Svinařov
Svinařov is a village situated in a valley surrounded by forested slopes, fields and meadows. Approximately 667 people live there (2007). It is about 30 kilometres (20 mi) from Prague. Other towns close to Svinařov are Libušín, Kladno, Smečno and Slaný. The village is connected with the nearby towns and villages by bus. Svinařov has its own association football team and a team of firemen volunteers. Next to the cemetery, is a little chapel with a statue of St. Mary and Jesus from the 17th century.
Svinařov | |
|---|---|
Municipality and village | |
 View towards the village | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
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  Svinařov Location in the Czech Republic | |
| Coordinates: 50°10′40″N 14°3′0″E | |
| Country |  Czech Republic |
| Region | Central Bohemian Region |
| District | Kladno District |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.92 km2 (0.74 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 300 m (1,000 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 714 |
| • Density | 370/km2 (960/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Post code | 273 05 |
| Website | http://www.svinarov.cz/ |
History
The first official mention of Svinařov dates to 1328, when the village was sold by Bořita z Ředhoště to the Vyšehrad canon. So it belonged to the Vyšehrad chapter house. It is probable that there was some kind of settlement much earlier thanks to an archaeological research carried out in a nearby town of Libušín which proved that the area was inhabited in the 6th–7th centuries. The existence of Svinařov was closely connected with the fort of Libušín. As the name suggests (Svinařov in Czech language can mean that there were either swine or vineyards), Svinařov served as a supplier of agricultural products to the fort.
There was a stronghold built around the year 1330. The owner of Svinařov, Vyšehrad chapter house, used to hire out the Svinařov to different tenants till the reign of Wenceslas IV of Bohemia, when the village was sold. Some years later it became a part of property of the Smečno’s noble family of Martinic and it remained so until the 19th century. The family of Martinic gradually became one of the richest and most powerful noble families in the Czech kingdom. In 1885, Svinařov settlement officially became a village.
Most people there earned their living in agriculture, but this changed in the second half of the 19th century with the discovery of coal in the region. Many people from all around the country started to move in and the village started to expand. Most people were therefore employed in the coal industry until the mines closed down in 2002.
