Zámek Moravský Krumlov
Do roku 2012 sídlila v zámku Moravský Krumlov slavná slovanská epopej, 20 monumentálních pláten Alfonse Muchy zobrazujících historii slovanského lidu a civilizace.
Zámek Moravský Krumlov Read More »
Do roku 2012 sídlila v zámku Moravský Krumlov slavná slovanská epopej, 20 monumentálních pláten Alfonse Muchy zobrazujících historii slovanského lidu a civilizace.
Zámek Moravský Krumlov Read More »
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The fortification was built on the northern bank of the Váh, exactly above the flow of the Váh through the western edge of the Žilina basin. Of the known fortifications from the Roman period, the fortification in Divinka with the mentioned area of 12 hectares is the largest. Together with the presumed wooden walls (without embankment modifications), the total area of the Divinka fortification could have been as large as 100-150 hectares, making it one of the largest fortifications in Europe. There is evidence of an Old Slavic settlement only on the Veľký vrch (Big Hill) in Divinka. Here could have been the original tribal castle of the ancient Biess and later, in the pre-Great Moravian period, the main castle of the North Slavic tribe. The fortification was built already in the Hallstatt period (8th century BC). There are already traces of Eneolithic settlement (3300 years before Christ). On the southern slope of the Great Hill we know an artificially prepared terrace in two places, first a settlement terrace, but we have no finds from there.
The findings show that northern Slovakia in the Slavic and Great Moravian period was inhabited by a Slavic tribe with its tribal seat in Divinka on Veľký vrch. In addition to the fortification in Divinka, seven other fortifications from the same period have been found in the vicinity, most of them built on the right side of the Váh, thus forming a fortified line on the border with the Kysuce Mountains. The area inhabited by this tribe was characterised by burial in mounds. The burnt remains of the dead were deposited on the surface of the ground and covered with the mound. The tribe and its territory became a part of Great Moravia after its formation.
After the demise of the Great Moravian Empire, this territory became for a certain period of time an independent territory, which was not under the influence of the emerging Kingdom of Hungary, although for short periods it came under the influence of the Kingdom of Poland or the emerging Kingdom of Bohemia. This territory was thus the only free remnant of Great Moravia in the Carpathian Basin.
Some sources state that the whole area was probably already in the times of Great Moravia organized as a separate organizational unit (county) with its seat in Divinka with a regional and judicial office. The castle in Divinka, assuming its size was 150 ha, would have been one of the largest in Europe.
St. Clement’s Mountain is one of the spiritual places deeply connected with the history of Moravia.
The first written records of this mountain, hidden in the silence of the vast Chřiby forests, date back only to the 14th century.
According to the testimony of historical sources, this mountain was given centuries ago by King Rastislav to St. Constantine, Methodius and their disciples for a contemplative life. They found here a place for contemplation, prayer and work. A monastery and hermitage were built near the temple, and there was also a school, a centre of education and enlightenment. As the Life of Constantine, written under the direction of Archbishop Methodius himself, says: “When Saint Constantine came to Moravia, Rastislav received him with great reverence, and when he had gathered disciples, he gave them to him for teaching… And soon he translated the Church Order, and taught them the morning Divine Service, the hours, the evening, the Vespers and the Mass, and there he had other doctrines, grammar and music taught. And the ears of the deaf were opened, according to the words of the prophet, and they heard the words of the Scriptures, and the language of the harebrained was made plain …”
The Mount of St. Clement, placed under the protection of the Roman Pope and martyr, patron of the Thessalonian mission, St. Clement, whose remains were preserved there, was thus a centre of piety and learning. It was also here that the translation of the holy books was completed by St. Methodius in 884, and that a celebrated service was celebrated on the feast of St. Demetrius in thanksgiving for the grace and help granted.
Archaeological excavations have shown that a brick chapel stood on this mountain in the 9th century in the Great Moravian period. Only Jindřich Wankl from the Patriotic Museum Association from Olomouc, who led excavations of the hillfort in 1885 – 1888 and who allegedly discovered the foundations of the monastery itself from the Cyril and Methodius period, mentions the 9th century living space adjacent to the chapel, but does not specify it any further.
In 1903-1905, the Brno postal official R. Čechmánek carried out excavations here and stated in connection with the living quarters that he found nothing except incomplete parts of the Augustinian monastery.
However, R. Čechmánek discovered the common grave of seven individuals in the church nave and the skeletal remains of one individual in the chancel behind the altar, which were mainly passed off by local enthusiasts as the skeleton of Methodius.
The anthropological expertise carried out in 1950 by the Institute of Archaeology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences in Prague dated the old skeleton by Dr. J. Chochol to the 13th to 15th century. Thus, the myth of Methodius’ burial at St. Clement’s Fortress cannot be confirmed.
From other interesting finds in this locality is the discovery of a golden solidus of Emperor Theophilus from the years 839 to 842 by a native of Koryčany, Vítězslav Gloza, in 1912.
There are threefold fortifications on the eastern side of St. Clement’s Mountain, which surround the 16-hectare fortification. On the acropolis are the foundations of a medieval church, which was built from the original 9th century chapel by the Brno Augustians after 1358, and which existed until 1421, when the monastic community was attacked by the Hussites from Strážnice. After this catastrophe, the spiritual life on St. Clement’s Mountain ceased. Around 1500, the knight Smetana of Osvětimany lived here as a hermit.
There is also a wooden chapel, built in 1964 by some Koryčany citizens under the leadership of P. Stanislav Straňák, in place of the original chapel from 1880, which stood in the chancel of the church foundation. There is also the bell tower of St. Gorazd, built in 1985 by members of the Community of St. Gorazd and Companions – Living Heritage. The Zeyer’s Well, located southeast at the foot of the mountain, has also been named after St. Gorazd since the same year.
Source: www.korycany.cz
The importance of the site grew in the period before Great Moravia, but the fortress reached its greatest prosperity during the times of Great Moravia. Then it became an important power centre of the whole south-western Moravia. Probably in the 9th century the area was newly fortified using the remains of the Late Bronze Age walls. The new fortification consisted of a ditch (up to 10 metres wide, 3.4 metres deep, in some places cut into the rock) and a massive wall with a wooden structure made of cross and longitudinal timbers. The wall had at least in some places a stone headwall. It also included log chambers measuring 3 × 3 metres. The entire fortified area covered an area of 20 hectares, making it one of the largest Great Moravian castles. It was divided into two halves by an inner wall and a moat – the western front castle and the inner castle in the eastern part of the site. The exact time of the construction of the wall has not yet been determined. Dendrodata recovered from the outer (western) wall speak for the period after 881, the inner wall was probably built earlier.
Only short parts of the rampart and the moat have been preserved to this day. Most of them have been destroyed over time by agricultural and construction activities, so that their course is almost imperceptible in the terrain. Only the southern and eastern sections of the inner castle fortification and a small part of the western wall of the forecourt are better preserved.
