Kladruby : Czech Republic

Kladruby (German Kladrau) is a village in the Czech Republic, in the region of Plzeň, near the town Stříbro. Population: 1,400 (2003).
The Abbey of Kladruby is an impressive Benedictine monastery that was first mentioned in 1115. Its vast and handsome Late Baroque Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Giovanni Battista Santini, architect) attests to the secular power and wealth of the abbey, which was dissolved under the Napoleonic regime. The abbot’s princely revenue and territories made his naming a matter of considerable concern to the Holy Roman Emperor, whose prerogative it was. In a confrontation with the local hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church over the rights of investiture— a conflict with parallels to the Investiture Controversy of the 12th century— King Wenceslaus, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia dealt with the interference of John of Nepomuk who had confirmed as abbot a candidate expressly not to Wencelaus’ wishes, in the time-honoured way: on March 20, 1393, the offending bishop was thrown into the river Vltava from Charles Bridge in Prague at the behest of Wenceslaus. (John was canonized as St John of Nepomuk.)
This village is different from other village, Kladruby nad Labem, known for its horse breed. Small village named Kladruby is also found near Rokycany.