| Holýšov | |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Plzeň |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Plzeň-South |
| Pushpin Map: | Czech Republic |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the Czech Republic |
| Coordinates: | 49.5928°N 13.0972°W |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Alena Burianová |
| Established Title: | First mentioned |
| Established Date: | 1273 |
| Area Total Km2: | 29.32 |
| Elevation M: | 357 |
| Population As Of: | 2024-01-01 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 5726 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | CET |
| Utc Offset1: | +1 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 345 62 |
Holýšov (in Czech pronounced as /ˈɦoliːʃof/; German: Holleischen) is a town in Plzeň-South District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,700 inhabitants.
The village of Dolní Kamenice is an administrative part of Holýšov.
Holýšov is located about southwest of Plzeň. It lies mostly in the Švihov Highlands, only the western part of the municipal territory lies in the Plasy Uplands. The highest point is a nameless hill at 516m (1,693feet) above sea level. The town is situated on the right bank of the Radbuza River.
The first written mention of Holýšov is in a deed of Pope Gregory X from 1273. Transformation from a small village to a town began after 1897, when one of the biggest glassworks in Austria-Hungary were founded and the population significantly increased. The glassworks went bankrupt due to the world crisis in the 1930s.[2]
During World War II, Holýšov was occupied by Germany. The glassworks building was rebuilt to an ammunition factory.[2] In 1944, two subcamps of the Flossenbürg concentration camp were founded: one for French, Polish, Russian and Jewish women, and one for Polish, Jewish, Czech and Russian men. The men's subcamp was presumably dissolved in January 1945, whereas the women's subcamp was liberated by Polish partisans in May 1945.[3] After the German occupation, the town was restored to Czechoslovakia.
In 1960, Holýšov obtained the town status.[2] From 1 January 2021, Holýšov is no longer a part of Domažlice District and belongs to Plzeň-South District.[4]
Holýšov is located on the railway line Prague–Munich via Plzeň.[5]
The oldest building in Holýšov is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. It was first mentioned in 1352 and in 1384, it was referred to as a parish church. During the Thirty Years' War, it was partly demolished. It was completely rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1743 and a three-story tower was also built, which is 39 tall and topped with a tall slender spire.[6]
Exposition dedicated to the history of Holýšov and the history of World War II in Holýšov are in the town museum named Dům dějin Holýšovska ("House of history of the Holýšov region").[7]
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic. Holýšov is twinned with:[8]