The demise of the fortification probably dates back to around 906, when, according to late tradition, Hradiště was conquered and burnt by the Hungarians. The results of the archaeological survey also correspond to this. According to them, the fortress was destroyed in a great fire. The described event is dated to the first half of the 10th century by the discovery of jewels found together with an unburied female warrior under the collapsed body of the wall.
Even after the overthrow by the Hungarians, the settlement of Hradiště persisted and the locality also retained its dominant position in the area. This was also the case after the annexation of Moravia to Přemyslid Bohemia. It was not until the end of the 11th century that a new, smaller castle was built nearby, on the opposite side of the Gránicky valley, by Prince Konrad I and his son Litold, on the outskirts of which the medieval town of Znojmo gradually emerged. The new Přemyslid castle took over the administrative function and the importance of Hradiště as a secular centre ceased. However, it remained a religious centre for a long time – the church in Hradiště is mentioned as the main “Znojmo church” in the documents of the Olomouc bishop Jindřich Zdík from the third of the 12th century, and a provost appointed by the ruler was stationed at the church. The Hradiště provosts became visible as royal chancellors when Znojmo was made a royal town (1222/1226). However, the function of the main town church was taken over by the Church of St. Nicholas and Hradiště was not included in the town location. In 1240 King Wenceslas I gave Hradiště to the Order of the Crusaders with the Red Star. They soon had the Great Moravian rotunda of St. Hippolytus rebuilt into a Gothic church. During the Hussite wars the priory was burnt down. Martin Medek of Mohelnice (1577-1581) and the mathematician and astrologer Mikuláš Kozař of Kozařov (1585-1616) were among the notable personalities who served as provost here.
The provost’s office was conquered by Count Thurn during the Estates Uprising, who handed it over to the administration of William of Roupov, the highest provincial judge in Moravia. From the ashes of the Thirty Years’ War, Hradiště was brought out by the provost Gerhard of Sclessin and his nephew Thomas of Sclessin, both formerly apostolic Protestants, born in Lutych. In 1759, under the reign of Bishop Jan Jiří Hauer, Bishop Moritz Adolf of Saxe-Coburg died here, having taken refuge here during the Seven Years’ War. The money deposited for his stay (asylum) in the building of the presbytery enabled the Baroque reconstruction of the Church of St. Hippolytus with the invitation of the leading late-Baroque painter Franz Anton Maulbertsch.
Velehrad je jedním z nejvýznamnějších poutních míst Moravy. Historie tohoto místa se začala psát před více než 800 lety, kdy do údolí říčky Salašky přišlo prvních 12 cisterciáckých mnichů, aby nedaleko obce Veligrad (dnešní Staré Město) vybudovali svůj klášter. Právě na základě své polohy dostal klášter své jméno a stal se záhy nositelem mnohem starší duchovní tradice, která sahá až do 9. století, kdy na Moravu přišli slovanští věrozvěstové Konstantin a Metoděj. A tak již po staletí na Velehrad proudí tisíce poutníků, k nimž se připojil v roce 1990 také papež Jan Pavel II.
Zakladateli kláštera byli moravský markrabě Vladislav Jindřich s jeho bratrem Přemyslem Otakarem I. a olomoucký biskup Robert. Výstavba kostela byla zahájena patrně v letech 1210 – 1215. Jako většina cisterciáckých kostelů přijal patrocinium Nanebevzetí Panny Marie. (Spolupatronát Cyrila a Metoděje byl připojen až v roce 1932 dekretem papeže Pia XI. Titulem bazilika byl kostel vyznamenán v roce 1928 z rozhodnutí papeže Pia XI.).
Původní románsko-gotická bazilikální stavba byla budována podle stavebních tradic cisterciáků, které charakterizovala krása prostých linií a střídmá výzdoba. Devadesát devět metrů dlouhá stavba byla rozvržena na půdorysu latinského kříže. Východní stranu uzavírala pětice apsid. V této podobě se kostel do dnešních časů nedochoval v důsledku tragických událostí, jež v průběhu dějin cisterciácký klášter postihly. V roce 1421 vypálili velehradské opatství moravští husité. Klášter 150 let chátral. Nesnadného úkolu obnovy se ujal až opat Ekard ze Schwoben ve druhé polovině 16. století. Středověkou podobu však kostel ztratil až v důsledku obrovského požáru, který v klášteře vypukl v roce 1681. V důsledku této pohromy byl kostel radikálně přestavěn. Stavba byla zkrácena o chrámové průčelí s románským ústupkovitým portálem a nahrazena novým, jemuž dominují dvě věže. Boční lodě baziliky byly přezděny příčkami s pilastry, a tak vzniklo 14 samostatných postranních kaplí, z nichž 10 má oltáře a pod podlahou krypty. Z křížení lodí byla snesena 100 metrů vysoká renesanční věž a byla nahrazena kupolí s nízkou věží zvanou lucerna. Nyní je tedy bazilika dlouhá 86 m. Přes radikální zásahy si kostel uchoval ve svých proporcích a půdorysném schématu charakter románsko – gotické stavby.
V roce 1784 byl velehradský klášter zrušen Josefem II. Klášterní majetek byl rozchvácen, areál kláštera střídal majitele a klášterní kostel se stal kostelem farním. Stavba velmi chátrala a chyběly finanční prostředky na její údržbu. Obnovy se dočkal kostel v souvislosti se sílícím cyrilometodějským kultem . V rámci cyrilometodějských milénií v letech 1863 a 1885 se jej podařilo obnovit. Další rozvoj byl zabezpečen příchodem jezuitů na Velehrad v roce 1890. Za jejich správy byla stavba ve 20. letech a 30. letech 20. století zabezpečena proti vzlínání vlhkosti. SS tím souvisel objev velehradského podzemí, které bylo ještě před vypuknutím druhé světové války zpřístupněno veřejnosti. V letech 1935 – 1938 proběhlo restaurování interiéru kostela. Nástup totalitních režimů k moci celá desetiletí bránil rozvoji poutního místa, ačkoliv nejnutnější opravy (např. statické zajištění klenby a výměnu krovu a krytiny) se podařilo realizovat.
V roce 1990 se na Velehrad vrátili Jezuité a na Velehrad přicestoval papež Jan Pavel II. Od té doby probíhá pozvolná hmotná i duchovní obnova Velehradu, přičemž projekt Velehrad – centrum kulturního dialogu západní a východní Evropy představuje její vyústění.
Zdroj: www.velehrad-iop.cz
Hradisko „Ostrá skala“ (812 m.n.m.) je situované na vápencovom brale východne od „Tupej skaly“. Z východnej a južnej strany ho chránia bralnaté steny s výškou 50-60 m. Sídliskovo vhodná plocha je v SZ časti, odkiaľ je aj prístupová cesta. Najstaršie osídlenie je tu zachytené v podobe kolových jám, ktoré datovala keramika do mladšieho obdobia badenskej kultúry.
