Uherské Hradiště

8/2/2019 Uherské Hradiště

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Uherské Hradiště

The history of the townThe rich history of the royal town of Uherské Hradiště reaches back todistant past. Long before the place was settled, favorable climaticconditions along with fertile soil had made it predestined for settlement.The archeological finds suggest that the primeval people had been livinghere since the early stone age. On the crossing of trade routes leadingfrom the North to South and from the West to East, an ingenuous systemof island fortifications was constructed in the 8th and 9th centuries. Threeoriginally uninhabited islands in the Morava river were settled. The mainone was called St. George Island, after the chapel consecrated to St.George, which was situated there. The settlement area of the time spreadover the grounds of today’s Uherské Hradiště, Staré Město and Sady,making it undoubtedly one of the centers of the Great Moravian Empire.Relatively small in area, this settlement integrated the administration of power, crafts production as well as the religious and cultural sphere. Afterthe decline of the Great Moravian Empire, the importance of this centerdiminished for a long time.During the 13th century, southeastern Moravia became a target of frequent enemy raids. The border crossings, passes and fords were usedby the enemy troops to invade and plunder the fertile Moravian land. It

was in this time that the strategic importance of the island near a Moravaford grew again. The enemy raiders vexed not only the villagers, but alsothe monastery in Velehrad. A deed by King Přemysl Otakar II. fromOctober 15, 1257 testifies that the town of Uherské Hradiště was foundedon an island owned by the monastery not only to protect the monasteryitself, but mainly the borderland. The town’s first inhabitants came fromnear market villages, royal Kunovice and monasterial Veligrad (today’sStaré Město). The double settlement determined the town’s appearance – two market villages were founded in close proximity to each other, eachwith its own square – hence the two squares of today’s town. The basicground plan probably reflected the original Slavic settlement. The centerof the town shows signs of typical medieval geometrism, while the shapeof outer streets was somehow adapted to the neighboring municipalfortification.The town’s history and development through the centuries was a long andcomplicated one, frequently marked with incessant raids and brawls withthe adversaries of the Czech state. For this reason, the town had beengradually fortified by various systems of fortification since its founding.These systems were constantly improved and upgraded. The townreached its high point in the 15th and 16th centuries, when it was granted

numerous privileges and liberties. In the course of the following centuries,Hradiště became a target of frequent enemy raids. In the 16th century, it



was attacked by Cuman hordes, while in the 17th, it was vexed by militaryclashes of the Thirty Years’ War. The turn of the 17th and 18th centuriessaw frequent Turkish raids and the early 18th century saw the suffering of the Prussian Campaign. In the course of its whole history, the town wascaptured just once – by Prussian army in 1742. Forty years later, it

ceased to function as a fortress, however, it did continue to beconstrained to the area within the fortifications. The area outside thefortification had been gradually settled only since as late as the 1840’s. Bythis time, the town fulfilled the functions of trade, administration and judicial center of the region. In the second half of the 19th century,nationalist turmoil and struggle for national character spawned manydifferent nation-oriented societies and corporations. In 1884, a newgrammar school was founded in Uherské Hradiště, to be the first Czech-language secondary school in Moravian Slovakia. During this period, manyimportant buildings were being built and the town continued to grow.

Even after 1918, the town of Uherské Hradiště remains mainly a center of administration with slow industrial development. The Second World Wardamaged the town to a large extent. The post-war renewal brought largeindustry to the town, namely canning and machine engineering. The influxof population caused, along with the annexation of the neighboringvillages, a bustling growth and a significant change of the town’sappearance.After 1989, the town became more beautiful than ever, namely itshistorical center. Most of sights and historical monuments werereconstructed and sensibly adapted to fit the needs of our time.

