Horousany: Village History, Pond and Events

Water as the Centrepiece

Horoušany lies at an elevation of 216 metres, at the confluence of the Horoušanský potok and Jirenský potok streams. The village is arranged around Horoušanský rybník; the village centre lies on its right bank. The pond is located in the heart of the municipality in the Praha-východ District, covers 2.8 hectares and is currently used primarily for sport fishing. Fishing follows the “catch and release” principle. If you are considering Horoušany for your travel planning, water, the village centre and the history of the village come together here in immediate proximity.

Village Square and Monuments

In the village centre, the village square features an ensemble consisting of a stone bell-tower chapel and a cast-iron cross on a stone pedestal. Both components are protected as monuments. The rectangular masonry bell-tower chapel dates from the 19th century and effectively forms the centre of the municipality. The approximately triangular village square also contains a sandstone cross with a carved depiction of Christ. It is dated 1812 and protected as an immovable cultural monument. At the top are a Latin cross with a relief of the Crucifixion and a scroll bearing the engraved inscription “INRI”.

Memorial Sites and the Sandstone Tradition

Among the notable historic sites is the Šámal Farmstead, house number 22 on Baumanova Street, near the former school. It is considered one of the most interesting surviving examples of Horoušany’s original built environment. A commemorative plaque recalls Otakar Šámal, who was murdered by the Nazis in 1942. At the intersection of Baumanova and U Mlýna, a memorial stone with a plaque commemorates Břetislav Bauman and his wife Emílie. The building beneath it is a former barn belonging to Mill Farmstead No. 11, where the couple lived and worked before and during the Second World War. Břetislav Bauman was arrested there by the Gestapo on 15 July 1942.

The sandstone northeast of Horoušany is also part of the village’s history. A quarry there was licensed before mid-July 1372 for the extraction of sandstone for the construction of a Prague cathedral. Stone from this area was later also transported to important medieval buildings in Prague.

Wetlands and Events Throughout the Year

Above Horoušany, partially preserved wetlands and reed beds can be found along the Jirenský potok. North of the former farmstead lies a second village square with a children’s playground, a well and large willow trees. The events calendar adds further seasonal highlights: the traditional one-day “Hudební slavnosti obce Horoušany” takes place once a year in the first half of June at U Parku, while the “Pivní slavnosti” takes place once a year in the second half of July in the garden of the A. Basař municipal inn. The “Letní kino” is held once a year in the second half of June at U Parku; another edition, “Letní kino (rozloučení s prázdninami)”, takes place in the second half of August, also at U Parku. The traditional one-day “Sportovní den” follows once a year in the first half of September near the multi-purpose sports field. A dated historical event also documented is the autumn hike “Horoušanská Gumáka”, described as traditional, which took place in Horoušany on Saturday, 20 October 2018.

More Destinations for Your Research

If you would like to extend your travel planning beyond Horoušany, you can also include Dubiny, Kaliště, Dobročovice, Křenek, Dřevčice, Doubek, Říčany and Vlkančice in your research.

To the higher-level travel overview: Praha-Východ District.