Spolu s polohou „Trniny“ nad Dolným Kubínom je to druhé výšinné sídlisko z eneolitu na Orave. Po zničení halštatského hradiska na „Tupej skale“ sa tu nakrátko presunulo osídlenie, doložené keramickými zlomkami v sekundárnej polohe. V dobe laténskej – púchovská kultúra, tu vybudovali opevnený hrádok, chránený kameno-hlinitým valom s výškou 3,5 m a palisádou. Vnútorná plocha bola rozčlenená na tri časti, pričom akropola bola ohradená valom s roštovou konštrukciou. Osídlenie tu pokračovalo aj v rímskej fáze púchovskej kultúry. Na ploche sa našla typická laténska keramika, vrátane maľovaných nádob, železné spony, náradie. Z 19. storočia pochádzajú tri zlaté keltské statéry, nález bronzového ramienka na váhy naznačuje možnosť výroby mincí. Výnimočným nálezom je depot 40 železných predmetov datovaný do 4. storočia – do tzv. severokarpatskej skupiny neskorej doby rímskej, ktorý spolu s nálezmi keramiky dokazuje že na počiatku sťahovania národov tu jestvovalo menšie sídlisko Významné postavenie mala lokalita aj v slovanskom období, kedy tu vybudovali veľkomoravské hradisko. Železné ostrohy datujú toto osídlenie už do blatnicko-mikulčického horizontu, na prelom 8.-9. stor.
Zdroj: www.archeologiask.sk
Ostrú skalu ako výhodnú strategickú polohu pre vybudovanie opevnenia objavili opäť v 9. storočí n.l. naši predkovia Slovania, ktorí na hradisku opäť obnovili opevnenia a vybudovali nové obydlia. Slovanský opevňovací systém v závere 8. stor. a v 9. stor. využil zvyšky fortifikácií z predchádzajúcich období. Rovnako sa nadviazalo na staršiu úpravu vnútorného priestoru hradiska, keď sa palisádovou ohradou rozdelilo opevnené sídlisko na tri nádvoria s rozlohou približne 1,5-2 ha. Val, v pôdoryse majúci tvar nesymetrickej podkovy, chránil najvyššiu sídliskovú plochu s rozlohou 2500 m2. Val má svoj pôvod v dobe laténskej, pričom Slovania ho navŕšili a vsadili doň drevenú ohradu.
Z prelomu 8. a 9. stor. pochádza kultúrna vrstva, zahĺbené obydlie s pecou a ďalšie sídliskové objekty s ohniskami. Z nálezov treba spomenúť tri ostrohy, kosy, kovania vedierok, nože, sekery, britvy a zbrane. Z mladšieho obdobia, časovo zaradeného do 10. stor. až na prelom 12./13. stor., boli v pôdoryse rozpoznané príbytky so zrubovou konštrukciou (zuholnatené zvyšky drevených trámov). Opevnené sídlisko pravdepodobne v prvom časovom horizonte plnilo centrálnu správnu funkciu v regióne. Na základe dlhodobo prebiehajúceho prehodnocovania nálezovej situácie (železné predmety – zbrane, výstroj koňa) je už preukázaná kontinuita osídlenia od druhej polovice 9. stor. až do 10. stor. Išlo o obdobie medzi oboma najdôležitejšími medzníkmi včasnostredovekého využitia tejto lokality. Nedosahuje však takú intenzitu ako v oboch dominantných časových úsekoch.
Zdroj: www.hradiska.sk
Already in 1890 and 1895 the Smolenice parish priest N. Sándorfi explored the location of Molpír on the eastern outcrop of the Small Carpathians. He found fortifications with three defensive walls, a prehistoric settlement, and investigated 23 graves of the Central Danube mound culture, mostly with mound embankments. The grave inventory already represents the classical mound culture, with a sword with a tongue-shaped hilt (type Smolenice – Szombor) and a needle with a seal-head. The research of the cairn was continued in 1970-72 by the Archaeological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (Siegrid Dušeková); she uncovered 15 cairns with 51 biritual graves; the urn and skeleton graves had numerous ceramic and bronze (razors, jewels, knives) additions, even gold wires were found. Several mounds and several finds from the pre-Moravian period date from the Slavic period.
In 1963-71, the Kalenderberg culture site was systematically investigated by Mikuláš Dušek (from 1967 with Siegrid Dušek). The whole site can be divided into three areas, two foreforts and an acropolis, with a total area of 12 hectares. The construction of the fortification was above average: the 2 m wide rampart had dry-laid stone walls on both sides, 0.5 m wide, with a stone-clay infill in the middle. The acropolis wall was reinforced with a wooden chamber structure, its stone gateway was reinforced with quadrilateral towers and protected from the side by an oval bastion.
Only the upper forecourt and the acropolis were inhabited; the houses, arranged in a street system, stood on artificial terraces. The acropolis was also built on the inner side along the fortifications. They were 6-10 m long, about 3 m wide, single, double and triple-roomed. They were built with a log construction on stone walls, the walls were plastered on both sides with clay, and the floor was similarly treated, sometimes laid with flat stones. Heating was provided by simple hearths and dome stoves. Outside the houses on the acropolis there were 6 ovens, probably under a wooden shelter, used for baking bread. Another furnace adjacent to one of the houses contained the remains of a smelting furnace and an iron magnifying glass – this is the oldest iron furnace in our area. There was also a cistern (35.5 x 5.5 x 1.5 m) carved into the rock on the acropolis, possibly serving another purpose (clay-washed walls). A cult place, the so-called temple, was carved into the rock (202 x 6 m). It contained three red-burned sacrificial altars, the skull and bones of a child of about 2 years of age, broken crescent-shaped idols and geometric idols in the form of weaver’s needle weights. Other evidence of the cult is a building sacrifice in the foundation of one house.
The economy of the settlement was based on handicraft production (besides ironwork (tools, weapons, knives) bronze casting (crucibles), production of stone hearths, weaving) and trade. The contact with the advanced South Hallstatt world is evidenced by boat-shaped clasps, needles, amber and glass beads, as well as imitations of bronze vessels in ceramics.
The demise of the fortress is related to the abundance of metal projectiles from both the inner and outer sides of the ramparts, but the only victim of the military conflict is a defender killed in the third gate. The attackers used the same missiles as the defenders. Thus, the destruction was not brought about by invaders from the east, but by internecine conflicts between domestic groups between 570-560 BC, probably related to the emerging nomadic culture in the Carpathian Basin, referred to as the Vekerzug culture. The first objects decorated in a different (beast) style, which are found in the youngest layers of the hillfort, are also echoes of its emergence.
At the site, the restoration and presentation of parts of the fortification, the gate, the cult object and the cistern have been carried out. Visitors are informed about the individual objects by the text on the boards forming part of the nature trail.
