Příbram

Příbram (Kozičín, Lazec, Březové Hory, Orlov, Zdaboř)

Location: in the southern part of the Central Bohemian Region, approximately 65 km south of Prague

Area of the cadastral district:

Population: 34,899

 The oldest written record of this town, dating from 1216, mentions the sale of the Příbram estate to Prague. The Litavská stezka, famous for the nearby Litavka stream, was just as important for the exchange of goods in what is now Central Bohemia as the Zlatá - Passau Trail. During the reign of the Czech King Charles IV, the then owner – Archbishop Arnošt of Pardubice – had a stone fortress (today’s Zámeček) built on the site of a wooden stronghold. The town of Příbram grew up around it (the name apparently derives from the personal name Pribram), which later (in the 14th century) became a commercial and cultural centre and, thanks to Svatá Hora, a religious centre as well. In 1406, Zbyněk Zajíc of Házmburk granted the town extensive privileges, which – following the transfer of the bishopric (Bishop Ondřej II) from the abbot of the monastery in Teplá. But people had been living here long before that. From the 4th century BC, the Celts mined gold and silver here. However, as early as three thousand years ago, a royal estate was established near the town – as confirmed by Vladislav II in 1497. From the 16th century, mining experienced a rapid boom, which in 1579 (20 November) saw Příbram elevated to the status of a royal mining town by a privilege granted by Rudolf II. It is not known when or by whom the town’s coat of arms was granted. However, it had been in use on the town’s seal since the 15th century. The coat of arms probably depicts the Church of St James on what is now T.G.M. Square. Further development of mining took place in the 18th century. A mining school was founded, followed by a mining academy, which later became the Mining University (1849–1945). Despite its rich mineral deposits, Příbram never enjoyed great wealth. Nevertheless, the town is home to a wealth of magnificent monuments. Among the most beautiful historical landmarks is undoubtedly the famous pilgrimage site of Svatá Hora, which forms an integral part of the town’s landscape.

Březové Hory – a historic royal town whose illustrious mining past is shrouded in the legendary prophecy of Princess Libuše concerning a birch-covered hill full of silver. The region’s mineral wealth is also touched upon in the no less famous legend of Lord Horymír, who is said to have collapsed the Příbram mines and then saved his life from the monarch’s wrath by jumping on his horse Šemík over the walls of the prince’s residence at Vyšehrad in Prague … The ‘fairytale birch hill’ was in fact Březové Hory, towering to the west above Příbram. Březové Hory is known for its mining activity, documented by archaeological evidence dating back to at least the 10th century, and by written records from 1311. On the hilltop amongst the slender, snow-white birch trunks, in the immediate vicinity of the individual shafts, a mining settlement subject to Příbram was established as early as the Middle Ages; this later developed into a small town, which was elevated to the status of a free royal mining town in 1897. The wealth of the ore deposits is evidenced by the fact that, at the end of the last century, our ancestors extracted almost the entire Austro-Hungarian output of silver and lead here. The silver mining industry experienced its greatest boom in the 19th century. In 1875, the Vojtěch mine set a world record by reaching a vertical depth of 1,000 metres. However, work underground also led to a tragic record. On 31 May 1892, Březové Hory witnessed the world’s worst mining disaster of that era, which claimed 319 lives. Silver ore mining continued thereafter with varying degrees of success into the 20th century. In 1953, Březové Hory became part of Příbram. At present, all mining activity has ceased. The former glory of the miners’ craft is now commemorated by the Příbram Mining Museum, located on the site of the former Ševčín Mine in Březové Hory.  

Příbram
Town Hall Information Centre, Zámeček – Ernestinum Open daily 9 am – 5 pm Tel.: 318 402 281, 318 402 380, 318 402 381, 318 402 382; fax: 318 402 360; email: info@pribram-city.cz