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Hořovice

Coordinates: 49°50′10″N 13°54′18″E / 49.83611°N 13.90500°E / 49.83611; 13.90500
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Hořovice
Town
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Interactive map of Hořovice
Coordinates: 49°50′10″N 13°54′18″E / 49.83611°N 13.90500°E / 49.83611; 13.90500
CountryFile:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic
RegionCentral Bohemian
DistrictBeroun
First mentioned1322
Government
 • MayorVěra Veverková
Area
 • Total
9.55 km2 (3.69 sq mi)
Elevation
375 m (1,230 ft)
Population
 (2026-01-01)[1]
 • Total
8,245
 • Density863/km2 (2,240/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
268 01
Websitewww.mesto-horovice.eu

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 8,200 inhabitants. The town is located on the stream Červený potok in the Hořovice Uplands.

Hořovice was founded in the first half of the 14th century. The main landmark of the town is the Hořovice Castle, which is protected as a national cultural monument.

Etymology

The name was derived either from the personal name Hoř or from the surname Hora, meaning "the village of Hoř's/Hora's people".[2]

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 stream Červený potok flows through the town.

History

Hořovice was founded between 1303 and 1322, however archaeological excavations proves existence of an early settlement already in the 10th century.[3] There was a trading post, later rebuilt and expanded into a castle in the Gothic style (the so-called Starý zámek).

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.[3]

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.[3]

Jewish legacy

Main article: Horowitz

One of the world's most common Jewish surnames, 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 Kingdom of Bohemia. Rabbis and communal leaders such as Isaiah Horowitz or Shabtai Sheftel Horowitz traced their lineage from this town.[4][5]

Demographics

Transport

Hořovice is located on the railway line Prague–Klatovy via Plzeň.[8]

Sights

Hořovice is known for the Hořovice Castle, protected as a national cultural monument. The so-called Nový zámek ('new castle') was built in 1680–1709. It contains the adjacent French-English park and it is open to the public. The Starý zámek ('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. An art gallery and exposition of Hořovice Region Museum are also located there.[3]

The second historic centre is the square Palackého náměstí with its surroundings. The Church of the Holy Trinity was built in the Baroque style in 1674. The town hall is a Neo-Renaissance building from 1905.[3]

The former synagogue in Hořovice was built in 1903. The building survived World War II, but after the Jewish population of Hořovice disappeared as a result of the Holocaust, it lost its purpose. From 1947, it has served as a prayerhouse of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren.[9]

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

Hořovice is twinned with:[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Population in municipalities as at 1. 1". DataStat. Czech Statistical Office. 2026-05-18.
  2. ↑ Profous, Antonín (1947). Místní jména v Čechách I: A–H (in čeština). pp. 708–709.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Historie a památky" (in čeština). Město Hořovice. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  4. ↑ "Origin of Horowitz name". Horowitz Association Israel. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  5. ↑ "Famous Rabbinical Surnames". JewishGen. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  6. ↑ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in čeština). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.
  7. ↑ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  8. ↑ "Station details Hořovice". České dráhy. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
  9. ↑ "Hořovice, sbor ČCE". Noc kostelů (in čeština). Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  10. ↑ "Spolupráce s partnerským městem Gau-Algesheim" (in čeština). Město Hořovice. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
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