Prachatice
Encyclopedia
Prachatice (ˈpraxacɪtsɛ; ) is a town
in the South Bohemian Region
, Czech Republic
.
, 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 dominating industries are machine engineering, electrotechnical industry and timber processing. A new industrial zone has been built.
with: Zvolen
in Slovakia
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the South Bohemian Region
South Bohemian Region
South Bohemian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located mostly in the southern part of its historical land of Bohemia, with a small part in southwestern Moravia...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
History
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 PassauPassau
Passau is a town in Lower Bavaria, Germany. It is also known as the Dreiflüssestadt or "City of Three Rivers," because the Danube is joined at Passau by the Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north....
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
). The property on which the town now stands was initially part of the domain of Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad is a castle located in the city of Prague, Czech Republic. It was probably built in the 10th century, on a hill over the Vltava River...
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
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1419 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were notable for the extensive use of early hand-held gunpowder weapons such as hand cannons...
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
Battle of White Mountain
The Battle of White Mountain, 8 November 1620 was an early battle in the Thirty Years' War in which an army of 30,000 Bohemians and mercenaries under Christian of Anhalt were routed by 27,000 men of the combined armies of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor under Charles Bonaventure de Longueval,...
the town would lose its status and privileges and become property of the Eggenberg
Eggenberg
-Places:*Eggenberg , a district of the Austrian city of Graz*Schloss Eggenberg , a palace in Graz*Eggenberg, Switzerland, a village in the municipality of Mühleberg, canton of Berne*Eggenberg House, city palace in Sopron , Hungary...
family, though the emperor's troops would remain in the city throughout the remainder of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. 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
Schwarzenberg
- People :* House of Schwarzenberg, Frankish and Bohemian aristocratic family which was first mentioned in 1172** Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg , Field Marshal in Austrian service during the Napoleonic Wars...
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
Prachatice today
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.
People
- Křišťan of PrachaticeKrištan of PrachaticeKřišťan z Prachatic was a Medieval Czech Hussite astronomer, mathematician, and priest. He is the author of several books about medicine and herbs, and had contributed to the field of astronomy with many papers and data recordings....
- John NeumannJohn NeumannSaint John Nepomucene Neumann, C.Ss.R., was a Redemptorist missionary to the United States who became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia and the first American bishop to be canonized...
, first American male saint, born in 1811 - Josef Messner (1822–1862), writer
- Adolf ZikaAdolf ZikaAdolf Zika is a Czech photographer.- Early life :Adolf Zika was born in the then Czechoslovakia in 1972. He graduated from the School of Pedagogy and in 1988 became a member of the Center for Top Sports in Prague...
, photographer - Jiří Fried
Residents
- Jan HusJan HusJan Hus , often referred to in English as John Hus or John Huss, was a Czech priest, philosopher, reformer, and master at Charles University in Prague...
- Irma Krützner, writer and poet, lived here in 1915 - 1946
- Leo Vaniš, educator
- Otakar ŠevčíkOtakar ŠevcíkOtakar Ševčík was a Czech violinist and influential teacher. He was known as a soloist and an ensemble player, including his occasional performances with Eugène Ysaÿe.-Biography:...
- See also detailed list.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Prachatice is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Zvolen
Zvolen
Zvolen |Slatina]] rivers, close to Banská Bystrica. With its ancient castle, the town has a historical center, which represents the seat of an okres .-History:...
in Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
External links
- Municipal website English version
- Details of early town history
- Region of Prachatice
- Prachatice - basic facts, history, sights, one-day trips
- Kratochvile Chateau - general info, history, exhibitions, opening hours, prices