Source: smolenice.com
The hillfort was discovered in the 19th century by the Slovak explorer Anton Intibus, who wrote about it in 1856. Further exploration was carried out in the late 1990s by Štefan Meliš. There are massive ramparts of the hillfort (two closed ramparts, separated by a deeper ravine). There are two fortifications with a total area of about 2.6ha (2.03ha and 0.58ha). The hillfort is located on a promontory of Svrčinovec hill /759.7m/ immediately above the village of Riedka at the confluence of the Strážovský and the White Brook in the cadastre of the village of Pružina.
The larger of the two hillforts on the north-eastern side of the terrace, sloping gently to the north-west, has an outer circumference of 611m and an area of approximately 2.03ha. The hillfort consists of a massive continuous rampart (260m long, 3-4m wide at the crown and 1.5-7m high) on the north-west, south-west and south-east sides. There is also a lower mound (length 20m) in the northern outcrop of the hillfort. On the south-eastern side of the rampart is a shallow ditch (length 90m, width 0.8-1m). A smaller ditch also lines the rampart on the inner side in the western arch of the fortification (length 30m). The rest of the perimeter of the fort, about 330m long, is formed by the edge of a plateau with steep rocky slopes. The natural rampart is reinforced in several places by stone retaining walls. The fortification is interrupted in 4 places, these are probably entrance gates. There are three stepped terraces, probably an acropolis, in the south-eastern wooded part of the hillfort. There is a worked rock measuring about 3x2x0.7m near the south-western arch of the rampart, and it is likely that this was the site of a sacrificial burial ground.
The area with a perimeter of 305m and an area of about 0.58ha. It lies in the south-west outcrop of the terrace. The division of the hillfort into two parts was probably caused by the configuration of the terrain (gusts of water from the northern slope of Svrčinovec probably disturbed the mound. The flat upper surface of the hillfort was built artificially. It is protected from the west and north-west by steep rock slopes, the north-eastern side was earthen and is therefore now spread out into a gentle slope. On the south-eastern side, the plateau is protected by a substantial mound (70m long, 3-4m wide and 1-1.5m high), terminated on the western side by a projection (probably a tower or gate). Behind it, a road clearly emerges from the corner of the hillfort. There is a similar projection in the opposite corner of the fortification above the pothole separating the hillforts.
Several sherds from the 9th century (Slavic from the period of Great Moravia), but also sherds from the Púchov culture from the late Ladenian period have been found on the hillforts. The existence of production facilities is assumed here (finds of iron slag at the eastern rampart near the eastern gate of the fortification). As the probing of the fortification failed to reveal a cultural layer, it is assumed that it is probably a refugium (a fortress built by the Slavs – or rebuilt in the early Middle Ages to give them a place to hide from the enemy in times of danger).
Source: krizom-krazom.eu
In 2006, the municipality of Majcichov commemorated the 740th anniversary (1266) of its first written mention, although its existence dates back to 35 000 years B.C. For this anniversary, the municipality published a book by Adriana Račková – Traditions and Songs from Majcichov and a commemorative plaque to the local dean and parish priest, Konstantin Hurban, was unveiled at the local grocery store, COOP Jednota.
Archaeological findings indicate that prehistoric man lived in the area of present-day Majcichov as early as the Early Stone Age ( 35 000 – 8 000 years B.C. ). In the literature, the hillfort of Majcichov from the Early Stone Age ( 5 000 – 3 000 B.C. ) is more often mentioned. In this context, the settlement of the people with the culture of volute pottery is mentioned. The most frequent traces of ancestors of Majcichov people are found in the Bronze Age (from 1900 – 700 BC), it is the Lusatian and Velatian culture. In the older Iron Age (from 700 – 300 BC) there is a known settlement south of Majcichov, already in the cadastre of the municipality of Hoste, in the locality of Malý háj (Little Grove). At the turn of the 5th and 6th century AD, Slavs settled here. The preserved traces include a settlement with Prague-type pottery.
From the 9th century there is a known Great Moravian protective hillfort in Majcichov from the local part of Palaj to the Vlčkovský grove, which had an area of 3 ha. Archaeological research of this hillfort was carried out by the Institute of Archaeology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Nitra in the 1960s and at the beginning of the 21st century. Researches claim that the area could be as large as 9 ha. The hillfort was located at an important trade crossroads. It is very likely that Majcichov already existed in this period under the name of Majtech as a small settlement on the local upper street below the church today. A watchtower probably stood on the site of the church. A whole network of service settlements was formed around the Majcichov settlement. In this period, the Majcichov inhabitants embraced Christianity, which was also consolidated by the old Hungarians within the Hungarian state after the settlement’s demise, as evidenced again by the many Hungarian names – Farkašín (Vlčkovce), Majthény (Majcichov)
Although Majcichov together with the church is documented in writing from 1266 as evidenced by the minutes of the Nitra Chapter (stored in Hungary in the Nitra archive, from the above it is certain that the village existed much earlier)
The life of Majcichov was influenced by the Elephanthy family from Lefantiovce near Nitra, King Sigismund of Luxemburg, the Thurz family, Františl Ujlaky- Bishop of Rába, the Wofgang family, the Báthory family, the Stupava estate, the Szegédivo family (they built a lighthouse and four large cellars on the place where the KD stands today), Stiavnica manor, Bencsics, Gudics, Abrahámfy, Farkas, Esterházi (from their period there was an early manor house, which was demolished due to its unsatisfactory condition), Szegeli (they gave the monstrance to the church, the emperor to the chapel in the cemetery, which is from 1697). In the Jan Palárik Memorial Room there is a painting representing the so-called Peace of Majcichov, which symbolises the end of the Imperial-Curonian Wars.
From the first half of the 18th century, the crypts of the Andreanskis and Szegedi family are located under the church. In the 18th century, the Andraszi family were among the owners of the municipality (statue of St. Barbara 1750, cross in front of the church 1747).
Source: www.majcichov.sk
The oldest traces of sporadic settlement on the site of the later hillfort date back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. The foundation of the first settlement at Kostolc occurred in the Younger Bronze Age (1300-1100 BC). Members of the Velatic culture built a massive, 120 m long neck mound on the northern side of the site and dug a ditch in front of it. Archaeological research carried out in 1968-1972 and 1975 confirmed that the inhabitants of the hillfort were engaged in bronze casting. This is confirmed by the discovery of mould casters and a large number of bronze objects.
The hillfort was reoccupied in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. and then by the Slavs in the 9th century, at the time of the Great Moravian Empire. The Slavic settlement at Kostolc was preceded by the settlement at Pobedim. It was destroyed in the 1st half of the 9th century, probably as a result of the expansion of Prince Mojmir in the territory of today’s Slovakia in the years 830-833. The hillfort at Kostolc was settled around 850, it was in the form of a great manor with an area of approximately 0.5 ha. For its defence, an older rampart and a Bronze Age moat were used. A wooden palisade was built on top of the rampart. A stone rotunda with an apse stood inside the hillfort.
