At the start of the 13th century, a new mining colony was established near an older mining village. After the influx of miners from Saxony in 1335, it developed into the town named after its founder Slávek (Schlacko) of Riesenburg. During the rule of the powerful family Pflug of Rabenstein in 1494–1547, Horní Slavkov was already one of the renowned and important mining towns because of the extraordinary development of tin and silver ore mining. At the start of the 16th century, a large influx of inhabitants gave rise to extensive construction. On 1 September 1547, Horní Slavkov was granted royal mining town status by Ferdinand I.
Fig.: Municipal Seal
From the 17th century onward, the mining was in decline because of the gradual exhaustion of ore deposits, the consequences of the Thirty Years‘ War and the counter-Reformation. Later improvement in the economic situation was reflected by the broad expansion of trade guild work (tinning, pottery, and stove building). In 1792, the first Bohemian porcelain factory was established in Horní Slavkov, and made the town famous worldwide with its Haas & Czjzek line of products.
Fig.: The Pflug-Street 100 years ago
In the 20th century, mining operations in the surroundings of Horní Slavkov were again revived – apart from tin, tungsten and copper, interest in uranium came to the forefront after World War II. The short-term production (1948–1963) of this strategic metal only intensified the immense moral and material harm caused by the resettlement of the original German population, the establishment of a military area and the practices of the communist regime.
Fig.: Mining motif on the facade of the cultural center building from 1960s
The unique character of the originally pure Renaissance town was destroyed along with mining and architectural landmarks. The Church of St. George, in particular, and other religious buildings in its vicinity were preserved, as well as a group of old town buildings in Pluhova Street. One of them houses the town museum.
Fig.: Municipal Coat of Arms