Prachatice

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title: "Prachatice" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cities-and-towns-in-the-south-bohemian-region", "populated-places-in-prachatice-district", "prácheňsko", "bohemian-forest"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prachatice" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
namePrachatice
settlement_typeTown
image_skylineTown hall in Prachatice in 2011 (3).JPG
image_captionTown square with the town hall
image_flagFlag of Prachatice.svg
image_shieldPrachatice znak.svg
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_name
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1South Bohemian
subdivision_type2District
subdivision_name2Prachatice
pushpin_mapCzech Republic
pushpin_relief1
pushpin_map_captionLocation in the Czech Republic
coordinates
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameJan Bauer
established_titleFirst mentioned
established_date1300
area_total_km238.92
elevation_m561
population_as_of2025-01-01
population_footnotes
population_total11119
population_density_km2auto
timezone1CET
utc_offset1+1
timezone1_DSTCEST
utc_offset1_DST+2
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_code383 01
website
::

| name = Prachatice | other_name = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Town hall in Prachatice in 2011 (3).JPG | image_caption = Town square with the town hall | image_flag = Flag of Prachatice.svg | image_shield = Prachatice znak.svg | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = South Bohemian | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Prachatice | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Czech Republic | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Czech Republic | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Jan Bauer | established_title = First mentioned | established_date = 1300 | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 38.92 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 561 | population_as_of = 2025-01-01 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 11119 | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone1 = CET | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = CEST | utc_offset1_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 383 01 | area_code_type = | area_code = | website = | footnotes = Prachatice (; ) is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 11,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument reservation.

Administrative division

Prachatice consists of 12 municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):

  • Prachatice I (767)
  • Prachatice II (9,136)
  • Kahov (44)
  • Libínské Sedlo (105)
  • Městská Lhotka (9)
  • Oseky (87)
  • Ostrov (109)
  • Perlovice (24)
  • Podolí (26)
  • Stádla (5)
  • Staré Prachatice (114)
  • Volovice (14)

Etymology

The name is derived from the old Slavic personal name Prachata, meaning "the village of Prachata's people".

Geography

Prachatice is located about 34 km west of České Budějovice. It lies in the Bohemian Forest Foothills. The highest point is the Libín mountain at 1093 m above sea level. The stream of Živný potok flows through the town. The Blanice River flows along the northwestern municipal border.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Wenceslas_Hollar_-_Bohemian_views_3.jpg" caption="Engraving from the 17th century"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Fortification_of_Prachatice_in_2011_(4).JPG" caption="Remains of town fortifications"] ::

9th–15th centuries

Prachatice was founded with the beginning of trade on the Golden Trail, an important salt trade route beginning in Passau, Bavaria. Probably in the 9th or 10th century, a settlement was founded in the area of today's Staré Prachatice ("Old Prachatice") town part. In the second half of the 12th century, it was acquired by Vyšehrad Chapter.

When the settlement ceased to suit its purpose, a new settlement was established near the old one at the end of the 13th century. In 1312, Prachatice was first referred to as a town. In 1323, King John of Bohemia confirmed to the town of Prachatice the right to use the trade route to Passau and to collect customs duties there. Prachatice was fully completed in the 3rd quarter of the 14th century.

During the Hussite Wars in the 15th century, Prachatice was attacked twice, It was eventually conquered by the Hussites, who killed most of the population. In 1436, after the end of the conflict, Prachatice was granted the status of royal town by King Sigismund, and all its old privileges were confirmed. Only one year later, the town was offered as collateral to Jan Smil of Krems, but it fell under the control of the Rosenberg family for a short period following Smil's execution in 1439 at Český Krumlov. Oldřich II of Rosenberg sold the town almost immediately after the execution, but it again became property of the family in 1501. In the second half of the 15th century, the number of inhabitants increased, and new houses had to be built.

