Chomutov

It has an old Gothic Church of St. Catherine, and its town hall was formerly a commandery of the Teutonic Knights. Chomutov was originally a Czech marketplace, but in 1252 it came into the possession of the Teutonic Order and was completely Germanized. In 1396 it received a town charter and in 1416 the knights sold both town and lordship to Wenceslaus IV. On March 16, 1421, the town was stormed by the Taborites, sacked and burned. After several changes of ownership, Chomutov came in 1588 to Popel of Lobkovic, who established the Jesuits here, which led to trouble between the Protestant burghers and the over-lord. In 1594 the lordship fell to the crown, and in 1605 the town purchased its freedom and was created a royal city.