Žirovnice (; ) is a town in Pelhřimov District in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. it has about 2,900 inhabitants. Administrative parts Villages of Cholunná, Litkovice, Stranná, Štítné, Vlčetín and Žirov are administrative parts of Žirovnice. Geography Žirovnice is located about south of Pelhřimov and southwest of Jihlava. It lies in the Křemešník Highlands. The small river Žirovnička flows through the town. The area is rich on small ponds. History The town was built around a castle of the same name. The first written mention of Žirovnice is from 1358. Economy Žirovnice was traditionally town of weavers, but in 1863, manufacturing of buttons from nacre was introduced. In the 1940s, nearly 100 nacre-processing manufactures existed in the small town. After Communists seized power in 1948, these manufactures were nationalized and transformed into one company, which still exists. Sights Main sights are the Žirovnice Castle and Church of Saints Philip and James. In the castle there is a museum of button-manufacturing and nacre-processing. Notable people Tomáš Štítný ze Štítného (c. 1333 – 1401/1409), nobleman, writer and theologian Iva Janžurová (born 1941), actress Twin towns – sister cities Žirovnice is twinned with: Grosshöchstetten, Switzerland Trstená, Slovakia References External links Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Pelhřimov District