The courtyard disappeared sometime in the middle of the 10th century. The rotunda a little later. From the end of the 10th century to the 14th century, the surroundings of the rotunda served as a cemetery. It is estimated that up to 1900 people were buried here during this time. Around the middle of the 15th century the hillfort served as a Hussite military camp. Burials were made here again in the modern period from the last third of the 16th century to the second third of the 19th century. There are approximately 340-360 burials.
Source: www.hrady.cz
Branč Castle – history
In the southeast of the castle is the location of the Old Castle, where there is a hillfort, which apparently disappeared after the construction of Branč Castle in the 13th century. The exact dating of the hillfort is not clear. It was already inhabited in the Middle Eneolithic by the culture with channeled pottery, later in the Lusatian culture, and also in the 8th to 9th centuries.
The ruins of Branč Castle are located on the hill of the same name in the Myjava Hills above Podzámok, a local part of the village of Podbranč. The oldest written mention dates back to 1317. The castle covers an area of about 7,500 m2, at an altitude of 480 m above sea level. As the castle stood on a relatively easily accessible hill, its defences were constantly improved. The main entrance to the lower castle is from the east. The entrance to the castle was guarded by two bastions of outer fortifications. Opposite the main entrance is the three-quarter gun bastion of the middle castle, protecting the entrance area from the enemy by firing cannons and small arms. The perimeter walls of the lower castle are interrupted in four places by semicircular bastions.
The castle is divided into two main parts: the lower castle and the middle castle. The middle castle is separated from the lower castle by a distinctly dry deep moat, which increased the natural height of the fortifications of the middle castle. The entrance to the middle castle was originally in the corner (opposite the monument). Even where the ground was level (where there was no moat, but the ground was covered by the fall of the upper and middle castle), the attackers had to cross 80 m of uncovered space (the moat) under direct fire from the castle defenders.
The middle castle is functionally divided into 2 parts: the northern courtyard of the middle castle and the residential palace part. From the courtyard (by the monument) a staircase led up to the atrium courtyard and to the individual rooms. There were 40 rooms – 15 on the ground floor, 20 on the first floor and 5 on the second floor. There was a castle well in the western courtyard of the lower castle (near the monument). There was also an older well in the courtyard of the middle castle (near the only accessible room).
The castle was built by Magister Aba of Hlohovec between 1251 – 1297. This dating was determined by archaeological research – according to the discovery of coins with the years 1251 – 1261. In the following years the castle changed 40 owners. In 1309 the castle was acquired by Matúš Čák Trenčiansky, for a short period of time the castle was also owned by the Czech King John of Luxemburg, in 1394 by Sigismund of Luxemburg. After this year, the reconstruction of the middle castle dates back to the same year. The result was a typical Gothic rock castle with an assault tower, palace, chapel and in the south-eastern corner of the central castle a high fortified perimeter wall.
In the 16th century, the castle became the property of František Nyáry, who married the daughter of the castle lord Korlátko (Cerová), and the last members of the Nyáry family lived there with the whole family, who built a new manor house in Sobotiště (on the square) and gradually moved there with the furnishings. It was a more comfortable residence for them. The castle remained abandoned and fell into disrepair. During the Turkish wars it served as a refuge for the surrounding population, and in the period 1674-1675 it was a temporary prison for Protestant priests who were sentenced to galleys by the Bratislava court. They died in the pits (prison around the perimeter of the wall). This event is commemorated by a memorial and annual services at the castle.
As the castle was abandoned, it was easily attacked and burned by the Turks and the castle remains so to this day.
In 1968 Pamiatkostav Žilina carried out a monument restoration of the castle, which was not completed. Archaeological research has been carried out since 1978. During five seasons, in the uncovered buried rooms, in the individual layers, articles of stone architecture from windows, doors were found; furthermore, shards of majolica, pots and stoves were found. Interesting finds included a decorative stone Renaissance cornice with a shield bearing the date of the completion of the castle reconstruction in 1539 and the monogram of the castle’s owner, František Nyáry. Furthermore, a set of pillars, wooden parts from the original castle, an iron arrow, 2 bullets, an old knife, bronze needles, various kinds of buttons, fittings, a key from a jewellery box and a copper cedi were found.
The Benedictine monastery in Rajhrad is the oldest monastery in Moravia and one of the oldest Moravian religious institutions. According to legend, a Basilian monastery, founded by St. Cyril, should have existed here as early as the 10th century. In 1045, the Bohemian prince Břetislav I gave the Břevnov monastery an abandoned castle called Rajhrad and founded the monastery (cella) of Saints Peter and Paul there. Three years later, on 26 November 1048, the cella was transformed into a real monastery, which was subordinated to the Abbey of Brevnov.
The monastery, founded on the site of a Greco-Moravian fortress perhaps as early as the 8th century, was plundered many times in the following centuries. In 1311, King John of Luxembourg and Duke Friedrich of Austria visited the monastery. During the Hussite storms, monks from many destroyed monasteries took refuge in Rajhrad.
The monastery retained its Romanesque appearance until the beginning of the 18th century, but the condition of the buildings was unsatisfactory. Therefore, the then provost Antonín Pirmus undertook a complete and generous reconstruction. In 1718, Pirmus, known as the second founder of the monastery, entrusted the design work to Jan Blažej Santini Aichl, who designed four quadrants surrounding the church of Saints Peter and Paul: a prelature, a convent and two farmyards. In 1722 the construction of the church began, the convent buildings were in use from 1755 and the whole complex was completed in 1840.
The importance of the monastery grew throughout the Middle Ages. In 1234, Margrave Premysl granted the monastery substantial freedoms. King John of Luxembourg granted the monastery’s superiors the right of throat in 1327 and Charles IV confirmed Břetislav’s privileges. From 1540 the abbots of Rajhrad sat in the Moravian Provincial Assembly. The right of pontificalia was granted to the provosts by Pope Inocent IX in 1687 and since then they were allowed to wear a mitre, cross, ring and scepter. The monks of Rajhrad achieved total independence in 1813, when the abbey was elevated to the status of an abbey by Emperor Francis I.
The Benedictine monastery of Rajhrad gradually became a renowned centre of learning. Already in the 14th century, the abbot John II and the monk Peter, who also drew beautiful initials, stood out in literature. Many manuscripts were left behind by Prior Leo (+1419), Prior Placentinus (+1638), Prior Celestin Arlet (+1683) and many others. The greatest growth of the monastery took place in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it became famous for its expanding library and for the scientific activities of Bonaventura Pitre – the confessor of Maria Theresa, Dr. Gregory Volny, Dr. Beda Dudik, Dr. Maurus Kinter and other educated Benedictines of Rajhrad.
