Divišov

Villages of Dalovy, Křešice, Lbosín, Měchnov, Radonice, Šternov and Zdebuzeves are administrative parts of Divišov. Radonice and Zdebuzeves form an exclave of the municipal territory.

Divišov is located about 13 kilometres (8 mi) east of Benešov and 39 km (24 mi) southeast of Prague. It is located in a hilly landscape. The western part of the municipal territory lies in the Benešov Uplands and the eastern part in the Vlašim Uplands. Large part of the area is covered with forests. The highest points are the hills Březák and Vrchy, both at 533 m (1,749 ft) above sea level.

The confluence of the rivers Sázava and Blanice is located in Radonice part of Divišov.

The first written mention of Divišov is from 1130. The settlement was probably founded during reign of Bretislav I (1034–1055) by a member of Bretislav's retinue named Diviš. On the site of today's dean's building, there was a keep around which a settlement began to form. Before 1242, Zdislav, the first-born son of Diviš of Divišov, founded Český Šternberk Castle in the neighbourhood of today's Divišov municipal territory, and the house of Divišov became the house of Sternberg.[2]

In 1545, Divišov became a town. It received coat of arms with a gold star which reminded the lords of Sternberg. In 1742, after a large fire, almost the whole of Divišov burned down.[2]

In the 19th and 20th centuries, development of industry occurred. In 1899, the construction of the railway line leading from Čerčany to Kolín was started. After Divišov lost its town status around 1960, it became a market town in 2006.[2]

Jawa factory

At the end of the 19th century, a factory for the production and processing of velvet was established here, and its products was appreciated even abroad. In 1948, Jaroslav Simandl founded a factory for speedway motorcycles of the Jawa brand.[2]

Divišov is an industrial centre: beside Jawa, there is a transport company, a heavy machinery factory and an electronic equipment plant. Divišov also became known as a fish farming area.

The D1 motorway from Prague to Brno passes through the northern part of the territory.

There is a speedway stadium in Divišov. It was opened in 1955. It hosts large international races every year.[6]

Synagogue in Divišov

The synagogue was built at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1854–1856, it was rebuilt to the Neoclassical style. After the building was used as a warehouse and hairdressing salon during the 20th century, it was returned to Jewish community of Prague in 1995. Since 2004, it serves as the Museum of the Life of the Jewish Community of Divišov.[7]

The Jewish cemetery has an area of 2,921 square meters and 200 tombstones of the Baroque and Neoclassical type have been preserved, the oldest legible from the end of the 18th century. It is protected as a national cultural heritage and is gradually renovated.[3]

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