RakovnÃk
Rakovníka ( German Rakonitz, older even Rakonick ) is a district town in the Czech Republic in the Central Bohemian Region. In about 50 km north- west of Prague city lying approximately 17,000 inhabitants.
Rakovníka has larger business enterprises, in which mainly ceramics, cosmetics and agricultural engines are made. Since the city is located in a hop-growing region, it also has a large brewery. Rakovníka is the famous railway museum Lužná u Rakovníka Czech Railways.
History
The trade settlement was first mentioned in 1257. 1286 were granted the settlement town rights. In the early days, the city had a close bond to the nearby Royal Castle Stary Hradek and after their demise to the castle Křivoklát. In the 16th century Rakovníka developed into a major center of the region. Important economic area was the hop-growing and beer brewing. 1588 Rakovníka was corrected by Emperor Rudolf II to the royal city. The Thirty Years' War brought the city Severe long-term economic consequences. The former importance of the town sank off much and the leading role in the region, took over other, previously less significant, places. 1788 the county government was moved to Slany. Out of the crisis, the city woke up only at the end of the 19th century. Since 1865 Rakovníka is the main town. 1871, the city was connected by the railway line Lužná u Rakovníka - Rakovníka on the railway network. At the end of the century were here several industries located ( detergent production, ceramics, mechanical engineering). In 1930 Rakovníka had 11,700 inhabitants.
Economy
Rakovníka is one of the economically important cities in central Bohemia with plants for detergents and cosmetics production, machinery, auto parts and ceramic tiles. These include, inter alia:
- The detergent and consumer products business Rakona (since 1875), which is one of the largest sites of Procter & Gamble in Europe today
- The ceramic tile manufacturer Rako (since 1883), now part of the group Lasselsberger
- The engineering companies TOS and PQS
Twin Cities
Rakovníka is twinned with the following cities
- Dietz Bach, Germany (since 1986)
- Istra, Russia
- Weert, The Netherlands
Boroughs
The city Rakovníka consists of the districts Rakovníka I and Rakovníka II basic settlement units are Bulovna, Čermákovy sady, Hornické sídliště -U Jirkova, K Olešné, K Pavlíkovu, Karlovarske předměstí, Na Spravedlnosti, Nádrazí, Rakovníka - střed, U Černého potoka, U Čistého potoka, U Lišanského potoka, U nemocnice, U Rakovnického potoka, Vinohrady, koupalištěm Za, Za Rakovnickým potokem and Zátiší.
Personalities
- Nicholas of Rakonitz (around 1350-1390 ), Rector of Charles University in Prague
- David crinitus z Hlaváčová (1531-1586), Czech writer, poet and scribe in Rakovníka
- Bradsky Theodor (1833-1881), Bohemian composer
- Matyas Lerch (1860-1922), Czech mathematician; studied in Rakovníka
- Miloslav Ransdorf ( born 1953 ), Czech communist politician and member of the European Parliament
- Václav Luks (born 1970 ), Czech harpsichordist, horn player, conductor, musicologist and educator