16th–20th centuries

In the 16th century, trade on the trail reached its peak and the town prospered. The Rosenbergs controlled Prachatice until 1601 when Peter Vok of Rosenberg, the last member of the family, sold the town to Emperor Rudolf II who would again make it a royal town in 1609. It remained firmly under royal control until the Bohemian Revolt during which it sided with the rebels. However, in 1620, the town was reconquered and connected to the Krumlov manor. After the Battle of White Mountain, Prachatice lost its royal town status and privileges and became the property of the Eggenberg family though the emperor's troops remained in the town throughout the remainder of the Thirty Years' War. Later in the war, the town was conquered by the Swedish army, and another large ransom was demanded. In the second half of the 17th century, trade on the Golden Trail declined and never revived.

The town and the whole Krumlov manor changed hands again in 1719, following the death of Princess Marie Arnoštka of Eggenberg and came under the control of the affluent Schwarzenberg family. The weak political and economic situation affected the condition of the houses. Old ones were not reconstructed, and new ones were not built.

Until 1918, the town was part of Austria-Hungary, in the district of the same name, one of the 94 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in Bohemia.

After 1945, the German population was expelled as a result of World War II.

Demographics

|align=none|cols=3 |1869|4911 |1880|5682 |1890|5363 |1900|5573 |1910|5779 |1921|5482 |1930|5926 |1950|5130 |1961|5381 |1970|7100 |1980|10354 |1991|11805 |2001|11843 |2011|11203 |2021|10440 |source=Censuses}}

Economy

There are no large industrial companies. The largest employer based in the town is the hospital. The largest industrial employers are the companies of InTiCa Systems (manufacturer of electronic components) and Reinfurt-ČR (manufacturer of ball bearings), both with more than 250 employees.

Transport

Prachatice is located on the railway line Číčenice–Nové Údolí.

Culture

The town hosts the Golden Salt Path Celebrations every year with a rich cultural program.

Sights

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Kostel_sv._Jakuba_v_Prachaticích.jpg" caption="Church of Saint James the Great"] ::

The historic centre is formed by Velké Square and adjoining streets, and is delimited by the remains of the town walls. Due to the stagnation of economic life in the 17th and 18th centuries, Prachatice have many Renaissance buildings, some of then reconstructed in the Empire style. Since 1981, the historic core of the town has been protected as an urban monument reservation.

One of the main landmarks of the town centre is the Old Town Hall, a Renaissance building from 1570–1571. The New Town Hall was built in pseudo-Renaissance style in 1903.

The Church of Saint James the Great near the square is the largest building in the historic centre. It is a late Gothic building first mentioned in 1359. Its final form was achieved by reconstructions between 1505 and 1513.

Dolní Gate ("Lower Gate"; also called Písecká) is a preserved element of stone town fortifications, which comes from the first half of the 15th century. The gate is from around 1527 and creates the entrance to the historic centre.

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

Prachatice is twinned with:

References

References

  1. (2025-05-16). "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2025". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  2. (2022). "Public Census 2021 – basic data". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  3. "Prachatice Town". VisitPrachatice.cz.
  4. "Prachatice". Sdružení historických sídel Čech, Moravy a Slezska.
  5. "Založení města při obchodní stezce". Město Prachatice.
  6. "Počátky Prachatic ve světle historických zpráv". Město Prachatice.
  7. "15. století – Husitské války". Město Prachatice.
  8. "Rozvoj v 16. století". Město Prachatice.
  9. "Úpadek v 17. století". Město Prachatice.
  10. "18. století". Město Prachatice.
  11. Die postalischen Abstempelungen auf den österreichischen Postwertzeichen-Ausgaben 1867, 1883 und 1890, Wilhelm Klein, 1967
  12. (2015-12-21). "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  13. (2021-03-27). "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  14. "Registr ekonomických subjektů". Czech Statistical Office.
  15. "Dnes – městská památková rezervace". Město Prachatice.
  16. "Průvodce historickým jádrem". Město Prachatice.
  17. "Dolní brána". Město Prachatice.
  18. "Partnerská města". Město Prachatice.
  19. (2024-11-15). "Nové partnerské město". Město Prachatice.

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cities-and-towns-in-the-south-bohemian-regionpopulated-places-in-prachatice-districtprácheňskobohemian-forest