Situated near the Southwest Czech-German border, the prominent West Bohemian town of Klatovy, known as the
"Gate to Sumava", is a major administrative center for the surrounding region. The town, which today has more than 23 thousand inhabitants, is dominated by the famous Black Tower, built between 1547-57, and the twin
white towers of the Jesuit church completed in 1679.
The town of Klatovy was founded around the year 1260 by King Premysl Otakar II. near an old market village. It is situated at the crossroads of the former trade routes from Prague to Passau and to Straubing. The not quite square-shaped town square is intersected by a network of streets arranged at right angles. The medieval town was enclosed by two ramparts fortified with both round and four-sided bastions and deep moats.
The town flourished in the 16
th century, at which time it ranked among the ten richest Czech towns. It was at this time that the most prominent feature of Klatovy's panorama,
the 81 meter high Black Tower, was built, as well as the neighboring town hall. In the first half of the 17
th century, the town suffered under the Thirty Years War and the confiscation of property following the Battle of the White Mountain. The second half of the century saw an increase in construction initiated mainly by the Jesuits of Klatovy. They built the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary and a monastery for their order, while at the same time
the Dominican Church of St. Lawrence 
underwent reconstruction. In the second half of the 18
th century Klatovy became for nearly the next one hundred years the administrative center for the surrounding region, which included the neighboring town of Domazlice and its surroundings.
Among the most visited attractions of Klatovy are
the catacombs in which are buried the Jesuits and their disciples, and the pharmacy "At the White Unicorn", protected by UNESCO for its original Baroque equipment.
In addition to its architectural landmarks, Klatovy also takes pride in its exquisite carnations, the cultivation of which dates from 1813, as well as the manufacturing of world famous leather, dairy, and textile products.
Klatovy is linked with the names famous people. For example J. Vrchlicky, V. M. Kramerius, B. Balbin, K. Hostas and many others.
Tourists are attracted not only to Klatovy's historic town center, but to the neighboring countryside as well, where they can visit
the castles of Klenov and Svihov. Many people choose to coincide their visit to Klatovy with a stay in the nearby, often visited Sumava.
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