Práchensko
Encyclopedia
Prácheňsko or Provincia Prachinensis, is the northern region of South Bohemia
in the Czech Republic
, between Prague
and the Austria
n border. It was an autonomous region in the southwest of the present Bohemia
, created in the late 13th century and abolished by the Austrian Empire's
regional reform of 1848.
in the south, towards Budweis (České Budějovice) to the north, close to the town of Příbram, and southwest to Markt Eisenstein (Železná Ruda). Ethnic groups of the region included Jews, Roma, Czechs and Germans
and by religion were Roman Catholics and Jews. Today this region comprises three districts, namely West Bohemia
, South Bohemia
, and Central Bohemia. Its capital city was Pisek
(a great medieval city until its devastation in 1620 during the Thirty Years' War
), now a town of approximately 30,000 to 35,000 inhabitants.
The first capital, Prachens (which gave its name to the whole region of Prácheň), is now overtaken by forest. It was close to the town of Horažďovice
. The local dialect of the western part is still extant as is the use of the bagpipe in the music of the region. The central geographical feature of the Prachens region is the Otava river
, or in the local dialect Wotāva. Principal towns of the former Prachens were Strakonice
(or Strakonitz in German), Sušice
(Schüttenhofen or Setuakaton in its Celtic form), Rožmitál
(Rosenthal), Vimperk (Winterberg), Horní Planá (Ober Plan), Železná Ruda
(Markt Eisenstein), Kasejovice
(Casseudz, Kasejowitz), Protivín
(Protiwin) and Horažďovice (Horaschdowitz).
(about 25% of the population) and because of the Holocaust (השואה or חורבן). Today the Jewish population is very small and there is no active synagogue.
A unique dialect of the Czech language is spoken in the western part of the region with distinctive pronunciation of ع (similar to the Arabic ayn) and with a large content of German loan words.
The Bohemian historian August Sedlacek
wrote extensively about Provincia Prachinensis and Pisek city.
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, between Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n border. It was an autonomous region in the southwest of the present Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, created in the late 13th century and abolished by the Austrian Empire's
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
regional reform of 1848.
Description
Its boundaries extended through the Bohemian ForestBohemian Forest
The Bohemian Forest, also known in Czech as Šumava , is a low mountain range in Central Europe. Geographically, the mountains extend from South Bohemia in the Czech Republic to Austria and Bavaria in Germany...
in the south, towards Budweis (České Budějovice) to the north, close to the town of Příbram, and southwest to Markt Eisenstein (Železná Ruda). Ethnic groups of the region included Jews, Roma, Czechs and Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
and by religion were Roman Catholics and Jews. Today this region comprises three districts, namely West Bohemia
Plzen Region
Plzeň Region is an administrative unit in the western part of Bohemia in the Czech Republic. It is named after its capital Plzeň .- Communes :...
, South Bohemia
South Bohemian Region
South Bohemian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located mostly in the southern part of its historical land of Bohemia, with a small part in southwestern Moravia...
, and Central Bohemia. Its capital city was Pisek
Písek
Písek is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 29 909 .-About:Písek is usually called "The Athens of the South", although Athens is much more southerly, because it has many high schools and schools of higher education, e.g. the Film School in Písek...
(a great medieval city until its devastation in 1620 during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
), now a town of approximately 30,000 to 35,000 inhabitants.
The first capital, Prachens (which gave its name to the whole region of Prácheň), is now overtaken by forest. It was close to the town of Horažďovice
Horaždovice
Horažďovice is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Otava River, some to the South-West from the region capital of Plzeň....
. The local dialect of the western part is still extant as is the use of the bagpipe in the music of the region. The central geographical feature of the Prachens region is the Otava river
Otava River
The Otava is a river in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. It is long and is a left tributary of the Vltava. The river flows through several towns, including Písek, Sušice and Strakonice. The river's name is of Celtic origin. It is a popular river for water sports. The local dialect of Prachens also...
, or in the local dialect Wotāva. Principal towns of the former Prachens were Strakonice
Strakonice
Strakonice is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Estimated population: 24,000.-History:The settlement of this region took place in the second half of 12th century when a castle was built...
(or Strakonitz in German), Sušice
Sušice
Sušice is a town in the Pilsen Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Otava River, some to the south of the regional capital of Pilsen.Sušice is also the seat of the Municipality with Extended Competence and with Commissioned Local Authority....
(Schüttenhofen or Setuakaton in its Celtic form), Rožmitál
Rožmitál pod Tremšínem
Rožmitál pod Třemšínem is a town in the Czech Republic.-External links:*...
(Rosenthal), Vimperk (Winterberg), Horní Planá (Ober Plan), Železná Ruda
Železná Ruda
Železná Ruda is a town in the Pilsen Region of the Czech Republic. It is located in the Šumava Mountains, close to the border with Bavaria and the German town Bayerisch Eisenstein. It has been one of the important sports and touristic centres of the Šumava Mountains...
(Markt Eisenstein), Kasejovice
Kasejovice
Kasejovice is a town in the Czech Republic which is belonging to the Plzeň-south District.-External links:*...
(Casseudz, Kasejowitz), Protivín
Protivín
Protivín is a small town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,000 inhabitants.It is also known for the Protivín Brewery, which produces a regional beer label Platan.-External links:*...
(Protiwin) and Horažďovice (Horaschdowitz).
Demographics
The current population of the region is approximately 200,00 to 250,000 inhabitants. The area suffered serious population losses because of the Expulsion of Germans after World War IIExpulsion of Germans after World War II
The later stages of World War II, and the period after the end of that war, saw the forced migration of millions of German nationals and ethnic Germans from various European states and territories, mostly into the areas which would become post-war Germany and post-war Austria...
(about 25% of the population) and because of the Holocaust (השואה or חורבן). Today the Jewish population is very small and there is no active synagogue.
A unique dialect of the Czech language is spoken in the western part of the region with distinctive pronunciation of ع (similar to the Arabic ayn) and with a large content of German loan words.
The Bohemian historian August Sedlacek
August Sedlácek
August Sedláček was a distinguished Czech historian and archivist. Notably, he worked in medieval history, detailing the history of Medieval castles in the Bohemian Kingdom. He wrote among others extensively on autonomous region of Prachens in the southwest of Bohemia in 1926 .-External links:*...
wrote extensively about Provincia Prachinensis and Pisek city.