ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA | CZECH REPUBLIC |
Karlovarský kraj | Karlovy Vary region |
Okres: Sokolov |
Kraslice is situated at an elevation of 512 m in the western Krušné hory (Erzgebirge, Ore Mountains) region of West Bohemia.
In 1370 it obtained the status of a town. Due to the extensive mining for silver, copper, lead and zinc, the town was elevated to a free mining town in 1541.
Kraslice (Graslitz) once was one of the best-known centres for the production of musical instruments.
The tradition of violin making started in the 17th century (similar to the same tradition in Klingenthal across the border in Germany).
Before the outbreak of World War II, 300 firms with 3,000 instrument makers operated here.