Přerov

Přerov (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpr̝̊ɛrof]; German: Prerau) is a city in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 42,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Bečva River. In the past it was a major crossroad in the heart of Moravia in the Czech Republic. The historic city centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

For places with the similar name, see Přerov nad Labem and Prerow.
Přerov
Statutory city
Horní Square
Horní Square
Flag of Přerov
Flag
Coat of arms of Přerov
Coat of arms
Přerov is located in Czech Republic
Přerov
Přerov
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°27′20″N 17°27′4″E
Country Czech Republic
RegionOlomouc
DistrictPřerov
First mentioned1141
Government
 • MayorPetr Vrána (ANO)
Area
 • Total58.45 km2 (22.57 sq mi)
Elevation
210 m (690 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total41,634
 • Density710/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal codes
750 02, 751 24, 751 27
Websitewww.prerov.eu

Administrative parts
Předmostí

Přerov is made up of 13 city parts and villages:

  • Přerov I-Město
  • Přerov II-Předmostí
  • Přerov III-Lověšice
  • Přerov IV-Kozlovice
  • Přerov V-Dluhonice
  • Přerov VI-Újezdec
  • Přerov VII-Čekyně
  • Přerov VIII-Henčlov
  • Přerov IX-Lýsky
  • Přerov X-Popovice
  • Přerov XI-Vinary
  • Přerov XII-Žeravice
  • Přerov XIII-Penčice

Etymology

The name Přerov is of Old Slavic origin. It meant 'ditch', 'pool', 'swamp', or 'stagnant water'.[2]

Geography

Přerov is located about 19 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of Olomouc. The eastern part of the municipal territory lies in the Moravian Gate lowlands, the western part lies in the Upper Morava Valley. A small northern part extends into the Nízký Jeseník range. The highest point is the hill Čekyňský kopec at 307 m (1,007 ft) above sea level. The Bečva River flows through the city.

History
River Bečva and the historical centre

Settlement in the locality dates back to prehistoric times. A locality called Skalka in Předmostí city part is known worldwide for its rich archaeological discoveries dating mainly from the Paleolithic period. Discoveries include excavations of a large number of mammoth bones, sites of mammoth hunters' camps from 27–26 thousand years ago, and others. Together with Dolní Věstonice it is the most important archaeological site in the country.[3]

The first written mention of Přerov is in a deed of bishop Jindřich Zdík from 1141 and testifies to Přerov's administrative function in the castle system of the Přemyslid state. King Ottokar II of Bohemia gave Přerov the privilege of being a royal town in 1256.[4]

An old stone fortress was built here in the first half of the 13th century. It was conquered and damaged during the Hussite Wars. In 1487, Přerov was acquired by the Pernštejn family. Vilém of Pernštejn had rebuilt the Horní Square and the fortress, which became a solid Gothic castle.[5] The hill around the castle was colonized by new settlers, including members of the Unity of the Brethren, thanks to which the town became a centre of culture and education in the 16th century.[4]

In the second half of the 16th century, reconstruction of the castle into a Renaissance residence began. In the late 16th century, Přerov was bought by Karel the Elder of Zierotin, who chose the town as his seat. He had finished the reconstruction of the castle. During his rule, the town experienced prosperity. After the Battle of White Mountain, Zierotin was forced to moved away and the town lost its importance.[4][5]

In 1841 the railway to Přerov was built and the town has become an important railway junction. In the second half of the 19th century there has been rapid economic growth, driven primarily by the production of agricultural machinery.[4]

German terror in Bohemia and Moravia peaked in spring 1945, sparking a Czech uprising, which started in Přerov on 1 May and then spread throughout the whole country after the murder of 78,154 Czech Jews and 340,000 Czech citizens during the German occupation.[6] In June 1945, during the expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia, 265 Germans (71 men, 120 women and 74 children) were killed in Přerov.[7]

