Holíč

Holíč
Town
A Lutheran church in Holíč
Coat of arms
Holíč Location of Holíč in theTrnava Region Holíč Holíč (Slovakia)
Coordinates:48°48′44″N17°09′38″E
Country	Slovakia
Region	Trnava
District	Skalica
First mentioned	1208
Government
• Mayor	Zdenko Čambal
Area
• Total	34.79 km2(13.43 sq mi)
	(2022)
Elevation	180m (590ft)
Population (2022)
• Total	11,024
• Density	320/km2(820/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2(CEST)
Area code	+421 34
Car plate	SI
Website	holic.sk

Holíč(until 1946 "Holič",‹See Tfd›German:Weißkirchen (an der March) / Holitsch,Hungarian:Holics) is a town in westernSlovakia.

History

The oldest archaeological findings in the area date from theNeolithic,and there are findings from theBronze Age,Iron Ageand the Roman time. The town was first mentioned in 1205 asWywar,meaning "New Castle". TheÁrpád dynastybuilt a stone castle after the Mongol invasion in 1241. From the 13th century until 1296, Holíč was the seat of a border comitatus. Among the owners of the town wereMatthias CsákandStibor of Stiborice.In the 15th century the town's development was slowed by theHussiteraids. In 1736 the town was bought byFranz I, Holy Roman Emperor,husband ofMaria Theresaand manufactures were built, leading to the town's growth. Maria Theresa also rebuilt theHolíč Castlefrom a fortress into a summer château of theHabsburgs.Holíč's once thriving Jewish community was completely decimated by the Holocaust.

Holíč also gives its name to a type of tin-glazed earthenwarefaiencethat was manufactured in the area. The Holitsch factory (Slovakia) was founded in 1743 byFrancis of Lorainne,consort of Empress Maria Teresia. The factory concentrated on the production of richly adorned sets intended to emulate the wares used by the aristocracy in the large western European centers. The factory, which served as a revitalizing force against the decline of local potters in the 18th century, brought together experts from different countries in a co-operative effort to produce wares from which later central European factories derived their inspiration. Responding to an eager market and following patterns established at theStrasbourg factory,the Holitsch factory produced remarkably life-like pieces imitating fruits and vegetables. These fine examples of modeling were further distinguished by the brightness of the colors used in their decorations. The potters also created sculpture vessels of human or animal shapes that were intended for a practical as well as decorative use such as salt dishes, parrot bottles, and lidded containers.

In August 1942, PresidentJozef Tisogave aninfamous speechin the town in which he defended the deportation of Jews from Slovakia, because they were "parasites".

Geography

Holíč lies at an altitude of 185 metres (607 ft)above sea leveland covers an area of 34.784 square kilometres (13.4 sq mi).It is located in theZáhorieregion near theMorava River,6 kilometres (4 mi) away from the Czech city ofHodonínand around 85 kilometres (53 mi) fromBratislava.

Sights

• Holíč Castle,now a baroque château
• Gothic church from 1387
• Capuchin church from 1755
• Tolerantion church from 1787
• Burgher house, originally in Baroque, now in Art Nouveau style
• Complex of manufacture buildings
• Water and wind mills
• Loretan and Florian chapels

In the neighbouring village ofKopčany,the 9th century St. Margaret's Church from the time ofGreat Moravia,is located.

Demographics

According to the 2001census,the town had 11,416 inhabitants. 93.82% of inhabitants wereSlovaks,3.68%Czechs,0.99%Romaand 0.48%Ukrainians.The religious make-up was 66.36%Roman Catholics,23.20% people with no religious affiliation and 6.04%Lutherans.

Twin towns — sister cities

See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Slovakia

Holíč istwinnedwith:

• Hodonín,Czech Republic
• Hollabrunn,Austria
• Hlozany,Serbia
• Maloyaroslavets,Russia

See also

• List of municipalities and towns in Slovakia
• Holíč Castle

Genealogical resources

The records for genealogical research are available at the state archive "Statny Archiv in Bratislava, Slovakia"

• Roman Catholic church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1678–1922 (parish A)
• Lutheran church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1786–1895 (parish A)

External links

Media related toHolíčat Wikimedia Commons

• Town website
• Surnamesof living people in Holic