Úsov

Úsov (German: Mährisch Aussee) is a town in Šumperk District in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,200 inhabitants.

Úsov consists of two municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):

Bezděkov u Úsova forms an exclave of the municipal territory.

The name was probably derived from the personal name Ús. The personal name arose from the old Czech word vús (in modern Czech vous), meaning 'beard'. The German name Aussee was created by transcription of the Czech name. In the first half of the 20th century, the name Mährisch Aussee ('Moravian Aussee') was used in German. The Jewish community called the town אויסא (Ojsa).

Úsov is located about 18 kilometres (11 mi) south of Šumperk and 28 km (17 mi) northwest of Olomouc. It lies in the Hanušovice Highlands. The highest point, located in the territory's exclave, is at 410 m (1,350 ft) above sea level. The Doubravka Stream flows through the village of Úsov. Polický Pond is situated northwest of the village.

The first written mention of Úsov is from 1260. The castle was built around 1250. Before 1487 the lords of Vlašim modified the castle. In the 16th century, Úsov was in the possession of the lords of Boskovice, and in 1597 it was acquired by the House of Liechtenstein. The Liechtensteins owned the castle until 1945.

The castle was damaged during the Swedish occupation in 1643. During the rule by Hans-Adam I of Liechtenstein, in 1692–1699, it was reconstructed and partially rebuilt into a large three-storey Baroque residence, designed by Domenico Martinelli.

In 1852 the Moravian-Silesian Silviculture School was founded in Úsov, which operated here until 1867. It was one of the oldest high schools in Moravia.