The entire 20th century was almost devastating for the Benedictines, but the darkest period for the monastery came shortly after the communist takeover. On the night of 13-14 April 1950, all the male religious orders in the country were raided by the People’s Militia and StB units as part of “Action K”. The religious were interned and their property was forfeited to the state. Various units of the Czechoslovak People’s Army then took turns in the Benedictine monastery in Rajhrad.
In 1990, the devastated buildings were returned to the order, which, with the support of many institutions, funds and donors, is gradually reconstructing the entire complex. In 2005, the Memorial of Literature in Moravia was opened here, which manages the famous Benedictine library with 65,000 volumes of books. The monastery is coming back to life after a forty-year hiatus and thus continues the almost thousand-year history of the Benedictine community in Rajhrad.
Šaštín is old-famous in the history of Slovak nation and its history dates back to the arrival of our faithful saints Cyril and Methodius to the old homeland of the Slovaks. It was an important fortress for the protection of trade routes at the crossroads of the Danube, Bohemian and Znojmo roads. The name of the castle and the settlement comes from the words “Šášie” and “Tín” – which means: castle of cut trees. It was built by the river Myjava, in marshy terrain. The castle was the seat of the county governors and the archdeaconate – representatives of the bishop. The Šaštín archdeaconate administered the deaconates from Moravský Ján to Čachtice. Thus, Šaštín was always the seat of both the dean and the archdeacon, who resided in the castle. The first church – the castle chapel – was probably located there. The first written mention is from 1204, when Imrich II gave the Győr family a property named “Sassin”. Later, the property was acquired by Imrich Czobor I. His son Imrich Czobor II settled here permanently. From the castle, sentries were sent out, guards, so called. Spekulatores were sent out to guard the roads and report dangers.
The veneration of the Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows among the Slovaks began with the adoption of Christianity by the faithful saints Cyril and Methodius. The people built chapels and temples in her honour. Similarly, near Šaštín, near the castle, a picture of the Mother of God hung on a tree.
1564 – The beginning of pilgrimage. In this year Angelika Bakičová, the wife of Count Imrich Czobor, the owner of the Šaštín estate, had a statue of the Seven Sorrows made as a fulfillment of a promise to hear her in her family’s troubles. Angelica asked for the help of the Seven Sorrows for her image. The statue was placed for public veneration in the triangular chapel that stands there to this day.
1654 – During the Turkish Wars, the statue of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows was taken to a nearby castle and kept in the chapel of St. Imrich. Here it remained until the beginning of the 18th century.
1710 – The statue was placed in the chapel again. It was greatly venerated by the people and many miraculous healings of body and soul took place. Therefore, an investigation into them was started.
1732 – On 25 August, the statue was transferred to the Loreto chapel near the church in the square. The Archbishop of Esztergom, Imrich Eszterházy, appointed a commission of inquiry headed by the canon of Esztergom, Juraj Agnelý, a native of Šastina. The commission examined 726 miraculous cases, which were reinvestigated by the commission in Bratislava. – On 10 November, in the presence of many clergymen and 20,000 pilgrims, the statue was solemnly declared miraculous and reinstalled in the triangular chapel. At that time, Holy Mass was celebrated for the first time at this place. The statue was entrusted to the care of the parish priest of Šastina, Ján Schon.
1733 – The provincial of the Pauline Order, František Rosa, forced the statue to come under their care. The Paulines came to Šaštín on 2 April. They undertook to build a pilgrimage church and a monastery.
1736 – 16 July, the foundation stone was consecrated. Construction work began under the direction of Jan Damiani, a builder from Vienna. Later the construction was led by Matej Vépy.
1748 – The building and the roof over the church were completed and in 1751 the monastery was roofed.
1757 – The church was painted by Jean Joseph Chamant with beautiful frescoes on the ceiling and above the side altars.
1760 – The interior decoration of the church continues according to the design of Franz Anton Hildebrant, the imperial builder, who also designed the construction of the red marble high altar and the entire façade of the church. The entire construction was financed from the collections of the common people and with the contribution of Empress Maria Theresa.
1762 – On 12 August, in the presence of Archbishop Barkóczy of Esztergom, Empress Maria Theresa and her husband Francis of Lorraine, many clergy and thousands of pilgrims, the consecration of the church took place, and on 15 August the statue was solemnly transferred to the high altar.
1765 – the bells on the towers, which only reached the height of the roof and were topped with spires, were consecrated.
1771 – An organ with 25 variations and a pulpit were built. Gradually the side altars of marble were built, except for one. The altarpieces were painted by Ján Lukáč Kracker.
1786 – Emperor Joseph II. Abolished the Pauline monastery, of which there were 17 in Šaštín. They went to Poland. The church came under the administration of the parish priest of Šaštín – dean Jakub Schneider and four chaplains. The old parish church in Šaštín was closed. The rectory was moved to a part of the monastery, which became an imperial property.
1864 – The celebration of the three hundredth anniversary of the veneration of the statue of the Seven Sorrows in Šaštín took place. Earlier, the dean Štefan Hrebíček undertook to complete the two towers to their present height. The construction was carried out by the Hodonín builder Jozef Bárta. The crosses on the towers were ceremoniously hoisted on 26 June 1864. On 8 September, a great ceremony took place during which the Archbishop of Esztergom, Cardinal Ján Scitovský, crowned the statue with gold crowns, which were consecrated by Pope Pius IX. The ceremony was attended by 300 clergymen and over 120 thousand pilgrims.1902 – Dean Jozef Maria Škarda, on the occasion of the arrival of the Emperor to Šaštín to complete the manoeuvres, had the church restored.
1914 – during World War I, the bells were taken from the towers, except for the smallest one.
1924 – On 8 September, by the decision of the Bishop of Trnava, Dr. Paul Jantausch, the Salesians – sons of Don Bosco – came to Šaštín. They repaired the old parish church on the square, which had been a granary for 150 years. They dedicated it to their founder, St. John Bosco.
1926 – On October 31, 1926, 4 large bells were consecrated.
1927 – On April 22, the Holy Father Pius XI. On May 22, he solemnly proclaimed it in the presence of 3 bishops and 40 thousand pilgrims.1928 – was the consecration of the great national bell of the Seven Sorrows, the weight of which is 4.745 kg.
1929 – Electric lighting was introduced into the church and the monastery.
1941 – 43 – The sanctuary and the whole building were repaired. The Viennese Slovaks donated a sculptural Stations of the Cross. After completion, they also ordered an extension of the organ.
1950 – On 14 April the Salesians were forcibly expelled from Šaštín and the administration passed into the hands of the diocesan priests. In the autumn the organ was finished, which now has 120 registers, 5 manuals, three playing desks and 5500 pipes. Pilgrims continued to visit the pilgrimage church despite the obstacles.
