| Prachatice | |||
| Town | |||
|
|||
| Country | Czech Republic | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | South Bohemian | ||
| District | Prachatice | ||
| Commune | Prachatice | ||
| River | Živný potok | ||
| Elevation | 561 m (1,841 ft) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Area | 38.90 km2 (15.02 sq mi) | ||
| Population | 11,789 (2005) | ||
| Density | 303 / km2 (785 / sq mi) | ||
| Founded | 11th century | ||
| Mayor | Bauer Jan | ||
| Timezone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 383 01 | ||
|
Location in the Czech Republic
|
|||
| Wikimedia Commons: Prachatice | |||
| Statistics: statnisprava.cz | |||
| Website: www.prachatice.cz | |||
Prachatice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpraxacɪtsɛ]; German: Prachatitz) is a town in the South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic.
Contents |
The town of Prachatice has its origins in the 11th century, following the beginning of trade on the "Golden Path" (an important salt trade route beginning in Passau, Bavaria). The property on which the town now stands was initially part of the domain of Vyšehrad and first came to prominence when the domain's provost purchased the right to impose a toll on traffic on the Golden Path. The settlement later grew in importance when, in the 13th century, it was granted the right to store the salt that was traded on the Golden Path. This privilege made Prachatice the only town in Southern Bohemia that could buy the salt that was sent out of Passau.
During the Hussite Wars of the 15th century, Prachatice was attacked twice and eventually conquered by the Hussites who massacred most of the population of the town. After the end of the brutal conflict, in 1436, Prachatice was granted the status of royal town. Only one year later the town would be offered as collateral to Jan Smil by King Zikmund, but would fall under the control of the House of Rožmberk for a short period following Smil's execution in 1439. Oldřich of Rožmberk would sell the town almost immediately after the execution but it would again become property of the family in 1501.
The Rožmberks would control Prachatice through its most prosperous period until 1601 when Petr Vok, the last member of the family, sold the town to Emperor Rudolf II who would again make it a royal town. It would remain firmly under Imperial control until the Rebellion of the Estates during which it would side with the rebels. However, in 1620 the town was reconquered by the Imperial commander Karel Buquoy who ordered many of its citizens to be slaughtered and a large ransom to be paid to the emperor.
After the Battle of White Mountain the town would lose its status and privileges and become property of the Eggenberg family, though the emperor's troops would remain in the city throughout the remainder of the Thirty Years' War. Later on in the war the city would be conquered by the Swedish army and another large ransom would be demanded.
The town would change hands again in 1719, following the death of Princess Marie Arnoštka of Eggenberg, this time coming under the control of the affluent Schwarzenberg family.
Historical population
1869: 4,911 inhabitants
1900: 5,573
1930: 5,926
1950: 5,130
1961: 5,381
1970: 7,100
1980: 10,354
1991: 11,805
2001: 11,977
The historical character of the city center is protected since 1981.
The dominating industries are machine engineering, electrotechnical industry and timber processing. A new industrial zone has been built.
Prachatice is twinned with: