Holíč

• Name — Holíč • Type — Municipality • Subdivision Type1 — Region • Subdivision Name1 — Trnava Region • Subdivision Type2 — District • Subdivision Name2 — Skalica District • Leader Title — Mayor • Leader Name — Zdenko Čambal • Established Title — First mentioned • Established Date — 1217 • Elevation M — 180 • Postal Code Type — Postal code • Postal Code — 908 51 • Area Code — +421 34 • Registration Plate — SI • Website — https: www.holic.sk/

The oldest archaeological findings in the area date from the Neolithic, and there are findings from the Bronze Age, Iron Age and the Roman time. The town was first mentioned in 1205 as Wywar, meaning "New Castle". The Árpád dynasty built a stone castle after the Mongol invasion in 1241. From the 13th century until 1296, Holíč was the seat of a border comitatus. Among the owners of the town were Matthias Csák and Stibor of Stiborice. In the 15th century the town's development was slowed by the Hussite raids. In 1736 the town was bought by Franz I, Holy Roman Emperor, husband of Maria Theresa and manufactures were built, leading to the town's growth. Maria Theresa also rebuilt the Holíč Castle from a fortress into a summer château of the Habsburgs. Holíč's once thriving Jewish community was completely decimated by the Holocaust. Holíč also gives its name to a type of tin-glazed earthenware faience that was manufactured in the area. The Holitsch factory (Slovakia) was founded in 1743 by Francis of Lorainne, consort of Empress Maria Teresia. The factory concentrated on the production of richly adorned sets intended to emulate the wares used by the aristocracy in the large western European centers. The factory, which served as a revitalizing force against the decline of local potters in the 18th century, brought together experts from different countries in a co-operative effort to produce wares from which later central European factories derived their inspiration. Responding to an eager market and following patterns established at the Strasbourg factory, the Holitsch factory produced remarkably life-like pieces imitating fruits and vegetables. These fine examples of modeling were further distinguished by the brightness of the colors used in their decorations. The potters also created sculpture vessels of human or animal shapes that were intended for a practical as well as decorative use such as salt dishes, parrot bottles, and lidded containers. In August 1942, President Jozef Tiso gave an infamous speech in the town in which he defended the deportation of Jews from Slovakia, because they were "parasites".

It is located in the Záhorie region near the Morava River, 6 km away from the Czech city of Hodonín and around 85 km from Bratislava.

It has a population of people (31 December).

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• Holíč Castle, now a baroque château • Gothic church from 1387 • Capuchin church from 1755 • Tolerantion church from 1787 • Burgher house, originally in Baroque, now in Art Nouveau style • Complex of manufacture buildings • Water and wind mills • Loretan and Florian chapels • Holíč Menhir In the neighbouring village of Kopčany, the 9th century St. Margaret's Church from the time of Great Moravia, is located.

Holíč is twinned with: • Hodonín, Czech Republic • Hollabrunn, Austria • Hlozany, Serbia • Maloyaroslavets, Russia

The records for genealogical research are available at the state archive "Statny Archiv in Bratislava, Slovakia" • Roman Catholic church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1678–1922 (parish A) • Lutheran church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1786–1895 (parish A)