Hořovice


Hořovice is a small Czech town in Beroun District of the Central Bohemian Region. It is the administrative and economical center of the surrounding area. The town is surrounded by many historical and natural sights, including Brdy, Křivoklátsko, and Bohemian Karst. Its most known building is Hořovice Castle.
Music Without Musicians is a museum that is situated in Hořovice Castle. It focuses on mechanical music instruments.

History

Archaeological excavations show early settlement in the 10th century. This settlement grew at the end of the 13th century and beginning of the 14th century when a trading post was established. This trading post was later rebuilt and expanded into a castle in the Gothic style.
The family of Hořovice named itself after the village. The first members to use the name were siblings Neostup and Habart Hořovice in 1233.
The village was incorporated as a town in 1322. The "Old Castle" and the church remained outside of the town walls, forming the borough of Velká Víska. This division remained until the 20th century; in 1919 Velká Víska became a part of Hořovice.
The common Jewish surnames Horovitz/Horowitz/Gurvich/Hurwicz/Hurwitz/Horvitz, etc., derive from Hořovice, which during the late Middle Ages had a substantial Jewish population.

Notable people

Twin towns—Sister cities

Hořovice is twinned with: