Hranice

A visit from the former mayor of Hranice to Voorburg, followed by a return visit by a delegation from 'us' to the Czech city in 1990 was the start of town twinning between Hranice and Voorburg. In the past twelve years a great deal has been achieved in the relationship between these two cities.

Long lasting friendships have been created and a lot of information has been exchanged in these years. Successful project-based activities have been developed in the areas of education, health care, religion, art, culture and sport, open space planning and the environment and more recently in the areas of unemployment and employment. Equipment and humanitarian aid have however also commanded attention during the course of the years; Bovenveen community centre for example has built up valuable contacts with the children's home in Hranice, where mentally and physically handicapped children are cared for.              

Some facts about Hranice

Hranice lies in the Czech Republic on the right bank of the Becva river in the province of Moravia. The town is situated approximately 350 kilometres to the east of the capital city Prague and approximately 1,300 kilometres from Leidschendam-Voorburg. The Hranice municipality consists of eight smaller towns and villages spread over 52 square kilometres and has around 30,000 inhabitants. The city of Hranice has a clear central function, lies 260 metres above sea level and accounts for around 20,000 inhabitants.

The region in which the municipality lies was inhabited thousands of years ago. However, Hranice was first mentioned in written sources in 1169. Hranice gained city status in 1276. Historic properties can be found in the old inner city, the oldest of which date from the sixteenth century. Since 1990 a great deal of restoration work has been carried out and overdue maintenance in the city has been eliminated. Voorburg municipality contributed to this by initiating a new traffic circulation plan, which has protected the old centre from traffic with the design and part-implementation of new open space planning in the city.

For more information and photos see the following sites:

the working group  home.wanadoo.nl/ar.vandeholst
the Hranice municipality  www.meu.hranet.cz

For more information you can contact:
Hranice city twinning working group
Mr. F. van Veen (chairman)
Gouverneurkade 136
2274 KN  VOORBURG
tel: 070 – 386 38 73
e-mail: fc.van.veen@hccnet.nl