Tachov, a town to the west of a district which bears the same name, is one of Bohemia's oldest centres of settlement. The medieval town had a predecessor-a fortified Slavonic settlement that used to guard the important Nuremberg Route between Bohemia and several Bavarian centres of trade. Once situated in a scarcely populated, forest-clad countryside near the Bohemian-Bavarian border, the place was mentioned in the fake document of the Monastery of Kladruby, probably dating to 1115. A period of ravishing boom came over the place under Přemysl Otakar II who had a new castle with a mighty round tower built of stone here. He also founded a town surrounded with walls near the castle. The castle and town have often been pawned with many noble families. The Luxemburgs took fancy to the place. They gave Tachov the remarkable medieval fortifications much of which has been preserved till date. The Hussites and their catholic opposers fought here three times during the turbulent l5th century. Today, a Hussite Festival commemorates their victory at Tachov every five years. In 1664, Jan Antonín Losy became new proprietor and his descendants passed the title to the Windischgrätz Family in 1784. The Losys started a conversion of the medieval castle to a large baroque château. The Windischgrätzs, in their turn, made large investments to rebuild the house in the classical style. The old church became a château, too, and the now famous riding-school was built nearby. The walls from the mid l4th century are Tachov's pride. Distinguished by a very good condition, they also attract attention due to the unusual shape of high, slim towers. The châ teau's classical fasade covers much older masonry-some of it being in fact what remained from the Premyslide tower. World War Two and the post-war period invented many ways of making use of the château, military and civil, and the buildings got shabbier and shabbier until a warrant for demolition was issued in 1968. But the decision was withdrawn a year later and restoration work started. The fine mansion now houses the Magistrate and the School of Arts. Another well- repaired sight is the baroque mill which has its wheel back and provides shelter for the Municipal Centre of Culture. Many architectonic sights can be admired in Tachov proper and on the outskirts. There are two monuments close to each other. The grave-mount along the road to Ctiboř is reminiscent of the 232 victims of the Death Marches which passed through the country during World War Two. The Hussite Memorial on the Vysoká commemorates the 1427 battle of Tachov in which the crusaders were beaten by the Hussite army. The ' Knight's Alley (Knížecí Alej) is a fine place for walks to the mineral spring east of the town. Though making only half-hearted attempts in the travel business, the town and country around are worth visiting, like the valley of Agláino údolí and its heritage trail which passes the monastery, the ruins of church and riding-school at Světce, and goes on to the dam of Lučina. Tachov District is West Bohemia's third largest in area (1,379 sq.km), but only Czech Republic's last but one in population. The nature makes more and more people return. The lovely, undulating countryside with many forests and fishing ponds is the right place for romantic travellers, as for those who love to learn about nature. Another factor which adds to the countryside's exceptionality is a comparatively low civilisational damage. The future promises stronger development of tourism and incident facilities. Tachov district is intersected by ancient paths to Bavaria. The natural western border is formed by the Bohemian Forest (Český Les). It would not be too much to say that history has passed through the district ever since the Stone Age. Landmarks are encountered every few steps; the official list includes well over 300 items. A few kilometres south of Stříbro, on the verge of Kladruby, a former Benedictine Monastery is situated which was founded by knight Vratislav back in 1115. The modern face of the complex gradually appeared throughout the lóth-l8th centuries with the participation of many outstanding architects and artists (J. B. Santini, K. I. Dientzenhofer). The historical walls resound with Saturday concerts during the annual festival of music called Kladrubské Léto. The dis- trict has also some interesting examples of folk architecture.

The town walls

Tachov's square

Château, now the Magistrate

View of the Riding-School's interior at Světice

U.S.Army Liberation Memorial at Tachov