1964 – during the 400-year veneration of the statue, at the request of Bishops Dr. Ambrose Lazik and Dr. Eduard Néczey, the Pope Paul VI elevated the Shrine of the Seven Sorrows by the decree “Ad perpetuam rei memoriam” of 23 November to a minor basilica. The solemn proclamation took place on 27 December in the presence of Bishop Lazik of Trnava, many clergy and faithful.
1968 – 70 – The Salesian Fathers administer the parish again – they introduce a new sound system, electric bells and build a makeshift altar to the people.
1975 – Vdp. Parish priest Karol Senasi had a new marble altar to the people built, which was consecrated by Bishop Dr. Július Gábriš, a great Marian worshipper and annual pilgrim to the Seven Sorrows.
1987 – Marian Year – the basilica was visited by Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the new Bishop of Trnava, the current Archbishop Metropolitan of Slovakia Mons. Ján Sokol. Under the leadership of the local parish priest Jan Baša, the overhaul of the basilica began.
1990 – At the end of February the Salesians come again to Šaštín and under the leadership of the parish priest-deacon Jan Malženický the repair of the basilica continues, on March 9th he takes over a part of the monastery and already on March 9th he takes over a part of the monastery and on March 9th he takes over the monastery. On 22 April, while travelling by helicopter, the Holy Father John Paul II especially greeted the Seven Sorrows by circling over the basilica and promised to come on pilgrimage during his homily. This was followed by the Holy Week pilgrimage at the turn of May and June, attended by a large number of faithful; the culmination of the pilgrimage season was the great pilgrimage on the feast of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows – the Patroness of Slovakia, when the entire façade was already without scaffolding.
1991 – Then the renovation works continued inside the basilica: new electrical installation, new sound system, modification of the altar and presbytery, modification of the sacristy, purposeful tempering of the basilica, restoration of the pavement and completion of the Marian museum at the basilica. Most costly, however, was the cleaning and revitalization of the beautiful Chamant frescoes and the entire interior of the Basilica. The last scaffolding was cleared from the Basilica before the National Pilgrimage in September 2005.
In the building of the monastery, the ecclesiastical Catholic boys’ boarding Gymnasium of John Bosco was (re)founded.1995 (1 July) – Šaštín and the Basilica were visited by Pope Blessed John Paul II, during his second pastoral visit to Slovakia.
Resource: bazilika.sk
Hand-kneaded fired pottery with coarse grain, with lines and nail incisions, as well as later pottery made of floating clay on a potter’s wheel have been found in the village. The most important archaeological discovery, however, is the first unearthing of the remains of a Great Moravian stone building on our territory. The excavations were carried out here since 1911 by Dr. Jan Nevěřil, professor of the Faculty of Divinity. Under his direction, the foundations of a small church with a rectangular, elongated chancel and 4 supports in the nave were uncovered. Initially, it was attributed to Cyril and Methodius, which was rejected in scientific circles, but only after 40 years it was definitely proven that it was the first brick church from the times of Great Moravia.
These findings were brought about by the revision archaeological research initiated in 1953 by Dr. Vilém Hrubý. This research not only refined the report on the site, but also uncovered a small cemetery of 36 skeleton graves, the character of which fully corresponds to the knowledge of Great Moravian burial sites. All of the graves avoided the church walls, suggesting that the burial site was created when the church was already standing. The oldest almsgivings in the graves date from the 9th century, so there is no doubt that the building was already standing in the first half of this century, i.e. still in the pre-Cyril-Methodian period.
It is a single-nave church with a rectangular nave with 4 built-in supports and a rectangular chancel measuring about half the length and width of the nave. The entrance to the chancel may have been partially blocked by a short partition, the floor paved with smaller stones hewn together. The stone walls, rendered grey-brown on the outside and multi-coloured on the inside, originally had a flat wooden ceiling. The different recesses of the foundations suggest that the nave was of greater height than the rectangular choir. Overall, it can be concluded that the form was influenced by the missionary current from the west.
Around the eastern part of the church, stake holes were found – traces of fencing or a hint of an older, perhaps also ecclesiastical building. To the northeast and southeast lay the cemetery, which had served its purpose for about 100 years. The discovery of knives in 10 graves suggests that the deceased belonged to the free, perhaps even privileged, class.
It can be assumed that after the end of Great Moravia, the hill near Modrá was deserted, because a document from the beginning of the 13th century speaks of the church of St. John, which later disappeared, but which stood deserted and empty near Velihrad, on a farm donated by Margrave Vladislav Henry to the Cistercians as a provision until the construction of the Velehrad monastery. At the end of the 17th century, an engraving by Kristian Hirschmentzel, a member of the Velehrad convent, depicts a small chapel, strikingly consistent with the reconstruction of the foundations. Given the discovery of a 17th-century coin in the excavation area, it can be assumed that this is an identical chapel; it can also be assumed that it is the chapel of St. John, associated with the foundation of the Velehrad monastery.
Source: cs.wikipedia.org
It consists of a set of interconnected buildings, dominated by two defensive towers with a gate, which house a ticket office and a small souvenir shop. The other buildings consist of a light palisade, a stage for various cultural performances, fast food and administrative buildings. All of them are built in the spirit of the building culture and architecture known from the early medieval period, so they do not disturb the historical framework of the experience area.
represent two types of fortifications that formed part of the fortification system of one of the centres of Great Moravia, Veligrad. They were found during excavations in Staré Město and Uherské Hradiště. The light type of fortification is a timber-clay wall with a frontal palisade, while the heavy type is a newly built massive wall with a frontal stone wall and a palisade superstructure. Without such fortifications, the ancient Moravians could hardly have resisted the attacks of their enemies.
shows what the appearance of dwelling houses, sunken dwellings and farm buildings of various types was like and gives a glimpse into their modestly furnished interiors. It may come as a surprise to learn that the dwellings were mainly used during the harsh winters, and that during the other months they were mainly lived in front of, outside. The domestic animals, such as goats, pigs, chickens and geese, and even donkeys, that are kept in the barns and roam freely among the visitors, are an integral part of the attraction.
represents a separate settlement unit consisting of the workshops of a jewellery manufacturer, i.e. a jeweller, a potter, a blacksmith and an iron metallurgist or a metalworker. In the 9th century, these industries reached a significant level of specialisation and excellence, which was reflected in all spheres of life of the inhabitants of Moravia at that time. At all events for schools and the public, the workshops, like other buildings, are staffed by real craftsmen dressed in the traditional dress who bring to life the old production techniques.
forms the visual dominant of the open-air museum. Its centre is the stone palace of the Great Moravian princes as a representative of the top level of architecture of Great Moravia. Every year, various cultural activities take place in its interior, such as thematic exhibitions on the early medieval history of Moravia. The palace is complemented by a kitchen and a high defensive tower that can be climbed. In doing so, you can get an idea of the extent of the Modra archaeological site, the largest in our territory, and see the nearby Velehrad Monastery and the Chřiby Triple Peak with Buchlov Castle.
it consists of three detached buildings, the main one being a long wooden structure divided into several parts. Originally, it probably represented the dwelling of an important priest, perhaps Archbishop Methodius himself, his pupils and colleagues, as well as a place where they learned to read and write in Glagolitic and were educated in the Holy Scriptures. The complex also includes a small brick rotunda with a baptistery function, and a hall-type church – a hypothetical reconstruction of the Church of St. John – standing in the immediate vicinity of the open-air museum, near the original site of the discovery of its foundations.
represents one of the newest parts of the open-air museum, which currently consists of a recently planted vineyard containing old grape varieties known in the medieval times, such as Červenošpičák, Mlynářka, Tramín bílý, Muškát žlutý… The vineyard was created in cooperation with the municipality of Modrá, Modra winemakers and experts from the Institute of Viticulture and Enology of Mendel University in Lednice. Wine and Great Moravia are concepts that link the past and the present into one very interesting whole for visitors.
