Holešov

Holešov (Czech pronunciation: [ˈɦolɛʃof]; German: Holleschau, Hebrew: העלשויא‎) is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 12,000 inhabitants. The town is located on the western hillside of the Hostýn-Vsetín Mountains – the westernmost part of the Carpathian Mountains. The centre of the town is historically significant and is protected by law as Urban monument zone.

Holešov
Town
Dr. Edvard Beneš Square
Flag
Coat of arms
Holešov
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°19′58″N 17°34′42″E
Country Czech Republic
RegionZlín
DistrictKroměříž
First mentioned1141
Government
 • MayorRudolf Seifert (TOP 09)
Area
 • Total33.96 km2 (13.11 sq mi)
Elevation
232 m (761 ft)
Population
 (2020-01-01[1])
 • Total11,579
 • Density340/km2 (880/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
769 01
Websitewww.holesov.cz

History

Established in the place of the neolithic villages, Holešov was mentioned in the first half of 12th century for the first time (the dating varies from 1131 to 1141) as the market village in the ownership of the Bishop of Olomouc. Holešov got some municipal rights in 1322. Traditionally a half of the town with the castle was in the hereditary possession of the nobility, while the other half was administrated by diocese. After 1480, the whole domain of Holešov was owned by nobility. First the House of Sternberg and later several other noble families until 1848, of which the most important was the Styrian Rottal Family, which made Holešov the centre of their domain and rebuilt the old castle into representative palace with the system of gardens (17th–18th century).

After 1848, Holešov became the administrative centre of the Holešov District.[2] Since 1848 the town was officially divided into two parts: the larger Christian town Holešov and in the area of former Jewish ghetto was the smaller Jewish municipality of the same name (Holešov), which had its own administration and contained almost one-third of the town's population. It was only after 1918 when the town was united under one administration. In 1960, the district Holešov was dissolved and Holešov became an ordinary town without any administrative importance.

Jewish presence

The town was inhabited by a large Jewish community from the first half of the 16th century until World War II, during which nearly the entire Jewish population was murdered.[3] There is a very uncommon Jewish synagogue of the "Polish" type including ornate ironwork and paintings on ceilings and walls using floral and animal motifs. This "Old Synagogue", also known as the "Shakh" or "Šach" Synagogue, was preserved because it looked like an ordinary building from outside.[4] The New Synagogue was destroyed by the Nazis in 1942.

Economy

The public airport of regional importance in the south part of Holešov was transformed into the Strategic Industrial Zone, one of the biggest in Czech Republic.[5]

Sights

Holešov is well known for its mannerist château with the garden complex.

Notable people
  • Jan of Holešov (1366–1436), writer, linguist, musicologist and ethnographer
  • Franz Xaver Richter (1709–1789), Austrian-Moravian singer, violinist and composer
  • Josef Drásal (1841–1886), the tallest Czech ever; lived and died here

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

Holešov is twinned with:[6]

Holešov also cooperates with Gloggnitz in Austria.[6]

References
  1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2020". Czech Statistical Office. 2020-04-30.
  2. Die postalischen Abstempelungen auf den österreichischen Postwertzeichen-Ausgaben 1867, 1883 und 1890, Wilhelm Klein, 1967
  3. "Vývoj židovské obce v Holešově". Holešov jinýma očima. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  4. "Šachova synagóga". Holešov jinýma očima. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  5. "Strategic industrial zone in Holešov". Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  6. "Partnerská města" (in Czech). Město Holešov. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
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