Pacov (; ) is a town in

Pelhřimov District Pelhřimov District () is a district in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Pelhřimov. Administrative division Pelhřimov District is divided into three administrative districts of municipalities with extended ...

in the

Vysočina Region The Vysočina Region (; ) is an administrative unit () of the Czech Republic. Its capital is Jihlava. The region is located in the central part of the country. It is one of just three in the country (the others being Prague and the Central Boh ...

of the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

. It has about 4,700 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone.

Administrative division

Pacov consists of six municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): *Pacov (4,122) *Bedřichov (46) *Jetřichovec (167) *Roučkovice (140) *Velká Rovná (81) *Zhoř (25)

Geography

Pacov is located about west of

Pelhřimov Pelhřimov () is a town in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 16,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monument reservations, urban monument reser ...

. It lies directly on the

15th meridian east The meridian 15° east of Prime Meridian, Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Europe, Africa, the Atlantic Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole. The 15th meridian e ...

. The town lies in the

Křemešník Highlands The Křemešník Highlands () are highlands and a geomorphological mesoregion of the Czech Republic. It is located mainly in the Vysočina Region, but it also extends into the South Bohemian and Central Bohemian regions. With an area of , it i ...

. The highest point is a nameless hill at above sea level. The

Trnava Trnava (, , ; , also known by other #Names and etymology, alternative names) is a city in western Slovakia, to the northeast of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of the Trnava Region and the Trnava District. It is the seat o ...

River flows through the western part of the municipal territory, then it turns and flows along the northern municipal border. The territory of Pacov is rich in small fishponds.

History

The first written mention of Pacov is from 1316. The settlement was probably founded in the late 13th century. Pacov flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries. During this period, it obtained the town rights. The development ended with the

Battle of White Mountain The Battle of White Mountain (; ) was an important battle in the early stages of the Thirty Years' War. It led to the defeat of the Bohemian Revolt and ensured Habsburg control for the next three hundred years. It was fought on 8 November 16 ...

and

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...

. The second period of prosperity occurred in the 19th century. The foundations were laid for the current industry: food machinery industry and leather accessories manufacture. In 1888, the railway was built, which helped further expansion.

Demographics

Transport

Pacov is located on the railway line

Jihlava Jihlava (; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 55,000 inhabitants. Jihlava is the capital of the Vysočina Region, situated on the Jihlava (river), Jihlava River on the historical border between Moravia and Bohemia. Historically, Jihla ...

–

Tábor Tábor (; ) is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 34,000 inhabitants, making it the second most populated town in the region. The town was founded by the Hussites in 1420. The historic town centre is well pres ...

Sport

Since 1906, there is a historical motorcycle racecourse in Pacov. The first international race in

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

(and the third world-wide) took place here. The Pacov Circuit is still being used to this day.

Sights

Pacov has preserved historic centre with several valuable houses, including the former town hall from 1921–1923. Pacov Castle was originally a Gothic castle from the 12th century, rebuilt into an aristocratic residence in the 16th century. In 1718, it was rebuilt into a monastery. After the monastery was abolished by the reform of

Joseph II Joseph II (13 March 1741 – 20 February 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from 18 August 1765 and sole ruler of the Habsburg monarchy from 29 November 1780 until his death. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Emperor F ...

in 1787, it was rebuilt to a manor house again. Today it houses the municipal office, tourist information centre, library and Antonín Sova Town Museum. The castle complex includes a castle park with three ponds. The deanery Church of Saint Michael the Archangel is a Gothic church from the late 14th century. Despite several reconstructions and repairs, its appearance has been roughly preserved. The Church of Saint Wenceslaus is a Baroque building from 1719, originally built as the monastery church. After it was damaged by fire in 1727, it was reconstructed in 1732. Nowadays it serves as a gallery. The Jewish community is reminded by the Jewish cemetery and former synagogue. The cemetery was founded in 1680 and the oldest tombs are from the 18th century. The synagogue building is privately owned and closed to the public. The village of Zhoř is protected as a village monument zone for its valuable preserved historical buildings with a high degree of urban preservation. The landmark of Zhoř is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Notable people

Antonín Sova Antonín Sova (26 February 1864 – 16 August 1928) was a Czech poet and the director of Prague Municipal Library. Life He was born in Pacov, a small town in South Bohemia, then part of the Austrian Empire, but from the age of two he grew up i ...

(1864–1928), poet *

Jan Autengruber Jan Autengruber (25 April 1887, Pacov – 15 July 1920, Prague) was a Post-Impressionist painter. Biography After the early death of his father, his family moved to České Budějovice. After completing his primary education, he was accepted at t ...

(1887–1920), painter *

Jiří Němec Jiří Němec (born 15 May 1966) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He started his professional career playing football in Czechoslovakia, winning two titles with Sparta Prague. He then moved to Germany, where h ...

(born 1966), footballer *

Lukáš Vlček Lukáš Vlček (born 27 February 1982) is a Czech politician and businessman who has served as Czech Minister of Industry and Trade in Petr Fiala's Cabinet since October 2024 and as first vice-chairman of Mayors and Independents since July 202 ...

(born 1982), Czech politician and businessman; mayor of Pacov in 2006–2021

Twin towns – sister cities

Pacov is twinned with: * Arni, Switzerland

References

External links

*
Stražiště Microregion
{{authority control Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Pelhřimov District