Havlíčkův Brod
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Havlíčkův Brod (, until 1945 Německý Brod; ) is a town in Havlíčkův Brod District in the Vysočina Region of the
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
. It has about 24,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone.


Administrative division

Havlíčkův Brod consists of 14 municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): *Havlíčkův Brod (20,151) *Březinka (67) *Herlify (93) *Jilemník (70) *Klanečná (19) *Květnov (126) *Mírovka (420) *Poděbaby (513) *Šmolovy (527) *Suchá (212) *Svatý Kříž (362) *Termesivy (251) *Veselice (55) *Zbožice (54) Jilemník and Zbožice form two exclaves of the municipal territory.


Etymology

The Czech word ''brod'' means ' ford'. The town was firstly named Brod and then Smilův Brod ("Smil's Ford") after its founder Smil of Lichtenburk. In the 14th century, it was renamed Německý Brod ("German Ford") because of its predominantly German population. Because of Anti-German sentiment after World War II, the town was renamed Havlíčkův Brod ("Havlíček's Ford") in honor of the writer Karel Havlíček Borovský, who was born nearby and grew up and studied in the town. It was the very first town out of many to be renamed in 1945.


Geography

Havlíčkův Brod is located roughly in the geographical centre of the country. It is located about north of Jihlava. It lies in the Upper Sázava Hills. The Sázava River flows through the town. Many smaller tributaries of the Sázava flows through the municipal territory: Cihlářský potok, Žabinec, Šlapanka with Stříbrný potok, Úsobský potok, Rozkošský potok, and Břevnický potok. There are systems of fishponds supplied by some of these watercourses. Several ponds on the Cihlářský potok are located in the urban area. The largest pond of Cihlářský potok is Cihlář Pond, which serves also recreational purposes and water sports. The largest water body in the municipal territory is the Žabinec water reservoir, supplied by the eponymous stream.


History

According to a legend recorded by chronicler Wenceslaus Hajek, Brod was founded in 793, however, this year is highly unlikely. The first written mention of a settlement called Brod is from 1234, but it is referred to as probable counterfeit. The first credible mention of Brod is from 1265. The town was founded by Smil of Lichtenburk probably in 1251 on a trade route. In 1308, it was first called Německý Brod. Brod was first an important mining town focused on silver mining, later it became a centre of crafts and agricultural production. During the
Hussite Wars The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars or the Hussite Revolution, were a series of civil wars fought between the Hussites and the combined Catholic forces of Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, the Papacy, a ...
in 1422 as a result of Battle of Německý Brod, Brod was conquered by Jan Žižka and completely destroyed. The town was resettled by predominantly Czech-speaking population. In 1436, it was bought by the Trčka of Lípa family. Brod was renewed and in the 16th and 17th centuries, it prospered. In 1637, it became a royal town. The prosperity ended with the
Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...
. Brod was twice conquered and looted. In 1646, 1664 and 1680, the town was affected by plague epidemics. In 1662 and 1676, it was damaged by large fires. The most devastating flood hit the town in 1714. During the 19th century, economical and cultural development occurred. In 1850, Brod became a district town. Brod was industrialized in the second half of the 19th century with an emphasis on textile and food industry. The railway was built in 1870 and the station later became an important hub. Until 1918, the town was part of
Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
, head of the ''Deutschbrod – Německý Brod'' District, one of the 94 ''Bezirkshauptmannschaften'' in
Bohemia Bohemia ( ; ; ) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. In a narrow, geographic sense, it roughly encompasses the territories of present-day Czechia that fall within the Elbe River's drainage basin, but historic ...
.


Demographics


Economy

In Havlíčkův Brod there are medical hospital and mental hospital. Both are among the main employers in the town. The main industrial employers based in the town are Futaba Czech s.r.o., a manufacturer of car parts, and Pleas a.s., a producer of underwear founded in 1939 which continues the long tradition of the textile industry in the town. The Havlíčkův Brod Brewery is based in the town. It was founded in 1834.


Transport

Havlíčkův Brod is both road and railway hub. There are five rail lines leading off the main station: to Kolín and
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
, to
Pardubice Pardubice (; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 92,000 inhabitants. It is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the Elbe River. The historic centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Repub ...
, to
Brno Brno ( , ; ) is a Statutory city (Czech Republic), city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava (river), Svitava and Svratka (river), Svratka rivers, Brno has about 403,000 inhabitants, making ...
, to Jihlava and local lines to
Humpolec Humpolec (; ) is a town in Pelhřimov District in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 12,000 inhabitants. Administrative division Humpolec consists of 12 municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): ...
and to Ledeč nad Sázavou. In addition to the main station, the municipal territory is served by four other train stops: Havlíčkův Brod-Perknov, Mírovka, Pohledští Dvořáci and Dolík. The town is a crossing of two major Czech roads, I/34 from
České Budějovice České Budějovice (; ) is a city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 97,000 inhabitants. The city is located in the valley of the Vltava River, at its confluence with the Malše. České Budějovice is the largest ...
to Svitavy and I/38 from
Mladá Boleslav Mladá Boleslav (; ) is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 47,000 inhabitants. It lies on the left bank of the Jizera (river), Jizera River. Mladá Boleslav is the second most populated city in the region. I ...
to Jihlava, Znojmo and the Czech-Austrian border. There is the small Havlíčkův Brod Airport near the town. It serves mainly for sport and sightseeing flying.


