ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA	CZECH REPUBLIC
Plzeňský kraj	Plzeň region
Okres: Klatovy

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Horažďovice is situated at an elevation of 408 m on the river Otava (Wotawa) in the Klatovy (Klattau) district of the Plzeň (Pilsen) region of the Czech Republic. The settlement was founded in the 12th/13th century as a market place at the foot of the Prácheň hill on an old trading path about midway between Prague and Bavaria. Horažďovice, which was first mentioned in 1279 and was chartered as a town in 1296, thrived particularly under the administration of the Bavor House of Strakonice. The powerful Bavors did not recognize Duke Rudolf III of Austria and Styria as King of Bohemia. As a result, Rudolf attacked Horažďovice, but died during the siege of the town in 1307. During the Hussite Movement in the 15th century, Horažďovice took the side of the Hussites, Protestants demanding the reformation of the Catholic church. The town enjoyed the greatest prosperity in the 15th and 16th centuries. During the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) Horažďovice suffered greatly from famine, poverty and epidemics. The town later became famous for breeding mother-of-pearl. The 'pearl clearance' always meant an important social event, which was even attended by Emperor Franz I in 1809 and 1818. Many buildings in the old town date from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

The Deanery church of St. Peter and Paul [left, no. 1690: background, centre] dates back to the 13th century. The Gothic church was rebuilt in Baroque style during the 18th century.

The picture also shows the Plague column [left, no. 1690: foreground, right] in the market square with the statue of Our Lady. The column was created in 1725.

The town hall [right, no. 3669: background right] was built in 1927. It is already the fourth town hall building in the same place. The previous town hall, built in 1690, had served its purpose for 236 years.

[https://www.sumavanet.cz/horazdovice/fr.asp?tab=snet&id=5119&burl=&pt=HS]