Beroun

Beroun (Czech pronunciation: [ˈbɛrou̯n]; German: Beraun) is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The town is part of the Prague metropolitan area. It is located 30 km southwest of Prague and has a population of 18,930 (2011). It lies on the confluence of Berounka and Litavka rivers. Despite its small size, it is an administrative center akin to a "county seat". It lies on the D5 motorway that connects Prague with Pilsen and, farther afield, with Bavaria, Germany. Beroun was originally called na Brodě (by the ford), and received the name of Bern, Berun or Verona in the 13th century, when it obtained the privileges of a city from the emperor Charles IV, who was specially attached to the place, calling it "Verona...