Sights and Monuments

The complex of Jesuit structures at Masaryk square consists of theJesuit dormitory built in 1654 – 1662, St. Francis Xaverius parish churchand a grammar school building with theatre hall (Reduta) built in 1724 – 1729.The St. Francis Xaverius church at the Masaryk square was built by JanJeroným Caneval in the years 1670 –1685 after a project by Dominik Orsi.

Its interior features baroque paintings by Jan Jiří Heintsch and Ignác Raaband statues by Ondřej Schweigl. The last reconstruction of the church tookplace in 1998.In 1724-1729, the Jesuits built a seminary school next to the church,which included theater and concert halls. This Baroque house, now knownas Reduta (“ridotto”) underwent a complex reconstruction in 1996-2001and now serves as a concert and theater venue. Its courtyard is gracedwith monumental sculptures by Otmar Oliva and a sculpture by PetrNovák called A Tribute to P. Felix Kadlinský SJ. The Virgin Mary Annunciation church is a part of the Franciscanmonastery complex. The church was built at the turn of the 15th and 16thcenturies. The only original parts that survived the radical reconstructionin the 17th and 18th centuries are its peripheral walls and presbytery. The



church was damaged by the flood of 1997, its reconstruction was finishedin 2003.The Franciscan monastery was founded in Uherské Hradiště by theBishop Jan Filipec in 1491. It acquired its Baroque appearance in the early18th century. The most important room of the monastery is its refectory

with with outstanding artistic decoration by an Italian artist from theBaldassare Fontana circle. The refectory was expensively reconstructed,finishing in the spring of 2000.The St. Elisabeth chapel coming from the early 15th century. It boastsa preserved Gothic presbytery with cross arches and outer supportingpilots. The baroque entrance was added during a Baroque reconstructionin the 17th century. Following a large-scale reconstruction in 1995, thebuilding was turned into a pharmacy.The St. Sebastian chapel was built in 1715 by imperial garrison as agesture of thanksgiving for the averting of the plague epidemic. In 1969,

it was moved several meters away from its original site and placed on anewly constructed foundation.The Marian plague column is yet another monument commemoratingthe plague epidemics that swept through the town. It was built in 1718 -1721 by Brno sculptor Antonín Riga. The top of the column features asculpture of Immaculate Virgin Mary, while the sides of the pedestal bearsculptures of St. Charles of Boromej, St. Francis Xaverius, St. Florian andSt. Peter of Alcantara. Also, there is a sculpture of St. Rosalie in the frontside cavity.The building of the hotel Slunce („the Sun“) is the only preserved

Renaissance building in the town. It was built in 1578. In the 17th and18th centuries, the house was owned by the Velehrad monastery, whichadapted it into a salt storage. Later, since the second half of the 19thcentury, it had been known as the “Golden Sun” Inn. The building wasthoroughly reconstructed in 2002-2003, resulting in today’s Hotel andArcade Slunce.The Golden Crown pharmacy served its purpose as early as the end of the 17th century. In the second quarter of the 18th century, the twooriginal burgher houses that stood here were rebuilt in Baroque style. In1884, they were connected with a pseudo-renaissance facade with stucco

graffito decoration. The original decorations of the interior was partlypreserved; the ceiling frescos by Josef Ignác Sadler with succo date backto the 18th century.The Baroque fountain at the Masaryksquare was created in the 1st quarter of the 18th century by Olomouc sculptorVáclav Render. The original fountain wasmoved to the yard of municipal Gallery in1979. Its place was taken by a copy.The Baroque fountain at the Mariansquare dates back to the late 17th century.It was sculpted by Karel Josef Rossi.The building of today’s Town hall at the



