Nepomuk

Nepomuk (Pomuk) is a town in Plzeň-South District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,500 inhabitants. It is known as the birthplace of Saint John of Nepomuk, who was born here around 1340 and whose statue can be seen on the town square.

Administrative parts
The town is made up of two administrative parts: Nepomuk and Dvorec.

Etymology
The town was originally named Pomuk; the origin of the name is unclear. According to legend, it is derived from the rain that descended on the region after the blessing of Saint Adalbert in 992 (from the Old Czech pomoknout, i.e. 'to make wet').

Geography
Nepomuk is located about 30 km southwest of Plzeň. It lies in the Blatná Uplands. The highest point is located in the westernmost part of the municipal territory at 544 m above sea level. The Mihovka Brook flows through the town. East of the town are two notable ponds, Dvorecký and Panský. There are also several other fishponds in the municipal territory.

History
The first written mention of Pomuk is from 1144, when a new Cistercian monastery was built nearby. The monastery was destroyed by Hussite army in 1420 and now there is the village of Klášter. In 1384, Pomuk was merged with neighbouring Přesanice and renamed Nepomuk. It was promoted to a town in 1413.

After the monastery was destroyed, its properties were acquired by Lords of Schwamberg and then by the Sternberg family. The greatest development of the town is connected with the Baroque period, when Nepomuk was an important pilgrimage site. After confusion, when Nepomuk was alternately called a town and a market town, the town status was confirmed by Emperor Charles VI in 1730.

Transport
The I/20 road (part of the European route E49) from Plzeň to České Budějovice passes through the town.

Nepomuk is located on the major interregional railway line Brno–Plzeň. It addition, it is a starting point of a local line to Blatná.

Sights
The main landmark of the town centre is the Church of Saint John of Nepomuk. It was originally an early Baroque church from the mid-17th century, but it was completely rebuilt by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer in 1734–1738.

The Church of Saint James the Great was originally a Romanesque church built in 1142–1153. It was then rebuilt in the early Gothic style at the end of the 13th century and in 1360–1370. The church was abolished in 1786 and the building served as a granary until 1857. In 1859–1860, it was reconstructed in the pseudo-Gothic style and since 1860, it has been a parish church. The separate late Baroque bell tower was built next to the church in 1780–1790.

U Lípy House was built between 1360 and 1370 and is the oldest house in the town. The current appearance is from the early 19th century. In the Middle Ages, this building served as the seat of the Vogt and from the 17th century as an inn.

Notable people

 * John of Nepomuk (c. 1345–1393), saint
 * Augustin Němejc (1861–1938), painter
 * Marie Poledňáková (1941–2022), film director and screenwriter; raised here

Twin towns – sister cities
Nepomuk is twinned with:


 * 🇱🇹 Anykščiai, Lithuania
 * 🇸🇰 Bušince, Slovakia
 * 🇨🇿 Hukvaldy, Czech Republic
 * 🇩🇪 Kemnath, Germany
 * 🇸🇰 Krupina, Slovakia
 * Omiš, Croatia
 * Roermond, Netherlands
 * 🇧🇷 São João Nepomuceno, Brazil