Hořovice

Hořovice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈɦor̝ovɪtsɛ]; German: Horschowitz, Horowitz) is a town in Beroun District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 7,600 inhabitants.

Hořovice
Town
Palackého Square with the town hall and Church of the Holy Trinity
Palackého Square with the town hall and Church of the Holy Trinity
Flag of Hořovice
Flag
Coat of arms of Hořovice
Coat of arms
Hořovice is located in Czech Republic
Hořovice
Hořovice
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°50′10″N 13°54′18″E
Country Czech Republic
RegionCentral Bohemian
DistrictBeroun
First mentioned1322
Government
 • MayorVěra Veverková
Area
 • Total9.55 km2 (3.69 sq mi)
Elevation
375 m (1,230 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total7,581
 • Density790/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
268 01
Websitewww.mesto-horovice.eu

Administrative parts

Hořovice is made up of only one administrative part.

Geography

Hořovice is located about 18 kilometres (11 mi) southwest of Beroun and 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Prague. It lies in the Hořovice Uplands. The highest point is at 471 m (1,545 ft) above sea level. The Červený Stream flows through the town.

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 Railway 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
Main article: Horowitz

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 as Isaiah Horowitz or Shabtai Sheftel Horowitz traced their lineage from this town.[3][4]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±%
18693,704—    
18804,089+10.4%
18904,231+3.5%
19004,325+2.2%
19104,829+11.7%
YearPop.±%
19214,679−3.1%
19304,818+3.0%
19504,472−7.2%
19615,238+17.1%
19705,675+8.3%
YearPop.±%
19805,619−1.0%
19916,395+13.8%
20016,374−0.3%
20116,951+9.1%
20216,835−1.7%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Sights
Hořovice Castle – New Castle

Hořovice is known for the Hořovice Castle, a national cultural monument. 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]

The former synagogue in Hořovice was built in 1903. The building survived World War II, but as the Jewish population of Hořovice disappeared as a result of the Holocaust, it lost its purpose. From 1947, it serves as a prayerhouse of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren.[7]

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic

Hořovice is twinned with:[8]

References
  1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. "Historie a památky" (in Czech). Město Hořovice. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  3. "Origin of Horowitz name". Horowitz Association Israel. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  4. "Famous Rabbinical Surnames". JewishGen. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  5. "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Beroun" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 1–2.
  6. "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  7. "Hořovice, sbor ČCE" (in Czech). Noc kostelů. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  8. "Spolupráce s partnerským městem Gau-Algesheim" (in Czech). Město Hořovice. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
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