BENESOV

The town lies Benesov less than forty kilometers southeast of Prague in the region between the river and the mythical mountain Sazavou Blanik. Its convenient location to transportation arteries and attractive natural and cultural environment makes it ideal to become an interesting tourist center. The city has about 17,000 inhabitants and is situated 360 meters above sea level

Interpretation of the oldest local population is still largely based on conjecture and more combinations than on accurate historical data. In this context, given the years 1038 (Vincent Horacek), 1048 (Anthony N. Vlasak).

The predecessor of the city, which lies south of the river Sázava the major trade route from Prague to South Bohemia, was a fortified manor on a granite promontory now called Charles, who’s apparently in the 2nd half of the 11th century. founded and named themselves after a certain Benedict (Benes). He was then the principal seat of the Lords of the Benes until the year 1318, when they obtained the nearby castle Konopiště and left the court. When he arose early settlement in the year 1327 first mentioned as a town and in 1512 as a city whose heart was large market (today Masaryk Square). In 1420 City Benesov plundered by the Hussites, who burnt down the local Minority monastery. In 1627 took place in the Benešov rebellion of his subjects, protesting against the violent recatholicization.

A similar event is bound to the Church of St. James and Philippa Chvojně, where participants are buried in the shooting of the rebellion of the serfs in 1775. Our city has been dragged into the Thirty Years War, when he fought here in 1648 by the Swedes.

In the post-Hussite period belonged Benesov the most important town in Bohemia. During the reign of George of Podebrady in the premises of the now defunct Franciscan church held the federal states. That monarch here in 1451, discussed the reconciliation with the Catholic Europe of papal legate Aeneas Silvio Piccolominim, later Pope Pius II. In 1473 she performed at the local council the queen – a widow Joan of Rožmitál to try and negotiate a temporary settlement for the Czechs. In the 18th century. Přehořovských and especially for the lords of the Vrtba Benesov became a center of culture and education, which contributes mainly Piarist newly established college. The next significant development conducive Benes since 1 half of the 18th century postal links with Prague and especially the completion of the railway line from Prague via Benesov in Czech Budejovice and local track to Vlašim. From the 19th century. became the owner of the local estate, heir to the throne Ferdinand d’Este, which is synonymous with lock Konopiště. During the Nazi occupation in 1942 was part of the city forcibly evicted due to the establishment of large-scale training ground for the SS.

The oldest surviving building in Benesova’s church. Nicholas Charles, standing on the highest point of the promontory marked Benešovský stream. Early Gothic style was built in the 2nd half of the 13th century. and in the 3rd quarter of the 14th century. was supplemented by a new presbytery. After the great fire in 1420 the church was rebuilt in Renaissance style in 1583 and another major reconstruction in the Baroque style was at the end of the 17th century. Despite all the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Church has preserved Gothic portals, the presbytery also broken windows and cross-ribbed vault. The richly decorated interior excels the main altar and pulpit decorated with sculptures from the workshop of Matthias Bernard Braun and images Ignaz Raab. The church is a brick bell tower, originally involved in the wall surrounding the shrine. On top of the Charles is also survived torso Franciscan Church of the Assumption of 13 century, which burned and broke down in 1420 by the Hussites. Only high presbytery torso with two pointed windows and the remains of buttresses kružeb recalls his former size. Also at this church is a bell tower with small fragments of architectural elements walled monastery. Another important religious monument Benes is undoubtedly former Piarist college with a baroque church of St.. Anna of the 18th century., built according to plans by Giovanni Battista Alliprandi with valuable Baroque furnishings.

New City Hall, where he now resides part of the Municipality, has been restored according to the project architect Josef Pleskot and received the Grand Prix of Architects in 1995. The Square and other places in the city center has survived several Baroque (eg No. 225) and Art Nouveau houses (No. 74, 474, 477, 480). Bank building on Masaryk Square in 1926 was designed by architect Otakar Novotný. The town has several valuable sculptures and monuments. Under Karlovem is an old Jewish cemetery with the earliest tombstone dating the 1687th Today in Benešov among other victims of the Holocaust Memorial.
With favorable traffic location in the city soon found its way industry, which is further developed in the 20th century. The most important industrial companies today are firm Baest (metal construction, steel products), Benesovsky brewery (beer Ferdinand), Danone dairy, Alima (formerly Boneco – mayonnaise) and the advertising company Quo. Cultural life in Benešov cares especially Municipal Cultural Centre, City Library and Art Nouveau building No. 74 on the Little Square Museum of Art and Design with an exhibition of graphic design, photography and graphic collection of Czech 20th century. and contemporary sculpture. The museum is a historical exposition of the Museum Podblanicko branch, which represents the history of the city. Furthermore, in Benešov find a number of professional schools, Gymnasium Benesov in the auditorium of the Art Nouveau Suk Hall, which together with the Municipal Theatre is used for cultural purposes. In Benešov are a number of amateur theatrical societies, musical groups, choirs, dance schools, etc. In the field of sport offers Benesov football stadium, open and indoor swimming pool, miniature golf, several tennis centers, bowling alleys, bowling, fitness center, outdoor playground, sandy beach volleyball so far Benes is also the airport (at Nesvačily Bystrice).

The city boasts a number of natives. They belonged to them as surveyor Jaroslav Schaller (1738-1809), author of the work šestnáctisvazkového Topography of the Czech Kingdom, writer Francis Sokol Tuma (1855-1925), mayor of Sokol and first World War Mafia member Joseph Scheiner (1861-1932), anthropologist Professor. MD. Matiegka Henry (1862-1941), architect Otakar Novotný (1880-1959), ethnographer prof. Jiri Horak (1884-1970), writer Charles New (1890-1980), actor Vnouček Francis (1903-1960), poet John Foot (1908-1966), designer of high-rise buildings dr. Ing. George Kozak (1922) and others. The writers have studied the local grammar school Vladislav Vancura (Benesov described in the novel Marhoul John Baker) and is currently known Michael Viewegh. In 1935 there died composer Josef Suk, where a memorial plaque on the house at Hus No. 739th Street

The massive rectangular bell tower, which stands on the south side of church. Nicholas Charles, is suspended from the bell gothic master Rudger. It comes out in 1322 and is one of the oldest bells in the Czech Republic. There Benešov station has survived a remarkable room – a neo-baroque imperial lounge, which served as a convenient and comfortable waiting room equipped for travelers from Konopiště, especially for the Archduke Franz Ferdinand d’Este and his family.