Masaryk square was built by the Municipal Savings Bank in 1891 – 1893after the plans of Brno architects Vojtěch Dvořák and Karel Welzl. Theceremonial hall is decorated with frescos by Joža Uprka with scenes fromthe town’s history. The Municipal Hall, built in 1871, used to be the center of cultural and

social life of Czech citizens living in the town. Following the reconstructionin 1994, it serves as an additional facility of the 1st basic school.The town’s skyline is dominated by the leaning tower of the FormerTown Hall in the Prostřední street. Its core probably dates back to the14th century. The tower was rebuilt at the turn of the 15th and 16thcenturies and later modified in the 18th and 19th centuries. Lastreconstruction was carried out in 1995.The Czech-language grammar school was established in 1884. Itsbuilding by architect Josef Schaniak was finished during the followingyear. It is decorated with graffiti depicting important representatives of

the 19th century science. In 1977 – 1979, a new building was added,which is connected to the old building via a separate “neck” -like corridor.In 1999, a new gymnasium was finished.The Synagogue was built in 1875 in the style of eclectic historism. It wasrebuilt in 1904 in the Art Nouveau style, with the addition of archedcopula. In the Second World War, it was ruined by the Nazis. After thewar, it was used for cultural purposes. In 1967, the Distric Public Librarywas moved into the building. In 1999, the first phase of reconstructionwas finished.

Hiking and sightseening tips

Velehrad

Situated 7 km northwest from Uherské Hradiště in the valley of theSalaška stream lies one of the most important pilgrimage places inMoravia – the village of Velehrad. Ever since the Middle Ages, these placeshave been related to the Archbishop Method’s metropolis and the political-administrative center of the Great Moravian Empire in the 9th century.

However, based on today’s archeological research we suppose that theGreat Moravian Veligrad was located in the places of today’s Staré Město. The history of today’s Velehrad began in the beginning of the 13thcentury, when the first Grey Monks’ monastery was built here. The largemonasterial complex, built in late Roman style with some early Gothicfeatures, was finished in the 1240’s. Manifold destructions andreconstructions in the centuries to come have significantly altered itscharacter. The remains of architectural features that were discovered inthe course of archeological prospectings are today displayed in the stonecollection, installed in the underground of the Velehrad basilica.

The monastery was given its now-known appearance at the turn of the17th and 18th centuries, when a large scale Baroque reconstruction was



launched, to be finished in the second half of the 18th century. Thisreconstruction radically changed the appearance namely of the basilica,consecrated to Virgin Mary’s Ascension and St. Cyril and Method. Thebasilica’s decoration is a work of many artists, including stone and marblecutter Ondřej Allio, sculptor and plasterer Blatazar Fontana and painters

Paulo Pagani and Ignác Raab. The visitors to Velehrad can not only marvel at majestic church andmonastery but also enjoy themselves in one of the hotels and restaurantsin the village. A former water mill was sensitively converted into a hotelthat will cater to the needs of even the most demanding guests. You canalso taste Moravian wines in the former monasterial cellar.

Buchlov and Buchlovice

The Chřiby hills in the western parts of the Uherské Hradiště district aredominated by the Buchlov castle, which dates back to the 1st half of the

13th century. It was founded by a Czech ruler as a strategic defensive fortfor the middle Moravian region and as an administrative center with theright to judge and with a so-called hunting privilege. It is one of the mostimportant monuments of early Gothic style in Czechia. despite the factthat the castle was owned by the Czech kings until the 16th century, itwas often rented to noble families as a pledge. Since the end of the 15thcentury, it was held by the Cimburk family, and from 16th through 18thcenturies, it was successively owned by the Žerotín, Zástřizly and Petřvaldfamilies. The last owners of the castle, the Berchtold family, is to becredited for the installation of a museum that was opened to public as

early as the 1850’s. The castle was ceded to the state in 1945. Today, itsvisitors can marvel at period interiors, along with collections of stuffedanimals and insects and an extensive library.Not far from Buchlov, on a hill called Modla, stands the St. Barbara chapel,built in 1672 – 1673 as a funeral chapel for the Buchlov owners.However, the true architectonic gem is to be found in the village of Buchlovice – the Buchlovice chateau. It was built in the late Renaissancestyle by Italian builder Domenico Martinelli for Jan Dětřich of Petřvald atthe turn of 17th and 18th centuries. The chateau’s interior is richlydecorated with frescos and stucci by Baltazar Fontana in the spirit of early

