Holešov

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Coordinates: 49°19′58″N 17°34′42″E / 49.33278°N 17.57833°E / 49.33278; 17.57833
Holešov
Town
Dr. Edvard Beneš Square
Flag
Coat of arms
Country Czech Republic
Region Zlín
District Kroměříž
Commune Holešov
Elevation 232 m (761 ft)
Coordinates 49°19′58″N 17°34′42″E / 49.33278°N 17.57833°E / 49.33278; 17.57833
Area 33.96 km2 (13.11 sq mi)
Population 12,266 (2006-10-02)
Density 361 / km2 (935 / sq mi)
First mentioned 1141
Mayor Pavel Svoboda
Timezone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 769 01
Location in the Czech Republic
Wikimedia Commons: Holešov
Statistics: statnisprava.cz
Website: www.holesov.cz Information portal of Holesov

Holešov (Czech pronunciation: [ˈɦolɛʃof]; Latin: Holesow, German: Holleschau, Hebrew: העלשויא‎) is a town in the Zlín Region, Czech Republic. The town is located on the western hillside of the Hostýn Hills - the westernmost part of the Carpathian Mountains.

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

Today, the public airport of regional importance in the south part of Holešov is transformed into the Strategic Industrial Zone, one of the biggest in Czech Republic.[1]

Holešov was the birthplace of František Xaver Richter (1709-1789).

History

Established on the place of the neolithic villages, Holešov was for the first time mentioned in the first half of 12th century (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 rebuild the old castle into representative palace with the system of gardens (17th - 18th century).

After 1848 Holešov became the administrative centre of the Okres (i.e. district) Holešov.[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 inhabitants. It was only after 1918 when the town was united under one administration. In 1960 the district Holešov was dissolved and Holešov became 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. There is a very unusual Jewish synagogue of the "Polish" type including ornate iron work 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 from outside it looked like ordinary building. The New Synagogue was destroyed by the Nazis in 1942.

International relations

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

Twin towns — Sister cities

Holešov is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ "Holešov Industrial Zone (en)". Retrieved 2009-07-02. 
  2. ↑ Die postalischen Abstempelungen auf den österreichischen Postwertzeichen-Ausgaben 1867, 1883 und 1890, Wilhelm KLEIN, 1967
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