The Age of Enlightenment until the 19th century Kadaň

kadaň seen river

during silesian wars kadaň foothold withdrawing french army fortified in franciscan monastery , besieged hungarian , croatian units of austrian army. door of monastery church still shows bullet holes battle on october 14, 1742. town caught fire in 1746, providing great opportunity kadaň s christopher wren - johann christoph kosch. built many baroque buildings, including church of elevation of holy cross, church of holy family , monastery of order of st. elisabeth. castle of kadaň rebuilt serve barracks in time of maria theresa of austria. son joseph ii visited kadaň in 1779. joseph s reforms affected town life. monastery of minorites closed , thereafter became premises of first grammar school under control of piarists 1803 1823. 1788 saw inauguration of town municipal council. jakob marzel sternberger first mayor , held office until 1822. great-grandson jacob sternberger emigrated u.s.a. in 1850 part of first wave of european immigrants of time (max kade institute).

the last great fire damaged town in 1811 , since then, historic centre has retained pattern. after revolution of 1848 letdown town became district centre. institute of district town lasted in kadaň 110 years when affiliated chomutov district. in second half of 19th century homeland study activities developed , number of institutions, clubs , societies established. national composition of kadaň population explicit - on 90% german , 3% czech, jewish community well.