Měcholupy (Louny District)

Měcholupy consists of four 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}}

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• Měcholupy (442)
• Milošice (43)
• Velká Černoc (237)
• Želeč (208)

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Měcholupy is located about {{convert|21|km}} southwest of Louny, {{convert|55|km|abbr=on}} southwest of Ústí nad Labem and {{convert|60|km|abbr=on}} northwest of Prague. The northern part of the municipal territory lies in the Most Basin. The southern part lies in the Rakovník Uplands and includes the highest point of Měcholupy at {{convert|433|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level. The market town is situated on the Blšanka River.

File:Michelob-Brauerei-1.jpg

The first written mention of Měcholupy is from 1295.{{cite web |title=Měcholupy|url=https://www.mikroregion-zatecko.cz/clenske-obce/mecholupy/|publisher=Mikroregion Žatecko|language=cs|access-date=2022-09-06}} Among the owners of the village were King Vladislaus II, the Sekera od Sedčice family, and members of the dynasties of Kolowrat and Lobkowicz.{{cite web |title=Měcholupy|url=https://www.mecholupy-sc.cz/obec-166/historie/|publisher=Městys Měcholupy|language=cs|access-date=2022-09-06}} At the end of the 17th century, during the rule of Karl of Paar, the local fortress was rebuilt into a Baroque castle with a chapel.

In 1860, Anton Dreher bought Měcholupy, established a new brewery and had rebuilt the castle into its current appearance. The village was promoted to a market town in 1875. The Michelob beer brand of Anheuser-Busch was introduced in 1896 and was named after the German name of Měcholupy.{{cite web |title=Michelob – American Beer of Czech Origin|url=https://beerena.com/michelob-american-beer-of-czech-origin/1080/|publisher=Beerena|date=2022-07-28|access-date=2022-09-06}}

{{historical populations

|align=none|cols=3

|1869|2216

|1880|2406

|1890|2412

|1900|2600

|1910|2627

|1921|2404

|1930|2509

|1950|1243

|1961|1283

|1970|1178

|1980|1141

|1991|945

|2001|1045

|2011|918

|2021|930

|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}}}}

Měcholupy is located in an area known for growing the Saaz hops.

Měcholupy lies on a railway line heading from Jirkov and Chomutov to Lužná. There are two stations and stops: Měcholupy and Želeč.

File:Želeč - Socha svatého Jana Nepomuckého.jpg

Today the Měcholupy Castle serves as a special school.

In the centre of Želeč are a late Baroque castle and the Church of Saint Nicholas. It is a Baroque church from 1750. The tower was added in 1842.{{cite web |title=Kostel sv. Mikuláše|url=https://pamatkovykatalog.cz/kostel-sv-mikulase-18104165|publisher=National Heritage Institute|language=cs|access-date=2023-06-21}}

The Church of Saint Wenceslaus in Velká Černoc was built in the Baroque style in 1783–1787.

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{{commons category|Měcholupy (Louny District)}}

• {{official|https://www.mecholupy-sc.cz/}}

{{Louny District}}

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Category:Market towns in the Czech Republic

Category:Populated places in Louny District