On 1 July 2006, the town of Přerov became a statutory city.[8]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±%
186911,341—    
188015,464+36.4%
189017,749+14.8%
190022,007+24.0%
191026,966+22.5%
YearPop.±%
192128,442+5.5%
193030,270+6.4%
195029,054−4.0%
196136,101+24.3%
197044,324+22.8%
YearPop.±%
198050,593+14.1%
199151,300+1.4%
200148,335−5.8%
201144,361−8.2%
202141,019−7.5%
Source: Censuses[9][10]

Economy
T. G. Masaryk Square

The main employer based in the city is Meopta - optika, a multinational company manufacturing various products mainly in the field of optics. It was founded in 1933.[11]

Other major industrial companies include Precheza (representative of the chemical industry founded in 1894, owned by Agrofert)[12] and DPOV (a subsidiary of České dráhy focused on repairs and modernization of railway rolling stock).[13]

Přerov is known for the Zubr Brewery. The brewery was founded in 1872.[14]

Transport

The city is a major railway junction with main lines to Prague via Olomouc, Warsaw via Ostrava, and Vienna via Břeclav, and a regional line to Brno.

A public domestic and private international airport is located in Přerov. It was established in 2013 by transformation from original military airport Přerov–Bochoř.[15]

Education
Church of Saint Lawrence

In Přerov there is the College of Logistics, a private technical college of non-university type.[16]

Sport
  • HC Zubr Přerov – ice hockey club (plays in the 2nd tier)
  • SK Žeravice – handball club (plays in the 3nd tier)
  • 1. FC Viktorie Přerov – association football club (plays in the 4th tier)
  • Přerov Mammoths – american football club (plays in the 1st tier)
  • TK PRECHEZA Přerov – tennis club that organizes an international women's tournament Zubr Cup[17]
  • Auto Klub Přerov – motor sports club[18]

Sights
Přerov Castle

The historic town centre is formed by Horní Square and its immediate surroundings, delimited by the preserved town walls. Horní Square is lined by Renaissance burgher houses. The most valuable house is the so-called Corvinus' House from 1570, with a preserved Renaissance portal.[19]

The landmark of the square in the Přerov Castle. The Renaissance castle has preserved Gothic core and stone elements from the original fortress. Today it houses the Comenius Museum, founded in 1887.[4][5]

There is five church buildings in Přerov. The oldest is the parish Church of Saint Lawrence from 1725–1732.[20]

Mammoth Hunters Memorial in Předmostí is an exhibition pavilion, which presents this archeological site and its discoveries.[21]

Notable people

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

Přerov is twinned with:[22]

References
  1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. "O původu a jménu města Přerova" (in Czech). City of Přerov. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  3. "Vítejte ve městě s mamutí historií!" (in Czech). Infocentrum v Předmostí. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  4. "Historie města" (in Czech). City of Přerov. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  5. "Historie zámku" (in Czech). Muzeum Komenského Přerově. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  6. Bažant, Jan; Bažantová, Nina; Starn, Frances (2010-12-13). The Czech Reader: History, Culture, Politics. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0822347941.
  7. Prausser, Steffen; Rees, Arfon (December 2004). "The Expulsion of the 'German' Communities at the End of the Second World War" (PDF). Department of History and Civilization. European University Institute, Florence. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  8. "Analýzy: Analýza rozsahu výkonu veřejné správy v jednotlivých statutárních městech, městských částech a městských obvodech" (in Czech). Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. 2018. p. 18.
  9. "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Přerov" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 7–8.
  10. "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  11. "About us". Meopta - optika, s.r.o. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  12. "History". PRECHEZA a.s. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  13. "Short History". DPOV, a.s. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  14. "Historie a současnost" (in Czech). Pivovar ZUBR, a.s. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  15. "Aerodrome Přerov". Aerodrome Přerov. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  16. "O škole" (in Czech). Vysoká škola logistiky o.p.s. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  17. "Vítáme Vás" (in Czech). TK PRECHEZA Přerov. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  18. "Home Page" (in English and Czech). Auto Klub Přerov. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  19. "Městská památková zóna" (in Czech). City of Přerov. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  20. "Církevní, vojenské a technické památky" (in Czech). City of Přerov. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  21. "Památník lovců mamutů" (in Czech). City of Přerov. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  22. "Partnerská města" (in Czech). City of Přerov. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
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