lies in the Šumava National Park, rest of the territory belongs to the Šumava Protected Landscape Area.

The Regen River springs on the southern slopes of Pancíř mountain and flows through the town proper to the German border. The Úhlava River springs on the western slopes of the same mountain and flows across the northern half of the municipal territory.

Černé jezero, the largest natural lake in the country and Čertovo jezero, the third largest lake, are located in the territory of Železný Brod.

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|location = Železná Ruda (1991–2021)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan high C = -0.2

|Feb high C = 1.2

|Mar high C = 5.4

|Apr high C = 11.5

|May high C = 15.7

|Jun high C = 18.9

|Jul high C = 20.5

|Aug high C = 20.5

|Sep high C = 16.0

|Oct high C = 11.5

|Nov high C = 5.6

|Dec high C = 1.1

|year high C = 10.0

|Jan mean C = −3.1

|Feb mean C = −2.3

|Mar mean C = 1.3

|Apr mean C = 6.6

|May mean C = 11.3

|Jun mean C = 14.8

|Jul mean C = 16.3

|Aug mean C = 16.2

|Sep mean C = 11.9

|Oct mean C = 7.6

|Nov mean C = 2.4

|Dec mean C = -1.6

|year mean C = 6.8

|Jan low C = -6.0

|Feb low C = -5.6

|Mar low C = -2.7

|Apr low C = 1.6

|May low C = 6.5

|Jun low C = 10.1

|Jul low C = 11.8

|Aug low C = 11.8

|Sep low C = 8.0

|Oct low C = 4.2

|Nov low C = -0.2

|Dec low C = -4.1

|year low C = 1.4

|Jan precipitation mm = 74

|Feb precipitation mm = 60

|Mar precipitation mm = 76

|Apr precipitation mm = 69

|May precipitation mm = 102

|Jun precipitation mm = 114

|Jul precipitation mm = 119

|Aug precipitation mm = 107

|Sep precipitation mm = 82

|Oct precipitation mm = 68

|Nov precipitation mm = 69

|Dec precipitation mm = 76

|precipitation colour=green

|year precipitation mm = 1016

|source 1 = Climate-Data.org{{cite web |title=Climate Železná Ruda|url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/699250/|publisher=Climate-Data.org|access-date=2024-03-06}}

}}

Železná Ruda was founded at the beginning of the 16th century as a mining town. After around 150 years, the iron ore stocks were extracted and iron production ended. Because quartz and limestone deposits were also located here, the town's industry reoriented to the glass industry. The first factory was built in 1624. The Alžbětín Glassworks was later one of the largest glassworks in the Bohemian Forest. In the second half of the 19th century, it was known mainly for plate glass.

In 1874–1877, the railway was built.

Its German population was expelled after 1945.

{{historical populations

|align=none|cols=3

|1869|3465

|1880|4424

|1890|4492

|1900|4395

|1910|4349

|1921|4639

|1930|5080

|1950|2715

|1961|1431

|1970|1363

|1980|1215

|1991|1680

|2001|2017

|2011|1846

|2021|1632

|source=Censuses{{cite web |title=Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011|url=https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/historicky-lexikon-obci-1869-az-2015|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|language=cs|date=2015-12-21}}{{cite web |title=Population Census 2021: Population by sex|url=https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4429&katalog=33515&pvo=SLD21001-OB-OK|work=Public Database|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|date=2021-03-27}}}}

The local economy is very dependent on tourism because Železná Ruda is one of the most popular skiing centres of the Bohemian Forest, as well as a starting point for many hiking trips.{{cite web |title=Železná Ruda|url=https://www.kudyznudy.cz/kam-pojedete/oblasti/sumava/zelezna-ruda|publisher=CzechTourism|language=cs|access-date=2024-03-06}} The town has also gained a reputation as a hotspot for prostitution shortly after the Velvet Revolution.{{cite news |last=Skala|first=Jan|title=Vykřičené domy pomalu mizí, prostitutky končí s živností|url=https://www.denik.cz/plzensky-kraj/vykricene-domy-pomalu-mizi-prostitutky-konci-s-zivnosti-20120402.html|newspaper=Deník.cz|language=cs|date=2012-04-02}}

File:Bahnhof Bayerisch Eisenstein CZ 2012 06 18.jpg

Železná Ruda is located on the railway line from Prague via Plzeň and Klatovy, which ends here. The territory is served by five train stations and stops: Železná Ruda centrum, Železná Ruda město, Železná Ruda-Alžbětín, Špičák and Hojsova Stráž-Brčálník.{{cite web |title=Detail stanice Železná Ruda centrum|url=https://www.cd.cz/stanice/zelezna-ruda-centrum/5477035|publisher=České dráhy|language=cs|access-date=2024-03-06}} The station building of Železná Ruda-Alžbětín/Bayerisch Eisenstein is divided by the national border between the Czech Republic and Germany.

A railway tunnel goes under the Špičák mountain. The tunnel was built in 1874–1877 and is {{convert|1747|m|abbr=on}} long. It was the longest railway tunnel in the Czech Republic until 2007 and since 2018 it has been the third longest railway tunnel in the country.{{cite web |title=Špičácký železniční tunel (1747 metrů)|url=http://www.sumavanet.cz/spicak/fr.asp?tab=snet&id=349&burl=|website=sumavanet.cz|language=cs|access-date=2024-03-06}}

File:Železná Ruda - kostel Panny Marie Pomocné.jpg

There are many nature sights, such as lakes Černé jezero and Čertovo jezero, and the Špičák mountain at {{convert|1202|m|abbr=on}} above sea level.

The most valuable historical monument is the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help of the Star. It was built in the Baroque style in 1729–1732. Its peculiarity is the floor plan of the six-pointed star and two cupolas with a star.{{cite web |title=Kostel Panny Marie Pomocné z hvězdy|url=https://www.zelezna-ruda.cz/zeleznaruda/fr.asp?tab=snet&id=2536&burl=&pt=TUHS|publisher=Město Železná Ruda|language=cs|access-date=2022-01-24}} Other historical sights include the Chapel of Saints Anthony of Padua and Barbara, and the Stations of the Cross.

The local museum and information centre are located in a house from 1877, which was once the home of a well-known family of glassmakers. There is an exhibition of traditional glass, documents and photographs concerning history available all year round.{{cite web |title=Muzeum Šumavy Železná Ruda|url=https://www.kudyznudy.cz/aktivity/muzeum-sumavy-zelezna-ruda|publisher=CzechTourism|language=cs|access-date=2022-01-24}}

• Kristina Taberyová (1951–2023), theatre director and screenwriter

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic}}

Železná Ruda is twinned with:{{cite web |title=Železnorudský zpravodaj – srpen 2018|url=https://www.zelezna-ruda.cz/muruda/user/deska/2018/srpen/Zeleznorudsky%20zpravodaj_WEB%202.pdf|publisher=Železná Ruda|pages=1, 11|language=cs|date=August 2018|access-date=2020-07-27}}

• {{flagicon|ITA}} Aldeno, Italy
• {{flagicon|GER}} Bayerisch Eisenstein, Germany
• {{flagicon|SUI}} Zernez, Switzerland

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Železná Ruda}}

• {{official|https://www.zelezna-ruda.cz/}}

{{Klatovy District}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zelezna Ruda}}

Category:Cities and towns in the Czech Republic

Category:Ski areas and resorts in the Czech Republic

Category:Populated places in Klatovy District

Category:Czech Republic–Germany border crossings

Category:Bohemian Forest