Czech Unesco Heritage
Brno, South Moravia
The second largest city of Czech Republic represents the center of the Moravia province, one of the historic lands of the Czech Crown. It is a crossroad of ancient trade routes, which have joined the North and South European civilizations for centuries, situated in a picturesque countryside, surrounded on three sides by wooded hills. The first written accounts of it date back to 1091. In 1243 Brno was proclaimed a Royal City. Historical sites as Spilberk Castle, Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, St. Jacob Church, Augustinian monastery and Zelný Trh (Green Market) with its Baroque fountain “Parnas” are worth to see. There are 6 universities in Brno, numerous galleries and museums, Brno State Philharmonic and professional theatres e.g. Janáček Theatre and Mahen Theatre. Brno’s Exhibitions Center is the largest and most famous in the Czech Republic
Cesky Krumlov, South Bohemia
Ceský Krumlov was the first UNESCO listed town in the Czech Republic. The oldest written notes date back in 1253. Wide range of architectonical styles from Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque to Classicism combine in a fascinating town complex belonging to one of the most preserved medieval towns in Europe. Main historical sights - the Castle (second largest in the Czech Republic, with its splendid interiors) and the Church of St. Vitus. Cultural sights – Egon Schiele Art Centrum, House of Czech Photography and Gallery in the Wenceslas´s Cellars (in the Castle complex). Music festivals.
Holasovice, South Bohemia (Ceské Budejovice district)
Holasovice lies 14,5 km west of Ceske Budejovice. This South Bohemian village from the 13th century is considered the pearl of the rural baroque. Individual farmhouses, a total of 22 buildings with painted baroque gables, and a garden behind the outhouse are arranged around the pond in the middle of the village green. The pond served for the breeding of fish. The entire region is known to this day for its fishing and ponds. The district is a living reminder of the rural tradition, as we know it, for instance, from the most famous Czech opera, “The Bartered Bride” (Prodana nevesta) by Smetana. The village also featured in the film version of the opera.
Jindrichuv Hradec, South Bohemia
The birth of the city and castle of Jindrichuv Hradec is closely tied with the Vitkovec family. Jindrich I. Vitek had built the castle on the site of the earlier Slavonic fortification. Jindrich, after whom the castle was named, is mentioned in a record from 1220, which is the oldest written evidence of the castle’s existence. The city itself was established in the mid-13th century from the original market settlements surrounding the castle. The city became wealthy due to flourishing commerce and the presence of renowned tradesmen, particularly from the manufacture and sale of cloth. Peak of town development was reached in the mid-16th century when it was ranked among the largest and wealthiest in Bohemia. The worst catastrophe in the city’s history was the fire in 1801, which destroyed majority of the buildings. In spite of negative historical influences and due to absence of industrial development the historical center stayed well preserved.
State Castle and Chateaux – Former early Gothic Castle converted into a Renaissance chateau has three inner courtyards and an arboretum, which is a highly significant architectural highlight. Classical music concerts are held here. Inside the museum is a sculpture called Kryza´s Bethlehem – Holy Trinity model with moving mechanism and is the largest mobile sculpture work of its kind in the world. Worth mentioning are the grounds of the Church of St. John Baptist with former Minorite monastery in Early Gothic style. Because of its well-preserved medieval urban layout, Jindrichuv Hradec has been designated an urban
Kromeriz, North Moravia
This town of historical monuments, schools, arts and culture is the so-called "Athens of Haná". Kromeríž was proclaimed the nicest historical town of the Czech Republic in 1997. Its complex of historical gardens and the Archbishopric Château were in-scripted on the list of the world inheritance of UNESCO. At the chateaux there are historical halls with well-known archbishop paintings (Dürer, Tizian, Veronese). We recommend a visit of archbishop wine cellars connected with explanation and mass wine tasting. Archbishop cellars in Kromeriz are the only cellars at the Czech Republic having a privilege of mass wine production according to the Vatican norm. The town is also every year showplace of music festivals, exhibitions, conferences of specialists and congresses.
