Content
The book Babylon (author: Kamila Beňušíková Angelovová, published: 2021) in electronic version can be downloaded HERE .
History of the village
Evidence of settlement in the surrounding area dates back to the Bronze Age and the Iron Age (1700 - 400 BC). The first permanent settlement in the area is known from the Neolithic period. Continuous settlement associated with gradual re-deforestation of the landscape is documented from the 10th century.
The village of Babylon was first mentioned in written sources in 1587. It was originally a lumberjack settlement on the shore of a pond called Pařezov, later renamed Babylonský. The settlement was also called Pařezov at that time and was located in the place of today's village square. The original name of the village of Pařezov probably comes from the extensively cut down areas during the construction of the Pařezovské ponds in the 15th century, i.e. at the time when these pond systems were mainly being created in our country.
At the beginning of the 17th century, the situation in Bohemia gradually became more dramatic. After the turbulent events related to the abdication of Rudolf II and the so-called Passau adventure at the beginning of 1611, the period of the Estates' Uprising (1618 - 1620) came. However, the Chodský countryside as a whole did not side with the rebellious estates (despite the request of the Estates' directors and the town of Domažlice, which sided with the anti-Habsburg coalition). Nevertheless, their further fate was similar to that of other areas of the Czech Kingdom. After the Battle of White Mountain (1621), in the protracted Thirty Years' War, a number of surrounding villages were severely damaged or burned down (by the Swedish troops or the imperial army). In 1621, he acquired the surrounding Chod villages, confiscated from the town of Domažlice, as well as the demolished site of the Chod Castle in Domažlice and finally the settlement of Pařezov - Babylon with the local ponds and surrounding forests from Wolf Lammingen of Albenreuth (referred to by Chods as Lomikar), so that they were hereditaryly registered to the Lamninger family.
The first post-Bíle Hory cadastral census, known as the Berní grun, compiled in 1654, also contains a list of local farmers.
The tragic dispute between the privileged Chody and the Lamingers over old rights culminated on June 6, 1693, when the Chody villages were occupied by dragoons and musketeers, led by the regional governor Fridrich Hora of Ocelovec. The main leaders of the uprising were identified as the Draženov reeve Kryštof Hrubý, then Jan Sladký Kozina of Újezd and Jan Selner, known as Čtverák. The Draženov reeve K. Hrubý died in a Prague prison on June 1, 1695, JS Kozina was hanged on February 28, 1695 on the Pilsen gallows. The history of the surrounding Chody villages at that time is described in Jirásek's Psohlavce and other numerous works of fine literature (during the Czech National Revival).
The Terezian cadastre from the mid-18th century lists the village of Babylon (then written Babilon), named after the nearby Babí hora, where a quarry for stone, gravel and sand was located, as a Domažlice urban village with 4 farmers and 12 settlers. It was located in the places known to us as "Three Estates" and became independent after the reform of state administration in 1850.
From 1877 to 1907, Pařezov was united with Havlovice to form the political municipality of Havlovice, then it became an independent municipality. The sources do not state when the closely neighboring settlements of Babylon and Pařezov were united.
Since the mid-19th century, instead of wooden buildings (which were easily susceptible to fire) covered with thatch or shingles, newly built brick houses with roofs made of fired tiles have been built.
The development of Babylon was influenced by the development of tourism from the end of the 19th century. At that time, Babylon was accessible not only by a dirt road, but also by the Domažlice - Tachov railway. The railway from Domažlice to Brod nad Lesy (Furth im Wald) in Germany was built as early as 1863, but the stop in Babylon was not opened until July 1, 1915. Its opening further increased the number of visitors to the summer hostels coming from Pilsen and Prague. Babylon became a popular recreational center and in 1928 was entered into the official list of resorts.
The foundation for the recreational use of the Upper Pařezovský Pond - Babylon was laid at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries by the Counts Stadion, who owned the Pařezovský Ponds (Dolní, Horní - Babylon, Černý and other smaller ones) and the local forests (Vejslav to the west, Okrouhlík to the east). In 1900, Count Jiří Stadion had a pub with a fisherman's hut built on the Babylon dam - the famous Baštírna - thanks to him, the first changing rooms were also built on the shore of the pond. This wooden building, although significantly rebuilt, remained here until recently. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, the pond had sandy beaches. The local resort quickly gained popularity, new villas, hotels and guesthouses were added. The most famous are Praha, Bedrníček, Bohmann, Belveder.
The appearance of the village and its surroundings was taken care of by the Beautification Society, which was established in 1913. Other activities were carried out by the local branch of the National Unity of the Pošumava Region (1906), the Sokol (1924), and the Volunteer Fire Department (1930). The education of Babylon children was provided by a branch of the Trhanov school since 1903, and a school building was built in Babylon in 1905. In 1909, the school became independent.
In the autumn of 1938, Babylon, along with the border villages with German settlements and some Chodské villages, was occupied by Nazi Germany. The Czech element was suppressed by the liquidation of associations and the restriction of cultural life. Babylon was liberated by the American army on May 1, 1945.
With the change in circumstances after November 1989, tourism and business revived. The appearance of the village gradually improved.
History of the inhabitants
In the 20th century, Babylon grew steadily.
In 1900, 182 residents lived in Babylon in 28 houses, in 1910 there were 194 residents living in 36 houses, and in 1921 there were already 201 residents living in 40 houses.
In 1910, the railway from Domažlice to Poběžovice and Tachov was completed.
After the improvement of Babylon's communication accessibility, the local resort and recreational activities are developing.
In 1930, Babylon had 192 residents in 55 houses.
During World War II, the village, along with other Chodské villages, was annexed to German territory, the Waldmünchen district.
In 1950, Babylon had a population of 318 people living in 80 houses.
After the administrative reform in 1960 until 1990, the village was part of the city of Domažlice.
In 1961, Babylon had 236 residents in 48 houses.
In 1970, Babylon had 213 residents in 61 houses.
In 1980, Babylon had 205 residents in 56 houses.
In 1991, the village had 242 residents in 68 houses, of which 58 were family houses, while 24 were recreational buildings.
In 2001, 284 residents lived in Babylon in 102 houses (of which 65 were family houses, with 31 houses uninhabited) in 122 apartments.
The village has a kindergarten, library, post office, shop, a number of restaurants and hotels, a car park, an outdoor playground, a natural swimming pool, tennis courts and a cottage settlement called Srub.
The social activities of the municipality are usually tied to local social and recreational sports facilities (natural swimming pool, playgrounds including tennis courts, car park and fire station).
Babylon and its surroundings are an important recreational area. In the past, the annual number of vacationers was reported to be about 50,000 and then about 10,000 union vacationers (ROH). In the summer season, up to 3,000 vacationers can be found on the beach of Babylon Pond.
Many important personalities spent their holidays here. In the 1930s, for example, chemist Prof. Bohuslav Brauner, who contributed to the development of the resort by popularizing the chemical analysis of the water of the local swimming pool, also stayed here several times (1948, 1951, 1952).
