ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA	CZECH REPUBLIC
Karlovarský kraj	Karlovy Vary region
Okres: Sokolov

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Loket is situated at an elevation of 427 m on the river Ohře in the Karlovy Vary region in the west of the Czech Republic. The municipality has a population of about 3,200 (2005). The old town of Loket is located on a granite hill which is enclosed on three sides by the river. This also was the origin of the town's name, as the Czech word loket and also the German word Ellenbogen mean 'elbow'.

The castle was probably already built in the 12th cenrtury. The earliest reference to it is found in a document of 1234 when it was mentioned as a border castle protecting the border of the Kingdom of Bohemia. In 1227 the place was mentioned as a 'civitas'. During the Hussite Wars Elbogen successfully was defended against the Hussites. The Reformation, however, was introduced in 1521. Since the 15th century Loket had been the seat of the westernmost district (Loketský kraj, Elbogener Kreis) of the kingdom of Bohemia. The district was incorporated into the distric Žatec (Saaz) in 1714 and and remained there until 1751 when the Loket district was reestablished. Loket finally ceased to be a district town when the distrist was dissolved in 1848. The German-speaking inhabitants of the town were expelled after World War II. In modern times Loket was part of the district Sokolov until 31 December 2002 when the 'okresy' (districts) were formally abolished. The town centre is a national monument and as such is preserved from modern developments. The town plays host to an annual opera festival, which takes played in an open air amphitheatre with the castle as a backdrop, and also plays host to the Czech Motocross Grand Prix. Loket was also used to portray Montenegro in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale.

Loket castle [centre] was presumably founded in the 12th century. Around 1200 a lower castle was added. The earliest written mention of the castle is found in a document of 1234. Until the 15th century, the castle was remodeled and enlarged several times and during this process its character was changed from the Romanesque to the Gothic style. In 1562 the castle came in possession of the town. After the 17th century, the castle was used merely as a depot and, between 1822 and 1948, also as a gaol. During the period of the Czechosloval Republic the castle was administered by the office for monuments in Plzeň. In 1922 thce castle was restituted to the town of Loket. Today it is used as a museum and as venue for events.

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loket, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loket; https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burg_Loket]