Kromeriz history - A historical town in the region inhabited in the history, as the original market settlement at the crossing of trade paths has become property of the 12th century. A Slavonic village was promoted to a town round 1260. The bishop had a representative summer residence in Kromeríž built and they situated the administration of the huge property of the dioceses there. The middle-aged and early-new-aged town suffered from Hussite wars, in the 17th century mainly from Swedish raids in the 30-Year-War. It has gone through magnificent restoration; the historical centre remained preserved even in the period of industrialization. In 1848 the Constitutional Imperial Congress of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was transferred to Kromeríž. The proposal of constitution with expressive democratic elements entered the history of the Czech state-consciousness and the beginning of democracy in middle Europe.
Kutna Hora, Central Bohemia
Kutná Hora is located approx. 70 km east of Prague, its historical core represents an architectural treasure of European significance: together with St. Barbara’s Cathedral and Heavenly Virgin Mary Cathedral in Sedlec they were entered into UNESCO World Cultural Heritage register in December 1995. In the second half of the 13th century the former mining camp turned quickly into a royal town that competed with Prague economically, politically and culturally. In year 1300 King Wenceslas II. issued the mining code lux regale montanorum and carried out mint reforms.
St. Barbara’s Cathedral is a unique work of peak and late Gothic architecture. Its construction started in 1388 by Peter Parler´s smelt house. Its construction was completed 500 years after in 1905. There are late Gothic murals with mining themes preserved in some chapels, the most valuable of which is the one in Smiskovska Chapel.
Hradek, mine Osel – Old Gothic fortress, first mentioned in 1312, rebuilt in the last years of the 15th century in late Gothic style into an ostentatious mansion. At the same time there was a secret smeltery for silver ore stilling (heat treatment to remove foreign matter). Nowadays there is an exhibition of mining and a medieval mine Osel, where an original mining machine from the 16th century can be seen.
Italian Court (Vlasský dvur) – Was originally the central mint named after Italian experts who were at the birth of the mint reform. The fundamental parts of mint were coiners´ workshops called smithies that were positioned along the courtyard, and the coining chamber called preghaus, where the Prague groshens were minted. After its reconstruction at the end of the 14th century the Italian court became temporary royal residence.
Kostnice (graveyard chapel from the 14th century decorated entirely with human bones) and The Heavenly Virgin Mary Church (as the first Cistercian monastery building established as early as in 1142) are worth visiting as well.
Lednice – Valtice, South Moravia
Lednice is a neo-Gothic castle situated in a wonderful place consisting of flower gardens, natural park and large lake with islands. History of the castle begins in 1220 when a Gothic fort with courtyard has been standing here. In the 16th century during reign of Hartmann II. a Renaissance castle in Italian villa style was built here and in that time the garden also dates its founding. In the times of Charles I. Lednice was a residential castle of Liechtensteins. During further times the castle absolved reconstruction in Baroque style, afterwards there have been other romantic houses. At the beginning of 19th century the lake has been dished out and 16 artificial isles were made and some of them interconnected with bridges. In this time the castle went through the last neo-Gothic reconstruction.
The Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape is a place where chateaux and parks provided the backdrop fot the living traditional culture of the Podluží, the colorful folk architecture of the region, and widespread vineyards and orchards, to fill out a living mosaic. The Liechtensteins acquired Valtice Castle at the beginning of the 14th century. When they were awarded the princely status in the Austrian Emprire in the 17the century, Valtice became the main family residence of the ruling Prince, remaining so until the family moved to present-day Liechtenstein in 1938. The center of the town is adorned with two jewels fo Baroque architecture: the Valtice chateaux and the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, built by architects Johann Bernhard Ficher von Erlach and Antonio Johann Ospel. Valtice Castle has beautiful wine cellars, traditional wine markets are held and the oldest vintners school in the country has its home here.
