Beroun

Beroun (Czech pronunciation: [ˈbɛroun] ; German: Beraun) is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 20,000 inhabitants. Beroun has strong connection with Králův Dvůr, former part of Beroun. The town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Beroun is made up of seven town parts: Beroun-Centrum, Beroun-Hostim, Beroun-Jarov, Beroun-Město, Beroun-Zavadilka, Beroun-Závodí and Beroun-Zdejcina.

The town is located about 30 kilometres (19 mi) southwest of Prague at the confluence of Berounka and Litavka rivers. The town is a part of the Prague metropolitan area.

The surrounding landscape is hilly. Beroun itself is situated in a deep valley, which has been a limitation on building development. The highest point is the Děd hill, 493 m (1,617 ft) above sea level. The lowest point is the Berounka river, 212 m (696 ft) above sea level. Neighbouring hills of Brdy and Křivoklátská vrchovina are protected landscape areas, popular for tourist.

A settlement Na Brodě ("By the Ford"), predecessor of Beroun, was first mentioned in a 1088 deed. The first written mention of Beroun (under its Latin name Verona) is from 1265 in a deed of Ottokar II of Bohemia. Ottokar II designated a strategically important place for the establishment of a settlement, from which the town of Beroun originated, that formed the shortest and easiest connection between Prague and Plzeň.[2]

In 1295, Wenceslaus II decided to re-settle and expand the town. At this time, the historic core of Beroun was created, which has been roughly preserved to this day. A Dominican convent was also founded. In 1303, Wenceslaus II made Beroun a royal town.[2]

During the reign of Emperor Charles IV, the town prospered and rapidly developed. In 1421, Hussite forces under the command of Jan Žižka stormed the town and demolished the Dominican convent, and though it was retaken and devastated after the Battle of Lipany, it has remained a mainly Czech settled town since then. During the reign of King Vladislaus II (1471–1516), Beroun reached its greatest prosperity.[2]

Under the rule of the House of Habsburg from 1526, the town's estates were seized. During the Thirty Years' War it was sacked in turn by the Imperial army, Saxon forces, and Swedish forces. In the First Silesian War the same fate befell it at the hands of French and Bavarian troops.[3]

In the 18th century, Beroun became a garrison town and did not prosper again until the 1860s, with the opening of limestone quarries and iron ore mines. Beside several ironworks, Beroun became the site of textile manufacturing, and the population increased.[2]

Beroun was significantly transformed during communist rule. Heavy industry was expanded, and central government policy set quotas for new flats. As Beroun is situated between two rivers in a deep valley without suitable building plots, quotas were met by demolishing historical medieval buildings and erecting prefabricated high-rise buildings. The town look was changed again in the 1980s when the D5 highway was opened, running on the bridge above the town.

Králův Dvůr, together with multiple municipalities, was joined to Beroun, but in 1990, it became separate again.[4]

Since the fall of communism, the town has been revitalised. Medieval buildings have been reconstructed, and town walls have been conserved. Heavy industry left the town, significantly raising the quality of living. In the 21st century, Beroun has become a popular place to live because of its proximity to Prague and its excellent travel connections.

Beroun is connected via D5 motorway with Prague and German Bundesautobahn 6 to Nuremberg, part of the European route E50. 3rd Railway Corridor leads through the town.

Husovo Square and its surrounding are the historic centre of Beroun. The square contains many valuable and well preserved houses. The town hall is a Renaissance building from 1560–1564.[6]

The Church of Saint James the Great is as old as the town. It is one of the most valuable building in the town and a national cultural heritage. The Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary was built in 1525, after a new cemetery was established during the great plague.[6]

The Beroun walls are an exceptional monument of a medieval fortification in Bohemia. They were built during the reign of Wenceslaus II. They surrounded the town with a total length of 1,170 metres (3,840 ft). Plzeňská Gate (also known as "Upper Gate") and Pražská Gate ("Lower Gate") were the most significant parts of town fortifications. Until 1842, the road from Plzeň to Prague passed through the gates.[6]

In 1724, the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows was built.[6]

Beroun is twinned with:[7]