Hořovice

Hořovice
Town
Palackého Square with the town hall and Church of the Holy Trinity
Flag Coat of arms
Hořovice Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°50′10″N 13°54′18″E / 49.83611°N 13.90500°E / 49.83611; 13.90500Coordinates: 49°50′10″N 13°54′18″E / 49.83611°N 13.90500°E / 49.83611; 13.90500
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Central Bohemian
District	Beroun
Founded	Between 1303–1322
Government
• Mayor	Jiří Peřina (ČSSD)
Area
• Total	9.55 km2 (3.69 sq mi)
Elevation	375 m (1,230 ft)
Population  (2021-01-01)[1]
• Total	6,939
• Density	730/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	268 01
Website	www.mesto-horovice.eu

Hořovice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈɦor̝ovɪtsɛ]; German: Horschowitz, Horvitz or Horowitz, Hebrew: הורוביץ Horowitz‎, Yiddish: הורוויץ Hurvitz‎) is a town in Beroun District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 6,900 inhabitants. It is the administrative and economical centre of the surrounding area.

Administrative parts[]

Hořovice is made up of only one administrative part.

History[]

Hořovice Castle – Old Castle

Hořovice was founded between 1303 and 1322, however archaeological excavations proves existence of an early settlement already in the 10th century.^[2] There was a trading post, later rebuilt and expanded into a castle in the Gothic style (the so-called "Old Castle").

Due to frequent fires in the town (in 1540, 1590, 1624, 1639, 1690 and 1694) and reconstructions, almost all documents of Gothic and Renaissance architecture were destroyed.^[2]

The construction of the Bohemian Western Railroad in around 1862 contributed to the development of industry. Gradually, the traditional handicraft nail production disappeared, and was replaced by machine production in the newly established factories. Thanks to the rich deposits in the area, iron ore has been processed here since the 14th century. Cast iron has made the area famous since the 18th century. Stoves, grilles, railings, reliefs and busts were cast in the local foundries.^[2]

Jewish legacy[]

One of the most worldwide spread Jewish surname Horovitz/Horowitz/Gurvich/Hurwicz/Hurwitz/Horvitz, etc., originates from the town of Hořovice, which during the late Middle Ages had one of the most substantial Jewish populations in the Bohemian Kingdom and rabbis and communal leaders such Isaiah Horowitz or Shabtai Sheftel Horowitz traced their lineage from this town.^{[3] [4][5][6]}

Sights[]

Hořovice Castle – New Castle

Hořovice is known for the Hořovice Castle. The so-called New Castle was built in 1680–1709. It contains the adjacent French-English park and it is open to the public. The Old Castle houses the Police of the Czech Republic, the Municipal Library and the Information Centre, and offices of a family centre and of the Museum of the Bohemian Karst. A gallery and exposition of Hořovice Region Museum are also located there.^[2]

The second historic centre is Palackého Square with its surroundings. The Baroque Church of the Holy Trinity was built in 1674. The town hall is a Neo-Renaissance building from 1905.^[2]

Notable people[]

• Elizabeth of Görlitz (1390–1451), Duchess of Luxemburg
• Josel of Rosheim (1480–1554), advocate of the German Jews, lived here
• Josef Labor (1842–1924), musician
• Alfred Seifert (1850–1901), Czech-German painter, grew up here
• Otto Hönigschmid (1878–1945), chemist
• Libor Capalini (born 1973), modern pentathlete, Olympic medalist
• Jan Prušinovský (born 1979), director and screenwriter
• Jiří Fischer (born 1980), ice hockey player
• Jan Skopeček (born 1980), politician
• Petr Koukal (born 1985), badminton player

Twin towns – sister cities[]

Hořovice is twinned with:^[7]

• Gau-Algesheim, Germany

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hořovice.

• Official website (in Czech, German, and English)