Baroque. The saloons are furnished with Louis XV. – XVI. era stylefurniture. The family portraits grace the walls, along with numerous otherworks of art. The chateau is surrounded by a beautiful park withstaircases, terraces, an obelisk, pools, and stone vases. It is also specialfor a great number of exotic trees and bushes. During the tourist season,there are various exhibitions in rebuilt former stables, most notably aunique exhibition of fuchsia.In a picturesque valley southeast of Buchlovice, you can findreconstructed sulphuric spa Leopoldov with recreational area Smraďavka.



Wine cellars in Vlčnov

Wine-growing has a long tradition in this village. It was mentioned for thefirst time as early as the 14th century. On a hill beyond the village, thereis a state-protected historic complex of wine cellars.

Johann Amos Comenius Museum in Uherský Brod The Museum was established in 1898. Today it is a specialized expositionfocusing on the life and work of the town’s famous native. Besides thepermanent exhibition that introduces the personality of Comenius, theMuseum also hosts many art and other exhibitions and other culturalevents.

Biking trails

The picturesque countryside of the Morava river basin, the Chřiby hills andWhite Carpathian mountain range, historic sights and living folklore

tradition – all of these things offer many different and interestingpossibilities for biking. You can find more detailed information in abrochure describing biking trails, No. 39 – Uherské Hradiště region, WhiteCarpathians, Chřiby. One of the trails you can find here is calledBuchlovice royal trail. It starts in Staré Město and goes on via Velehrad,Buchlov castle, Zikmundov, Vlčák, Bunč, Komínky, Budačina, Halenkovice,Napajedla, Topolná, Bílovice, Jarošov, Uh. Hradiště back to Staré Město. Itis 60 km long; the difficulty level is intermediate.

Bata Canal

You can make your stay in Uh. Hradiště even more pleasant by travellingon the Morava river or on an artifical canal named by the well-known Zlínentrepreneur and shoemaker Bata. The 50 km long canal is a historicwaterway connecting Otrokovice with Rohatec, built in the 1930’s. Part of it goes along the Morava river, while the other parts are artificial canalswith mobile weirs, irrigation shutters, lock chambers and other waterstructures. The canal helped maintain acceptable levels of groundwater,served for irrigation and, since 1937, transportation (freight). After theSecond World War, it served mainly tourism. In 1999, the Otrokovice – Strážnice section was reconstructed back to operating condition.

Do not miss the Bata canal wharf (opposite the Interspar shopping mall).Those who come in on their own vessels will appreciate the publicrestrooms and showers. You can rent a motorboat here or go on asteamboat cruise. The wharf, which also includes a stylish restaurant, isopen April through October, seven days a week. Tel.: 602 853 559

Lookout tower Uherské Hradiště – Rovnina

This lookout tower above the Mařatice suburb offers an exciting view of the Morava river wold and Chřiby mountains to the West, WhiteCarpathians to the East and the gate of Napajedla, Hostýn mountains andVizovice downs to the North. This 49 m high tower was built by theEurotel telecommunications company and its observatory platform, rentedby the Town of Uherské Hradiště, is freely available to the public. A visitor



has to manage 125 steps of a spiral staircase at the tower’s axis to findthemselves 23.93 above the surrounding terrain, which equals to 190 mabove the surface of the Morava river and 360 m above the sea level. Thelookout tower can be accessed from the suburbs of Uherské Hradiště (1.2miles walk from Mařatice, 2 miles from Jarošov), or from the nearbyvillage of Javorovec (1 mile). The tower is situated on a green tourist trailfrom Staré Město u Uherského Hradiště to Luhačovice and on the regionalbike trail No. 5049 from Uherské Hradiště to Bojkovice and Pitín.

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Uherské Hradiště