Havlíčkův Brod is a town in the Vysocina Region, Czech Republic. It has about 24,000 citizen, and is also the capital of the district (okres) Havlíčkův Brod. It is located in the Bohemian Highland, at the Sázava river .

Until 1950 the town was named Německý Brod. The word Brod means Forth or Ford in English. The first word standing before 'Brod' is the adjective. Brod was founded in early Middleages by German miners, who were settled there by Bohemian nobleman Smil of Lichtenburk, so the first name of Brod was Smiluv Brod, which means Forth of Smil or Smilford. From late Middleages to 1945 Brod was known as Nemecky Brod, which means German Brod, although old German miners and their descendants were married with their Bohemian neighbours so that they became to feel to be Bohemians in few generations.

In anti-German hysteria of 1945, town was oficially renamed to Havlíčkův Brod. This means Forth of Havlicek and this name was given to honor of 19th century writer Karel Havlíček.

External links

• http://www.havlickuv-brod.cz