Plzeň Region or Plzeňský Region (also known as Pilsen Region; ) is an administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the western part of the historical land of Bohemia and named after the capital, Plzeň. In terms of area, Plzeň Region is , the third largest region in the Czech Republic. However, with a population of about 585,000 inhabitants it is the ninth most populous region. After the South Bohemian Region it is the second least densely populated region. The region can be roughly divided into two parts: a highly industrialized north-eastern part with a strong engineering tradition around Pilsen () and a more hilly and rural south-western part with smaller-sized manufacturing companies processing natural resources.
The region borders the Karlovy Vary Region (to the north-west), Ústí nad Labem Region (to the north), Central Bohemian Region (north-east), South Bohemian Region (to the east) and with Bavaria (part of Germany) in the south-west and west. The region was established based on the constitutional Act No. 347/97 of Collections concerning the formation of higher territorial administrative units. The region and its authorities are specified by Act No. 129/2000 of Collections concerning regions, which came into effect on the day of the regional authorities elections, or on 1 January 2001.
Administrative divisions
The Plzeň Region is divided into 7 districts ():
The districts still exist as regional units though most administration has been shifted to the Municipalities with Extended Competence and the Municipalities with Commissioned Local Authority.
Municipalities with Extended Competence
Since 1 January 2003, the region has been divided into 15 "Municipalities with Extended Competence" which took over most of the administration of the former District Authorities. Some of these are further divided into Municipalities with Commissioned Local Authority (in brackets):
- Blovice (Spálené Poříčí)
- Domažlice (Kdyně)
- Horažďovice
- Horšovský Týn (Staňkov)
- Kralovice (Manětín, Plasy)
- Klatovy (Nýrsko, Plánice)
- Nepomuk
- Nýřany (Město Touškov, Všeruby, Třemošná)
- Plzeň (Starý Plzenec)
- Přeštice
- Rokycany (Radnice, Zbiroh)
- Stod (Dobřany, Holýšov)
- Stříbro (Bezdružice)
- Sušice (Kašperské Hory)
- Tachov (Bor, Planá u Mariánských Lázní)
Population
thumb|View at residential areas of Plzeň
As of 1 January 2019, the total population of the region was 584,672 inhabitants. Almost 30% of the inhabitants reside in Plzeň which is the fourth largest city in the Czech Republic with 172 thousand inhabitants. There are 56 towns in the region, which account for 67% of the total population. More than 33% of the population lives in municipalities with less than 2,000 inhabitants.
The Plzeň Region is the third least densely populated region in the Czech Republic. The population density is 75.6 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup> while the national average is 135 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>. The least populated part of the region is Tachov District (39 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>). The average age of the population in the region was 42.7 in 2019.
Cities and towns
The table shows the most populated cities and towns in the region (as of 1 January 2024):
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name
! Population
! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! District
|-
| 25px Plzeň || 185,599 || 138 || Plzeň-City District
|-
| 25px Klatovy || 22,938 || 81 || Klatovy District
|-
| 25px Tachov
|14,468
|41
|Tachov District
|-
| 25px Rokycany|| 14,386 || 31 || Rokycany District
|-
| 25px Domažlice || 11,155 || 25 || Domažlice District
|-
| 25px Sušice || 10,783 || 46 || Klatovy District
|-
| 25px Stříbro || 8,145 || 48 || Tachov District
|-
| 25px Nýřany
|6,960
|23
|Plzeň-North District
|-
| 25px Přeštice|| 6,804 || 25 || Plzeň-South District
|-
|}
Geography
thumb|right|200px|Černé Lake in Šumava, eastern bank
In the south-eastern part of the region there is a range of Bohemian Forest mountains. The capital Plzeň is surrounded by Plzeň Basin. The rest of the region is occupied by highlands, namely Plzeň Highlands and Brdy Highlands. The largest part of the region belongs to the drainage basin of Berounka river. The southern part of the region belongs to the drainage basin of Otava River.
The agricultural land covers 50.2% of the total area of the region, where 67.9% is arable land. Forests cover 39.7% of the total region's area, with higher proportions of forests can be found especially in Šumava, Brdy Highlands and the Bohemian Forest.
There are raw material resources on the region's territory, such as coal, heat-resistant and ceramic clays, and building stone limestone. The conditions for farming are quite favourable as well.
Cross-border cooperation
Since 1993, Domažlice District, Klatovy District and Tachov District have been using the European support programme of the cross-border cooperation. The municipalities in the border areas of the Czech Republic and Germany form two Euroregions: the Bohemian Forest- the Bavarian Forest–Mühlveiertel and Egrensis. Cross-border co-operation with Bavaria on the Euroregional basis helps moderate social-economic differences.