Sušice

History

The town of Sušice was founded in the 8th century as a settlement near the Otava River, a gold-mining area. In the 12th century Sušice was owned by the Lords of Bavaria (Germany). It was connected to Bohemia in the 13th century and soon after became a royal fortified town. During the Hussite Wars in the first half of the 15th century Sušice was a Hussite town. After the battle on Bila Hore (White Mount; 1620 – the battle of Czech aristocracy against the Habsburgs' monarchy) most of the properties were confiscated. The destruction of the town was finished by fire in 1707, when most of the sites burned down. Sušice is known for the production of safety matches which began in 1838 and has continued to the present. The Fürth family founded local match factory.

The earliest known Jewish community settled in Sušice during the first half of 17th century. The Jewish cemetery originated about 1626 with last known Conservative or Progressive/Reform Jewish burial in 1874. A pogrom occurred in 1866. Jews moved to big towns in second half of 19th century. The 1930 Jewish population was 112.

Present town population is 5,000–25,000 with no Jews.

The town was founded by the Czech king Ottokar II of Bohemia in 1273.

The Jews built a new synagogue in 1859. The newspaper from Písek – the “Pilgrim from Otava" (Poutník od Otavy) issue number 5, Year Two, dated 31 August 1859 – reported on this important consecration as follows:

"In the year 1659, there were just four Jewish families in Sušice, who built for themselves a small wooden synagogue. Fifty years later, that is to say two years after the great fire of Sušice, they built on the same site a new and larger synagogue more suited to their growing numbers. This synagogue was used for 150 years. During this period and particularly over the past decade, the number of Jews in Sušice increased greatly and the synagogue was no longer large enough. So the Jewish community bought three houses in Vodičkova Street (formerly known as Jewish Street) and decided to build a new synagogue there. The first stone was laid on 14 July 1857 in the presence of the Imperial and Royal[33] Chief of the Region, Mr. František Bastař, and the Mayor, František Firbas. It was decided to consecrate the synagogue in this year on the birthday of His Imperial Majesty. The new synagogue is of sound construction and one of the largest buildings in Sušice. We are able to say that it is one of the most beautiful Jewish synagogues in all of Bohemia. The synagogue is 12 fathoms (22 m; 72 ft) in length, 6 fathoms (11 m; 36 ft) wide and 7 ¹⁄₂ fathoms (13.7 m; 45 ft) high. It has a large entrance hall, a fine gallery for the choir and an elegant altar. "

In 1683, a baroque chapel was built on what is now the edge of the town. This chapel still stands and is somewhat fortress-like in its appearance with its outer walls set in a square formation and the chapel located in the centre.

Until 1918, Sušice – Schüttenhoffen was part of the Austrian monarchy (Austria side after the compromise of 1867), head of the district of the same name, one of the 94 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in Bohemia.

Climate

Sušice enjoys a wet inland version of temperate Oceanic climate (Cfb). Precipitations are predominantly in form of rain, totalling 776 mm (30.6 in). There are four pronounced seasons with notably cold and murky winter season, contrasting with much sunnier warm seasons. Average round the clock temperatures in July stays on 17.1 °C (62.8 °F) and January mean temperatures stays on −2.9 °C (26.8 °F). The whole year average is 7.5 °C (45.5 °F).

Twin towns – Sister cities

Sušice is a member of the Douzelage, a unique town twinning association of 24 towns across the European Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals. Discussions regarding membership are also in hand with three further towns (Agros in Cyprus, Škofja Loka in Slovenia, and Tryavna in Bulgaria).

People