Benešov nad Ploučnicí

Benešov nad Ploučnicí (Bensen) is a town in Děčín District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,600 inhabitants. The historic town centre with the castle complex is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Administrative parts
The village of Ovesná is an administrative part of Benešov nad Ploučnicí.

Etymology
The name is derived from the personal name Beneš, meaning "Beneš's (castle/court)". Beneš was a shortened variant of the name Benedikt.

Geography
Benešov nad Ploučnicí is located about 7 km southeast of Děčín and 21 km northeast of Ústí nad Labem. It lies in the Central Bohemian Uplands and within the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area. The highest point is the Hlídka hill at 480 m above sea level. The Ploučnice river flows through the town.

History
The first written mention of Benešov is from 1311. The town was probably founded in the 1230s. Existence of the church is first mentioned in 1352. During the Hussite Wars, the town was conquered by the Orebite army of Jan Roháč of Dubá. Half of the population was killed and the town burned down. After the war, the estate became property of the Wartenberg family.

In 1511, the Wartenbergs sold Benešov to the Trčka of Lípa family. During the rule of Fridrich Trčka of Lípa in the first half of the 16th century, the town experienced its greatest development. He had rebuilt the local medieval castle into an aristocratic residence (today known as Horní Zámek) and had built a new castle for his son (today Dolní Zámek). Development continued in the second half of the 16th century, when Benešov was owned by the Salhausen family. After the last Salhausen died in 1620, the Benešov estate was divided between the Thun und Hohenstein and Clary und Aldringen families.

Transport
Benešov nad Ploučnicí is located on the railway lines Liberec–Děčín and Děčín–Rumburk.

Sights
The town is known for its castle complex, made up of seven buildings in the Saxon Renaissance style. It contains two castles (called Dolní and Horní – "Upper" and "Lower"), Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother of God, and three houses. The complex was built by the Salhausen noble family in the 16th century.

Notable people

 * Kurt Pscherer (1915–2000), Austrian theatre director
 * Roland Ducke (1934–2005), German footballer
 * Peter Ducke (born 1941), German footballer

Twin towns – sister cities
Benešov nad Ploučnicí is twinned with:
 * 🇩🇪 Heidenau, Germany