Litomysl, East Bohemia
In 1259 Litomyšl received town rights from the Czech King Premysl Otakar II. During the medieval period bishopric was established here and settled in the former monastery from 1344 up to the Hussite Wars, when the palace and the Cathedral of Virgin Mary were conquested and harmed. In 1567 the Vratislav of Pernštejn, member of one of the most powerful Czech noble family, overtook Litomyšl and year after started to build up new palace on the grounds of the former palace. He invited Italian architects G.B. Aostalli and U. Aostalli who finished the Renaissance castle construction 14 years later. Also thanks to its unique arcade courtyard and its decorations the castle complex was registered on the list of UNESCO. Smetana Square with former Town Hall Tower from 1418 and Baroque houses from the 1769; Váchalova street; Portmoneum (Museum of Josef Váchal); Gothic Probošt Church (from years 1356-76); Baroque Piaristic Church (Nalezení sv. Kríže) and house of Bedrich Smetana (famous Czech composer) are worth visiting.
Olomouc, North Moravia
Olomouc – the ancient capital of Moravia
The first documented evidence of the town dates back to 1055 and, in terms of historical significance, Olomouc ranked second only to Prague. Olomouc as a crossroad became the largest market center of Moravia. Together with the trade also construction development started, especially church buildings e.g. St. Catherine’s Church and St. Michael’s Church or the Gothic St. Moritz Church. After wars in 17th century Brno overtook the status of Moravian capital, Olomouc however became a marvel at the large collection of historical architecture and cultural monuments meticulously preserved in their original design in addition to the remains of a town from the Middle Ages. Within Olomouc region, the Church has had a strong influence on the spiritual, political as well as economic development of the town and its surroundings through the centuries. This effect is reflected in the majestic architecture and décor of the church buildings whose number, in ratio to population is the highest in the Czech Republic. This manner of display of history serves as a constant attraction for thousands of visitors from all over the world each year.
Highlight
The Upper Square (Horni namesti) dominated by the town hall with an Astronomical clock and a Baroque Column of St. Trinity. The entire square is bordered by a string of well-preserved palatial residences. The Saint Trinity Column is included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.
Telc, South Moravia
The renaissance town of Telč and the castle listed in the UNESCO (since 1992) offer unforgettable city break in the South Bohemia. Unique and picturesque renaissance square with its beautiful houses and open arcades; former Gothic castle rebuilt in the second half of the 16th century in a renaissance style with abundant interiors; Tower of St. Spirit (49 m high late Romanesque tower from the first half of the 13th century is the oldest preserved historical building in the town); Church of St. Jacob (has a 60 m high tower with two bells – Jacob and Maria) and the Town Hall are a must see sights.
Trebic, Czech-Moravian Highlands
The town of Trebíč is situated on both banks of the Jihlava River on the foothills of the Czech-Moravian Highlands. The origin of the town is linked with the foundation of the Benedictine monastery in 1101. The most valuable building is the newly reconstructed New Synagogue with restored wall paintings. Another significant sight is a large Jewish Cemetery with 3000 gravestones. The dominating feature of the town is the Town Tower (72 m). Charles Square with its area of 2,2 ha belongs to the largest in Central Europe. Other sights to be emphasised are the parish Church of St. Martin´s rebuilt in 1715-1730, the originally Capuchin Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord from 1686-1693, the Orthodox Church of St. Wenceslas and Ludmila, the Chapel of the Raising of the Holy Cross, the remains of the round bastion on Hrádek Hill, the Romanesque-Gothic basilica of St. Procopus, the windmill and the river baths built in 1934 situated in a beautiful natural area according to the design of B. Fuchs. The Jewish Town and the Jewish Cemetery together with the area of the Basilica of St. Procopus were nominated by the Czech Republic to be included in the prestigious register of the world cultural and natural heritage of UNESCO.
Zdar nad Sazavou, South Moravia
The original village of Ždár was developed thanks to the local Cistercian monastery (established in 1252). The monastery reached its prime at the beginning of the 18th century in the time of the abbot Václav Vejmluva when several important architectural sights arose. The most important of all is the Gothic-Baroque pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk on “Zelená hora – The Green Hill” built in honor of St. John Nepomuk in the early 1720´s, designed as a five-pointed star-shaped church surrounded by a cemetery and walkway. At the end of the 1994 it was registered as a UNESCO building. The author of this beautiful building which is not the only one designed by him in Ždár region is Jan (John) Blažej Santini-Aichl.
