Blšany

Blšany (Flöhau) is a town in Louny District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,000 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The villages of Liběšovice, Malá Černoc, Siřem, Soběchleby and Stachov are administrative parts of Blšany.

Geography
Blšany is located about 28 km southwest of Louny, 63 km southwest of Ústí nad Labem, and 62 km west 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 Blšany, the hill Hůrka at 437 m above sea level. The Blšanka River flows through the town.

History
The first written mention of Blšany is from 1238, when the village was a property of the Waldsassen Abbey. Between 1238 and 1252, a small town was founded on the site of the village.

From 1938 to 1945, Blšany was annexed by Nazi Germany and administered as part of the Reichsgau Sudetenland.

Economy
Blšany is located in an area known for growing hops.

Transport
The I/27 road, which connects Plzeň with Most, runs through the town.

Sport
Blšany was known nationwide for its football club FK Chmel Blšany, which played in the Czech First League between 1998 and 2006. Blšany is the smallest town where the Czech First League was played.

Sights
The main landmark of Blšany is the Church of Saint Michael. It was built in the Baroque style in 1716–1717 and rebuilt in 1825.

Notable people
Franz Kafka spent several months in convalescence in the village of Siřem after tuberculosis was diagnosed.