has been the dominant language there. Industrial development was delayed until around 1860. An important engineering factory was built in 1872 and more followed. A factory producing batteries was founded in 1918. The infrastructure and amenities of a modern town have been gradually added since the second half of the 19th century. Demographics Transport Slaný is situated at the crossing of the Prague–Louny and Mělník–Karlovy Vary roads, near the end of the unfinished D7 motorway. The town lies on the railway line from Slaný to Kralupy nad Vltavou. Sights The former town hall on the town square is the main landmark of the town. it is located on the site of a house, which donated King Charles IV to the town in 1378. It was burned and then rebuilt several times and its present neo-Renaissance appearance dates from 1895–1896. It has a high clock tower. Today it is the seat of the police and of a gallery. The second landmark of the town square is the former Piarist college. It was built in 1658–1665. It served students until 1939. Today it is a museum, library and cinema. The Chapel of the Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary is used for social events. Velvary Gate is one of the last remnants of the town fortifications. It dates from the second half of the 15th century. Today it houses an exhibition of the town museum. The formerly Franciscan monastery was founded in 1655 and completed in 1662. Since 1996, it has been home to the Order of Discalced Carmelites. The Church of the Holy Trinity was built in 1581–1602. The core of the church is the Loreto Chapel with a statue of the Black Mother of God, which was built in 1657. The deanery Church of Saint Gotthard is a Gothic church located on the site of a former Romanesque basilica from the 13th century. The original Renaissance baptistery dates from 1511. Notable people Josef Matěj Navrátil (1798–1865), painter Václav Beneš Třebízský (1849–1884), priest and novelist; studied here Jan Malypetr (1873–1947), politician, prime minister of Czechoslovakia Oskar Fischer (1876–1942), psychiatrist and neuropathologist Olga Scheinpflugová (1902–1968), actress and author Karel Smyczek (born 1950), film director and screenwriter Eva Urbanová (born 1961), operatic soprano Martin Procházka (born 1972), ice hockey player Jiří Tlustý (born 1988), ice hockey player Twin towns – sister cities Slaný is twinned with: Pegnitz, Germany Skalica, Slovakia Friendly towns Slaný