Rotava is a town in Sokolov District in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,800 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

The village of Smolná is an administrative part of Rotava.

Geography

Rotava is located about 14 km north of Sokolov and 21 km northwest of Karlovy Vary. It lies in the Ore Mountains. The highest point is the mountain Sklenský vrch at 817 m above sea level. The Svatava River flows along the western municipal border. The Rotava Stream flows along the eastern and southern border and then joins the Svatava.

History

The iron ore was mined in the area from 1543. The first written mention of Rotava is from 1552, when there was a hamlet with a hammer mill. Until 1628, the area was owned by the Schlick family. For the next centuries, it was property of the Nostitz family. The municipality of Rotava was created in the 19th century by merger of several settlements. The establishment of a bar iron rolling mill in 1861 brought significant development in Rotava.

Demographics

Transport

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

Sights

The main landmark of Rotava is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. It is a modern church, built in 1914–1925.

Twin towns – sister cities

Rotava is twinned with: