# Jirkov

Jirkov (Czech pronunciation:; German: Görkau) is a town in Chomutov District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 19,000 inhabitants. Jirkov creates a conurbation with Chomutov.

## Administrative division

Jirkov consists of five municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):
* Jirkov (17,499)
* Březenec (668)
* Červený Hrádek (165)
* Jindřišská (25)
* Vinařice (30)

## Etymology

The name is derived from the personal name Jirek (a diminutive of Jiří), meaning "Jirek's (court)". The personal name was initially written as Jurek and the settlement's name as Jurkov.

## Geography

Jirkov lies in close proximity to the city of Chomutov, with which it forms a conurbation. It is located about 44 km (27 mi) southwest of Ústí nad Labem. It lies on the border between the Most Basin and Ore Mountains. The highest point is at 590 m (1,940 ft) above sea level.The Bílina River flows through the town.

## History

Jirkov was established as a colonization village on the Czech-Saxon border in the second half of the 13th century. The first written mention of Jirkov is from 1321 under the name Borek, the name Jirkov (that time written Jurkov) began to be used soon after.
From 1938 to 1945, Jirkov was annexed by Nazi Germany and administered as part of the Reichsgau Sudetenland. After the surrender of Germany, nearly all of the town's hitherto inhabitants were expelled, and new Czech settlers found a new home in the depopulated town.

## Demographics

| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1869 | 4,322 | — |
| 1880 | 4,713 | +9.0% |
| 1890 | 5,170 | +9.7% |
| 1900 | 5,781 | +11.8% |
| 1910 | 6,261 | +8.3% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1921 | 6,130 | −2.1% |
| 1930 | 7,750 | +26.4% |
| 1950 | 6,000 | −22.6% |
| 1961 | 9,928 | +65.5% |
| 1970 | 11,249 | +13.3% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1980 | 11,980 | +6.5% |
| 1991 | 18,229 | +52.2% |
| 2001 | 20,717 | +13.6% |
| 2011 | 19,461 | −6.1% |
| 2021 | 18,387 | −5.5% |
Source: Censuses :

## Transport

Jirkov is the terminus and starting point of the railway line from/to Lužná via Chomutov.
Jirkov and neighbouring Chomutov together operate a transport company. In addition to buses, public transport is provided also by trolleybuses.

## Sport

Every year the town organizes the Jirkov Crossmarathon and Half marathon. The tradition began in 2001.

## Sights
### Červený Hrádek Castle

Červený Hrádek Castle (formerly Borek Castle) was founded by the Kraa family prior to 1415. The castle was sacked by the Hussites in 1421 and, after renovation later in the 15th century, the façade was painted red – hence the name Červený Hrádek (or Red Castle). In 1687 and 1688, the baroque sculptor Jan Brokoff carved statues, fountains and other works at the castle. His son Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff, also a sculptor, was born there.
The last aristocratic family to own the castle were the Hohenlohe-Langenburgs. Max Egon Hohenlohe, the last owner, tried to prevent the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany through diplomatic negotiations when he allowed the meeting of the British mediator in the dispute between Germany and Czechoslovakia over the Sudetenland, Lord Runciman, with the leader of the Sudeten German Party, Konrad Henlein, at the castle in August 1938. After World War II, Prince Max Egon was expropriated by the communist government.
Accessible areas of the castle include the castle's chapel, the hall of mirrors, the gallery and the study of Max Egon Hohenlohe.

### Town cellars

Long Cellar, also called Sand Cellar, was built in 1555. It was built for 40 years and it had 150 counters. Long Cellar served to the brewery and to a beer storage. Thanks to this, the beer was better. Beer was brewed in Jirkov from 1443. People brewed beer in the 16th and 17th centuries. A brewery was built near the cellar in 1841; thanks to this, Long Cellar lost importance.
Since 2006, the town cellars are accessible for visitors. Since 2011, the town cellars has been protected as a cultural monument.

### Church of Saint Giles

The oldest monument in Jirkov is the Church of Saint Giles. Its existence was mentioned already in 1300. It was newly built in 1568, the original parts of the building have been preserved.

## Notable people

* Ferdinand Brokoff (1688–1731), sculptor
* Augusta Rozsypalová (1857–1925), teacher and politician
* David Kämpf (born 1995), ice hockey player

## Twin towns – sister cities

Jirkov is twinned with:
* Bátonyterenye, Hungary
* Brand-Erbisdorf, Germany
* Kobylnica, Poland
* Šentjur, Slovenia