Hranice (Přerov District)

Hranice
Hranice na Moravě
Town
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Olomouc
District	Přerov
Commune	Hranice (Přerov District)
Elevation	250 m (820 ft)
Coordinates
Area	49.79 km2 (19.22 sq mi)
Population	19,684 (2006-07-03)
Density	395 / km2 (1,023 / sq mi)
Mayor	Miroslav Wildner
Timezone	CET (UTC+1)
- summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	750 02 - 753 61
Location in the Czech Republic
Wikimedia Commons: Hranice
Statistics: statnisprava.cz
Website: www.mesto-hranice.cz

Hranice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈɦraɲɪtsɛ]; German: Weißkirchen or Mährisch Weißkirchen) is a town in Moravia, the eastern Czech Republic. It is often called Hranice na Moravě ([ˈɦraɲɪtsɛ ˈna moravjɛ]) to distinguish it from another town called Hranice in Bohemia.

The deepest abyss in the Czech Republic, Hranice Abyss is located by the town.

History

Sink from the Kunz factory of Hranice in Zavratec, Slovenia

Until 1918, Hranice was part of the Austrian monarchy (Austria side after the compromise of 1867), in the district with the same name, one of the 34 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in Moravia. The German name only was used before 1867 (including Weiskirchen).

In 1883, Antonín Kunz (1859–1910) founded a company in Hranice for the repair and production of small farm machinery and then specialized in the production of windpumps and other pumps. The company became the largest factory for water pumps in Austria-Hungary. At the end of the 19th century, it also produced complete communal water systems (by 1912 it had done so for 1,056 towns and municipalities, as well as factories and large landowners). The Sigma Pumps company developed out of Kunz's company.

In the days of Austria-Hungary, in the interbellum Czechoslovakia, and during the communist era the city hosted a large military academy. Notable graduates include Archduke Wilhelm of Austria and Herman Potočnik.

The Jews in Hranice

Jewish Cemetery

Last arcades house of the Jewish quarter

The first Jews came at the beginning of the 17th century, receiving in 1637 the right for a self-governed Jewish quarter, around the present Janáčkova street (renamed from Židovská street). Besides those 17 houses, they were not allowed to purchase houses elsewhere. The community reached a high 802 people in 1857 (13% of the entire town). They had a significant role in the development of Hranice's industry: a textile plant established in 1844 (the largest factory until the mid-20th century), and distilleries (1827, 1836).

International relations

Hranice is twinned with:

• Hlohovec, Slovakia
• Leidschendam-Voorburg, Netherlands

Notable people

Notable people that were born or lived in Hranice include:

• Aaron Chorin (1766–1844), rabbi
• Antonín Kunz (1859–1910), industrialist
• Isidore Singer (1859–1939), author and editor

See also

• The Confusions of Young Törless a novel based on experience in the Hranice military academy.

External links

• (Czech) Official website

• Die postalischen Abstempelungen auf den österreichischen Postwertzeichen-Ausgaben 1867, 1883 und 1890, Wilhelm KLEIN, 1967
• Handbook of Austria and Lombardy-Venetia Cancellations on the Postage Stamp Issues 1850-1864, by Edwin MUELLER, 1961.
• Bartoš, Josef. 1978. Historický místopis Moravy a Slezska v letech 1848-1960: Okresy Přerov, Hranice, Kroměříž, vol. 6. Ostrava: Profil, p. 130.
• The Kunz Mansion (Czech)
• Sigma Pumps website
• Gadourek, Ivan. "The Political Control of Czechoslovakia: Study in Social Control of a Soviet Satellite State", Kroese, 1953, p.72
• Summary of Za Krasami Mestkské Pamatkové Zony Hranice, texts published below the synagogue