Sport

The town is home to the ice hockey club BK Havlíčkův Brod. Until 2015, it played in the 1st Czech Republic Hockey League. FC Slovan Havlíčkův Brod is a football club, playing in lower amateur tiers.


Sights

The historic centre was delimited by town fortifications. Several fragments are preserved to this day. In the centre is the Havlíčkovo Square. It is lined by valuable burgher houses in Renaissance and Baroque styles, some of them with preserved Gothic elements. The main landmark of the square is the Old Town Hall. The originally late Gothic house from the late 15th century was reconstructed in the Renaissance style after the huge fire in 1662. It its alcove there is one of symbols of the town, a skeleton of betrayal who opened the gates to the enemy army in 1472 and was punished for it. Today the building serves as a library. For its value, it has been protected as a national cultural monument since 2024. Opposite the Old Town Hall is the New Town Hall. The original building was built in the 13th century and later served as a brewery and military barracks. It was last reconstructed in the Neo-Baroque style in 1884 and since then houses the municipal office. The landmark of the northern part of the square is Havlíčkův House. The Renaissance and Neo-Gothic is owned by the town and houses the Vysočina Museum. The deanery Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is the oldest church in Havlíčkův Brod. The original early Gothic building from the late 13th century was built by the
Teutonic Order The Teutonic Order is a religious order (Catholic), Catholic religious institution founded as a military order (religious society), military society in Acre, Israel, Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Order of Brothers of the German House of Sa ...
. It was rebuilt in 1380, in 1633–1637 and last in the 18th century. The high tower of the church is the main landmark of the town. The tower includes one of the oldest bells in the country, created in the 1330s. The tower is open to the public. Štáfl Cottage is a unique folk architecture house, protected as a national cultural monument. The oldest parts of the house are from the 16th century.


Notable people

* Jan František Beckovský (1658–1725), historian, writer and translator * Ignác František Mara (1709–1783), cellist and composer * Johann Stamitz (1717–1757), composer and violinist * Josef Dobrovský (1753–1829), philologist and historian; studied here * Karel Havlíček Borovský (1821–1856), writer and poet; lived here * Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884), composer; studied here * Karel Barvitius (1864–1937), publisher * Václav Klofáč (1868–1942), politician * Vilém Kurz (1872–1945), pianist *
Jan Zrzavý Jan Zrzavý (5 November 1890 – 12 October 1977) was a Czech painter, graphic artist and illustrator. Biography Zrzavý was born on 5 November 1890 in Vadín in Bohemia (today a part of Okrouhlice in the Czech Republic). He studied privately in P ...
(1890–1977), painter; studied here * Jan Klán (1911–1986), fighter pilot * Karel Kuttelwascher (1916–1959), fighter pilot * Pavel Landovský (1936–2014), actor * Jaroslav Holík (1942–2015), ice hockey player and coach * Jiří Holík (born 1944), ice hockey player and coach * Jan Suchý (1944–2021), ice hockey player * Josef Augusta (1946–2017), ice hockey player and coach *
František Janák František Janák (born 1 June 1951) is a Czech glass artist. He creates glass sculptures and commission works, and also does series production design for different Czech glassworks. Biography Janák was born on 1 June 1951 in Havlíčkův Bro ...
(born 1951), glass artist * Pavel Poc (born 1964), politician *
Regina Rajchrtová Regina Rajchrtová, married Kordová (born 5 February 1968), is a former professional tennis player from Czechoslovakia who competed for her native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the ...
(born 1968), tennis player * Lenka Šmídová (born 1975), sailor, Olympic medalist * Josef Marha (born 1976), ice hockey player * Radek Martínek (born 1976), ice hockey player * Petr Zelenka (born 1976), serial killer * Jan Novák (born 1979), ice hockey player * Tomáš Zdechovský (born 1979), politician * Josef Vašíček (1980–2011), ice hockey player * Antonín Dušek (born 1986), ice hockey player * Marika Šoposká (born 1989), actress * Hynek Zohorna (born 1990), ice hockey player * Tomáš Souček (born 1995), footballer * Radim Zohorna (born 1996), ice hockey player * Vítek Vaněček (born 1996), ice hockey player


Twin towns – sister cities

Havlíčkův Brod is twinned with: *
Brielle Brielle (), also called Den Briel in Dutch and Brill in English, is a town and historic seaport in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, on the north side of the island of Voorne-Putten, at the mouth of the New Maas. The for ...
, Netherlands *
Brixen Brixen (; , ; or , ) is a town and communes of Italy, commune in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about north of Bolzano. Geography Brixen is the third-largest city and oldest town in the province, with a population of nearly twenty-three t ...
, Italy * Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia Havlíčkův Brod also cooperates with other Brods in the Czech Republic: Český Brod, Široký Brod, Uherský Brod, Vyšší Brod and Železný Brod.


Gallery

Havlíčkův Brod, Mariánský sloup Dm164406-48 op Havlíčkovo náměstí IMG 6514 2018-08-03 13.34.jpg, Marian column at the Havlíčkovo Square Havlíčkův Brod, straatzicht Dolní IMG 6527 2018-08-03 13.47.jpg, Dolní street Bašta za stromy.JPG, Remains of the town fortifications 20250506 IMG 0742 PTM-web.jpg, Memorial to Karel Havlíček Borovský and Memorial to the Victims of World Wars


References


External links

*
Tourist Information Centre
{{DEFAULTSORT:Havlickuv Brod Populated places in Havlíčkův Brod District Cities and towns in the Czech Republic