Beroun

Beroun (; ) is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 22,000 inhabitants. It lies at the confluence of the Berounka and Litavka rivers. Beroun creates a conurbation with Králův Dvůr, former part of Beroun. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone.

Administrative division

Beroun consists of seven municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):

Beroun-Centrum (921)
Beroun-Hostim (122)
Beroun-Jarov (238)
Beroun-Město (15,398)
Beroun-Zavadilka (712)
Beroun-Závodí (2,836)
Beroun-Zdejcina (324)

Etymology

The initial name of the settlement was Verona. The settlement was named after the Italian city of Verona, but it is unclear why. According to one theory, Italian merchants from Verona settled in the settlement at the time of its founding. The name was gradually distorted to Berona, Berún, Beraun and finally Beroun.

Geography

Beroun is located about southwest of Prague. It lies at the confluence of the Berounka and Litavka rivers, in the valley of the rivers. The Loděnice River flows through Beroun-Hostim in the easternmost part of the municipal territory and then joins the Berounka just outside the territory of Beroun.

The surrounding landscape is hilly. The southern part of the municipal territory, including the built-up area, lies in the Hořovice Uplands. The northern part lies in the Křivoklát Highlands. The highest point is the Děd hill at above sea level. The lowest point is the river basin of the Berounka, at .

History

thumb|Beraun, engraving by [[Wenceslaus Hollar (1607–1677)]]

thumb|The square Husovo náměstí

11th–15th centuries

The settlement Na Brodě (), which was the predecessor of Beroun, was first mentioned in a 1088 deed. The first written mention of Beroun (then called Verona) is in a deed of King Ottokar II from 1265. 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.

In 1295, King 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.

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. In 1990, Králův Dvůr and Trubín became separate municipalities.

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 with high population growth and with an above-average quality of environment and health care.

Demographics

Economy

Beroun is home to the Tipsport.net company, which is the largest betting agency in the Czech Republic. It has more than 1,000 employees. The largest industrial employers in Beroun are Carrier Refrigeration Operation Czech Republic (manufacturer of air conditioning equipment) and Swisspearl Česká republika (manufacturer of fibre cement building materials), both with more than 250 employees.

Transport

Beroun is connected via D5 motorway (part of the European route E50) with Prague and German Bundesautobahn 6 to Nuremberg.

Several railway lines run through Beroun: Prague–České Budějovice, Prague–Klatovy via Plzeň, Beroun–Český Brod, Beroun–Rakovník and Beroun–Blatná There are two train stations: Beroun and Beroun-Závodí.

Culture

The Talich's Beroun international music festival has been held annually in Beroun since 1983. It is named in honour of violinist Václav Talich, who lived and died in the town.

Sport

The town is represented by the ice hockey club HC Berounští Medvědi. The formerly 1st league club now plays in lower tiers. There is also the ball hockey club SK Kelti 2008.

The football clubs in the town are Český Lev Union Beroun and SK Cembrit Beroun-Závodí, both playing in lower amateur tiers.

The sports club TJ Lokomotiva Beroun is dedicated to swimming, rowing, athletics and other.

Sights

thumb|150px|Plzeňská Gate

The square Husovo náměstí and its surrounding are the historic centre of Beroun. The square contains many valuable and well preserved houses. The town hall was built in the Renaissance style in 1560–1564.

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

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Goslar, Germany