Velká Hleďsebe

Velká Hleďsebe (German: Groß Sichdichfür) is a municipality and village in Cheb District in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,400 inhabitants.

Velká Hleďsebe
Municipality
View from the west
Flag Coat of arms
Velká Hleďsebe Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°57′42″N 12°40′4″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Karlovy Vary
District	Cheb
First mentioned	1587
Area
• Total	4.56 km2 (1.76 sq mi)
Elevation	561 m (1,841 ft)
Population  (2025-01-01)[1]
• Total	2,402
• Density	527/km2 (1,360/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	354 71
Website	www.velkahledsebe.cz

Administrative division

Velká Hleďsebe consists of three municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):^[2]

• Velká Hleďsebe (1,632)
• Klimentov (601)
• Malá Hleďsebe (20)

Etymology

The name Hleďsebe is derived from the expression hleď sebe, meaning 'watch out'. The village was probably named so by the neighbours so that everyone would beware that dangerous people live there. The names Velká Hleďsebe and Malá Hleďsebe means "Great Hleďsebe" and "Little Hleďsebe".^[3]

Geography

Velká Hleďsebe is located about 24 kilometres (15 mi) southeast of Cheb and 32 km (20 mi) southwest of Karlovy Vary, in close proximity to Mariánské Lázně. The municipal territory lies mostly in the Upper Palatine Forest Foothills, but the southwestern part with the village of Malá Hleďsebe lies in the Upper Palatine Forest. The highest point is at 632 m (2,073 ft) above sea level. The stream Kosový potok flows along the northern and eastern municipal border.

History

The first written mention of Hleďsebe is from 1587. In 1605, Velká Hleďsebe and Malá Hleďsebe were distinguished. Until 1606, both villages belonged to the Tachov estate.^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 959 —     1880 1,237 +29.0% 1890 1,464 +18.4% 1900 1,962 +34.0% 1910 2,605 +32.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 2,517 −3.4% 1930 2,924 +16.2% 1950 1,218 −58.3% 1961 1,946 +59.8% 1970 1,786 −8.2%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 2,214 +24.0% 1991 2,113 −4.6% 2001 2,124 +0.5% 2011 2,106 −0.8% 2021 2,253 +7.0%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Transport

The I/21 road, which connects the D5 and D6 motorways, passes through the municipality.

Sights

Church of Saint Anne

The main landmark of Velká Hleďsebe is the Church of Saint Anne. It was built in the Neo-Romanesque and Neo-Gothic styles in 1908–1911. It is a romantic imitation of a medieval longitudinal church.^[7]