Velké Březno

Velké Březno (Großpriesen) is a municipality and village in Ústí nad Labem District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,400 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The village of Valtířov is an administrative part of Velké Březno.

Etymology
The name Březno is derived from březový les (i.e. 'birch forest'). From the 15th century, the attribute Velké ('great') is used.

Geography
Velké Březno is located about 7 km east of Ústí nad Labem. It lies in Central Bohemian Uplands and in the eponymous protected landscape area. The highest point is the hill Kočičí vrch at 525 m above sea level. The municipality is situated on the right bank of the Elbe River.

History
The first written mention of Velké Březno is from 1167, when the area became property of the Knights Hospitaller. At the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, Velké Březno was acquired by the Wartenberg family. For financial reasons they were forced to sell the village in 1520 to the Salhausen family, then the owners often changed. In 1712–1841, the estate was a property of Counts of Harrach. The last noble owners of Velké Březno were the Chotek family. They had rebuilt the old castle and then had built a new one.

Economy
Velké Březno is known for its brewery, which produces beer under the brand Březňák. Today the brewery is owned by Heineken N.V..

Transport
Velké Březno is located on the railway line Ústí nad Labem–Děčín.

Sights
The main landmark of Velké Březno is the Velké Březno Castle. It was built in the Neoclassical style in 1842–1845 according to the design by Ludwig Förster. In 1885, it was rebuilt in the Neo-Renaissance style. The castle is surrounded by a park. Today the castle is owned by the state. It is open to the public and offers guided tours.

The Old Castle (also called Lower Castle) was probably originally a fortress from second half of the 15th century, rebuilt after 1528 into a small aristocratic Renaissance residence. After 1841, the castle was rebuilt and was raised by a floor. Today it houses a retirement home.

The Church of Saint Wenceslaus is located in Valtířov. It was built in the Gothic-Renaissance style in 1573–1574 on the site of an older church from the 14th century. It is valuable because of its authentically preserved form. Next to the church is the brick neo-Gothic tomb of the Chotek family from 1869.