Mítov

Mítov is a small village belonging to the municipality of Nové Mitrovice, in the Plzeň-jih district of the Plzeň Region in the Czech Republic. It sits roughly 1.5 kilometers northwest of the municipal center, among the hills of the region's southern stretch. Fewer than eighty people live there today, yet the village has kept enough of its historic layout and buildings to earn protection as a rural heritage zone.

Where is Mítov, and how does it fit into the wider area?

Mítov lies in the Plzeň-jih district, part of the municipality of Nové Mitrovice, which also includes the villages of Nechanice and Planiny — together the municipality counts 359 residents. The nearest large city is Plzeň, about 27 kilometers away, a regional capital of more than 151,000 people. Mítov's cadastral territory covers 8.41 square kilometers, and the village uses the postal code 335 63.

What is Mítov's history?

The village's first written mention dates back to 1349. Over the centuries it appeared under the names Mytov in Czech and Mittau in German. Mítov remained an independent municipality until 1951, when it was administratively merged into Nové Mitrovice. Its district affiliation shifted afterward too: following the merger it initially belonged to the Blovice district, before becoming part of Plzeň-jih in 1960.

Population figures reveal a long decline. The village peaked at 287 residents in 1869. Numbers fell steadily after that, reaching just 48 inhabitants at the 2011 census, then recovering slightly to 73 residents across 50 houses and 81 registered addresses by 2021.

One notable figure connects to the village: Bedřich Moser (1821–1864), a humorist and editor of a satirical magazine, was born in Mítov.

What can visitors see in Mítov?

The main draw is the village's preserved rural architecture. Mítov is protected as a village monument zone (vesnická památková zóna), one of several dozen such zones in the Plzeň Region, where timber-framed cottages typical of the area have survived. The wider Plzeň-jih district is known for exactly this kind of building tradition — houses built from squared timber logs, sometimes combined with half-timbered elements, a cheaper and more accessible method than masonry construction.

Traces of much older fortifications also remain nearby: a prehistoric hillfort and the remains of a 13th-century castle known as Liškův hrad, along with the nearby Kokšín hillfort. Within the village itself stands a preserved water mill, registered as house number 14 — a reminder of how the local stream once powered everyday work.

Where does the name Nové Mitrovice come from?

The municipality that Mítov belongs to today formed relatively late by Czech standards. Around 1695, Jiří Zdeněk Václav Hynek Vratislav z Mitrovic established an ironworks with a blast furnace here, bringing in miners and metalworkers for whom housing was built. The name Nové Mitrovice, referencing the founder's family, came into use from 1708 onward.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mítov its own municipality? No — since 1951 it has been part of Nové Mitrovice, though for centuries before that it was an independent village administration.

How many people live in Mítov? As of 2021, the village had 73 residents living in 50 houses.

Why is Mítov protected as a heritage zone? Because of its well-preserved traditional rural buildings, including timber-framed houses characteristic of the Plzeň-jih region.

What historic sites are near the village? The remains of the 13th-century Liškův hrad castle, a prehistoric hillfort, and the nearby Kokšín hillfort, plus a historic water mill at house number 14 within the village.

How far is Mítov from Plzeň? The regional capital, Plzeň, is about 27 kilometers away.