Holešov

Template:Geobox Holešov (Czech pronunciation: [ˈɦolɛʃof]; Latin: Holesow, German: Holleschau, Hebrew: העלשויא) is a town in the Zlín Region, Czech Republic. The town is located on the western hillside of the Hostýn Hills - the westernmost part of the Carpathian Mountains.

Holešov is well known for its mannerist château with the garden complex.

Today, the public airport of regional importance in the south part of Holešov is transformed into the Strategic Industrial Zone, one of the biggest in Czech Republic.

Holešov was the birthplace of František Xaver Richter (1709-1789).

History

Until 1918, HOLLESCHAU - HOLEŠOV (German name only until the end of the 19th century) was part of the Austrian monarchy (Austria side after the compromise of 1867), head of the district with the same name, one of the 34 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in Moravia.

Jewish presence

The town was inhabited by a large Jewish community from the first half of the 16th century until World War II, during which nearly the entire Jewish population was murdered. There is a very unusual Jewish synagogue of the "Polish" type including ornate iron work and paintings on ceilings and walls using floral and animal motifs. This "old synagogue", also known as the "Shakh" or "Šach" Synagogue was preserved because services had been moved to the "new synagogue" before World War II. The new synagogue was destroyed by the Nazis.

There is a monument including a fountain from a black sphere of stone with a Mogen David set in the pavement at the site of the destroyed "new synagogue", at one end of the town square. There is also a large Jewish cemetery, where the Baroque tomb of Rabbi Šach (Rabbi Sabbatai ha-Kohen) is a pilgrimage place for many foreign visitors.