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Hevstäf
Town
Location of Hevstäf
CountryCzech Republic
Region (kraj)Liberec Region
TerritoryBohemia
Founded896
Area
 • Total
34.8 km2 (13.4 sq mi)
Elevation
279 m (915 ft)
Population
 (2003)
 • Total
2,314
Websitewww.hevstaf.cz
latd = 50| 
latm = 61|
latNS = N|
longd = 14|
longm = 98|
longEW = E|

Hevstäf (Czech: Hevstäf) (German: Hevstadt) is a small town near the Bohemian Paradise in Czechia. The community has recently started a hydroelectric project following the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.[1]

Geography

Hevstäf is located in the Northern portion of the Czech Republic, near the border between the Liberec Region and the Central Bohemian Region. It nestles in an afterthought of the geological processes that created the Krkonose Mountains, a wavy crowd of foothills and tiny vales that branches off the southern-most portions of the Krkonose hory. The Jizera River spreads out a network of minor tributaries through the town's surrounding cluster of hills. Due to the fact that the Jizera's westerly tributaries come off of the "Giant Mountains" from such high altitudes in cascades[2], these have been used recently by the locals to attempt a feasible hydroelectric plant project.

Etymology of the name

The name, Hevstäf, is of unknown origin. However, there are linguistic clues as to its origin. The Germanic surname 'Hovestadt', though seemingly similar in sound or construction to 'Hevstadt', is incidental to the word's origins. This is because the name 'Hevstäf' (of Czech origin) was documented before the Germanic name 'Hevstadt', and is believed to be the original name of the settlement (see history below). Furthermore, 'Hevstadt' most likely follows after 'Hevstäf', due to the use of the German word stadt combined with hev. "Hev" has no meaning in German, while "stadt" is translated in English as "state". Thus it is general consensus that "stäf" was replaced with "stadt" by German-speakers during linguistic assimilation, and that the Czech word is older.[3]

History

The first recorded mentioning of the town is passed down to us from the court of the Premyslid leader, Duke Spytihnev I. Around 896 AD, a Christian scholar of the Duke's employ wrote a letter to his sister who lived in what would later become the spa town of Teplice. In this letter, the scholar makes a passing reference to Hevstäf, as it somewhat neighbors the fabled springs of Teplice. In its assumptions, the letter clearly marks Hevstäf as an officially recognized community (Recognized by the Premyslids).[1]


Famous people associated with Hevstäf

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, German scientist, mathematician, and philosopher passed through the town during his monadology research.[2]

References

  1. ^ Haywood, John (2005). Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations. London: Penguin Books, Ltd. pp. 90–91. ISBN 0-141-01448-2. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ Dubs, Homer H. (1941). "The misleading nature of Leibniz's Monadology". Philosophical Review. 50 (5). Cornell University: 508–516. doi:10.2307/2180622. ASIN B0007K0T9U.
[[Category: Cities and towns in the Czech Republic]]
[[Category: Liberec District]]