Bělá pod Bezdězem

Bělá pod Bezdězem (Weisswasser) is a town in Mladá Boleslav District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 4,800 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as urban monument zone.

Administrative parts
The villages of Bezdědice, Březinka, Hlínoviště and Vrchbělá are administrative parts of Bělá pod Bezdězem. Bezdědice forms an exclave of the municipal territory.

Etymology
The town's name is derived from the local stream Bělá and the nearby hill Bezděz. The town was first named Nový Bezděz ("New Bezděz"), but soon the name changed to Bělá.

Geography
Bělá pod Bezdězem is located about 11 km northwest of Mladá Boleslav and 49 km northeast of Prague. It lies in the Jizera Table with an exception of the Bezdědice exclave, which belongs to the Ralsko Uplands. The highest point is the hill Lysá hora at 365 m above sea level; the hill of Bezděz included in the town's name lies outside the municipal territory. The Bělá Stream originates here and flows through the town.

History
Bělá pod Bezdězem was founded in 1304. Until 1398 it was a royal town. In the 16th and early 17th centuries, it was owned by the Berka of Dubá family. After their properties were confiscated after the Battle of White Mountain, Bělá pod Bezdězem was purchased by Albrecht von Wallenstein in 1622. After his death in 1634, it was acquired by Count Caretto-Millesimo. He sold the town to the Waldstein family in 1678 and they owned it until 1848.

Transport
The I/38 road (the section which connects Mladá Boleslav with Česká Lípa) passes next to the town.

Bělá pod Bezdězem is located on the railway line Kolín–Rumburk.

Sights
In 1337, building of the town walls was finished. Their fragments have been preserved to this day. Bělá Castle was built on the place of a former fortress in 1582–1615. Today it serves as a museum.

The former Augustinian convent was built in 1345. Today, there are flats in the convent buildings. The Baroque Church of St. Wenceslaus was built next to the monastery in 1708–1712.

The current town hall was built in 1613. In 1852, second floor was added.

Notable people

 * Václav Trégl (1902–1979), actor
 * Luděk Pachman (1924–2003), Czech-German chess grandmaster

Twin towns – sister cities
Bělá pod Bezdězem is twinned with:
 * 🇩🇪 Groß-Bieberau, Germany
 * 🇸🇰 Svätý Jur, Slovakia