Kuřim (; ) is a town in

Brno-Country District Brno-Country District () is a Okres, district in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the city of Brno. The most populated town of the district is Kuřim. The district is made up of 187 municipalities, which is the highes ...

in the

South Moravian Region The South Moravian Region (; , ; ), or just South Moravia, is an Regions of the Czech Republic, administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia. The region's capital is Brno, th ...

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 12,000 inhabitants. It is the most populated town of Brno-Country District.

Geography

Kuřim is located about north of

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 ...

. It lies mostly in the

Bobrava Highlands Bobrava () is a rural locality (a selo) and the administrative center of Bobravskoye Rural Settlement, Rakityansky District, Belgorod Oblast Belgorod Oblast () is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject (an oblast) of Russia. Its admi ...

, only the eastern part of the municipal territory extends into the Drahany Highlands. The highest point is the hill Kuřimská hora at above sea level. The town is situated at the confluence of streams Kuřimka and Luční potok.

History

The first written mention of Kuřim is from 1226, when King Ottokar I issued a charter about the payment of tithes to the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. The settlement was probably founded in the 12th century during the colonization by Přemyslids. From 1464 to 1527, it was a property of Lords of Boskovice, then it was bought by the Nekeš family. From 1547, the village was owned by the city of Brno. In 1570, Kuřim was promoted to a

market town A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rura ...

, but later lost the title. During 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 ...

, Kuřim was badly damaged several times by the

Swedish army The Swedish Army () is the army, land force of the Swedish Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. Beginning with its service in 1521, the Swedish Army has been active for more than 500 years. History Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1 ...

. It was again promoted to a market town in 1785. In 1964, Kuřim was promoted to a town.

Demographics

Economy

In the northern part of the town is an industrial zone. The largest employer is TE Connectivity Czech, a branch of TE Connectivity. There is a prison for convicted men aged 18 years and more on the outskirts of the town. It has a capacity of 498 prisoners and employs 260 people.

Transport

Kuřim is located on the railway lines Tišnov– Židlochovice, Brno– Křižanov and Tišnov– Hustopeče.

Sights

The Church of Saint Mary Magdalene was founded in 1226. It was originally a Romanesque building. After it was burned down in the

, it was reconstructed in its today's late Baroque form in 1766–1772. The rectory was also founded in 1226. The original wooden structure was rebuilt after 1806. The original medieval fortress next to the church was rebuilt into a Renaissance residence in 1592–1594. Today the Kuřim Castle houses a school and its courtyard is used for cultural purposes. On the Kuřimská hora Hill is a water chapel of John of Nepomuk, probably built in 1722. The statue of Saint Florian on the town square is from 1679.

Notable people

* Mathias Franz Graf von Chorinsky Freiherr von Ledske (1720–1786), Bishop of Brno; died here * Vladimír Petlák (1946–1999), volleyball player * Danuše Nerudová (born 1979), economist and university professor; lives here

Twin towns – sister cities

Kuřim is twinned with: * Niepołomice, Poland * Stupava, Slovakia

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kurim Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Brno-Country District