Source: www.archeoskanzen.cz
The fortified settlement was first built and inhabited on the river terrace in today’s Chotěbuz in prehistoric times – at the turn of the Late Bronze Age and the older Iron Age. After its demise and abandonment, which took place roughly in the Younger Latin Age, it waited another 1,200 years or so before people returned to the site. These were the Slavs who came to the area, much later called Teschen Silesia, in the early Middle Ages.
The Slavs chose well – the site is difficult to access, and from the fortress they could control the trade routes leading from the south to the north and east. They were skilled traders and warriors – and therefore made good use of the still visible remains of the original fortifications and built their own new settlement on their foundations, which grew in importance especially at a time when the whole area came under the strong influence of the Great Moravian Empire.
After several phases of prosperity and decline, which the Slavic settlement went through, it was finally abandoned by the people. This happened at the beginning of the 11th century, when – in short – people moved a few kilometres further east, to Těšín. The much more advantageous location of the Těšín castle, built on a rock promontory above the Olše River, and especially the town that later grew up in the sub-castle, were the reasons for the final demise of all settlement activities in Chotěbuz.
Source: www.archeoparkchotebuz.cz
Branč Castle – history
In the southeast of the castle is the location of the Old Castle, where there is a hillfort, which apparently disappeared after the construction of Branč Castle in the 13th century. The exact dating of the hillfort is not clear. It was already inhabited in the Middle Eneolithic by the culture with channeled pottery, later in the Lusatian culture, and also in the 8th to 9th centuries.
The ruins of Branč Castle are located on the hill of the same name in the Myjava Hills above Podzámok, a local part of the village of Podbranč. The oldest written mention dates back to 1317. The castle covers an area of about 7,500 m2, at an altitude of 480 m above sea level. As the castle stood on a relatively easily accessible hill, its defences were constantly improved. The main entrance to the lower castle is from the east. The entrance to the castle was guarded by two bastions of outer fortifications. Opposite the main entrance is the three-quarter gun bastion of the middle castle, protecting the entrance area from the enemy by firing cannons and small arms. The perimeter walls of the lower castle are interrupted in four places by semicircular bastions.
The castle is divided into two main parts: the lower castle and the middle castle. The middle castle is separated from the lower castle by a distinctly dry deep moat, which increased the natural height of the fortifications of the middle castle. The entrance to the middle castle was originally in the corner (opposite the monument). Even where the ground was level (where there was no moat, but the ground was covered by the fall of the upper and middle castle), the attackers had to cross 80 m of uncovered space (the moat) under direct fire from the castle defenders.
The middle castle is functionally divided into 2 parts: the northern courtyard of the middle castle and the residential palace part. From the courtyard (by the monument) a staircase led up to the atrium courtyard and to the individual rooms. There were 40 rooms – 15 on the ground floor, 20 on the first floor and 5 on the second floor. There was a castle well in the western courtyard of the lower castle (near the monument). There was also an older well in the courtyard of the middle castle (near the only accessible room).
The castle was built by Magister Aba of Hlohovec between 1251 – 1297. This dating was determined by archaeological research – according to the discovery of coins with the years 1251 – 1261. In the following years the castle changed 40 owners. In 1309 the castle was acquired by Matúš Čák Trenčiansky, for a short period of time the castle was also owned by the Czech King John of Luxemburg, in 1394 by Sigismund of Luxemburg. After this year, the reconstruction of the middle castle dates back to the same year. The result was a typical Gothic rock castle with an assault tower, palace, chapel and in the south-eastern corner of the central castle a high fortified perimeter wall.
In the 16th century, the castle became the property of František Nyáry, who married the daughter of the castle lord Korlátko (Cerová), and the last members of the Nyáry family lived there with the whole family, who built a new manor house in Sobotiště (on the square) and gradually moved there with the furnishings. It was a more comfortable residence for them. The castle remained abandoned and fell into disrepair. During the Turkish wars it served as a refuge for the surrounding population, and in the period 1674-1675 it was a temporary prison for Protestant priests who were sentenced to galleys by the Bratislava court. They died in the pits (prison around the perimeter of the wall). This event is commemorated by a memorial and annual services at the castle.
As the castle was abandoned, it was easily attacked and burned by the Turks and the castle remains so to this day.
In 1968 Pamiatkostav Žilina carried out a monument restoration of the castle, which was not completed. Archaeological research has been carried out since 1978. During five seasons, in the uncovered buried rooms, in the individual layers, articles of stone architecture from windows, doors were found; furthermore, shards of majolica, pots and stoves were found. Interesting finds included a decorative stone Renaissance cornice with a shield bearing the date of the completion of the castle reconstruction in 1539 and the monogram of the castle’s owner, František Nyáry. Furthermore, a set of pillars, wooden parts from the original castle, an iron arrow, 2 bullets, an old knife, bronze needles, various kinds of buttons, fittings, a key from a jewellery box and a copper cedi were found.
Source: podbranc.sk
Znojmo – Rajhrad, Česká republika
Možná si říkáte, že v zimě se nedá putovat a užít si to. Pojďme se společně přesvědčit o opaku. Rozhýbejme po vánočních a novoročních oslavách naše ztuhlá poutnická těla a začněme je pomaličku připravovat na jarní sezónu. Každý kilometr na cestě se počítá a tak vás srdečně zvu na první putování v nové krásně kulaťoučkém roce 2020.
Půjdeme krásným krajem Jižní Moravy ze Znojma přes Moravský Krumlov do Rajhradu, kde se nachází benediktinské opatství s kostelem sv. Petra a Pavla. V cíli putování se nechme okouzlit velkolepostí Santiniho geniálností a stavitelstvím. Ovšem na cestě nás čeká mnoho dalších krásných zastavení a Ti kteří se vydali po této trase v březnu 2019 dosvědčí, že o pohostinnost a krásná setkání nebyla rozhodně nouze.
Pojďme se i my společně “probudit” modlitbou. Jak říká otec Mons. Jan Peňáz: “Poutník se modlí nohama.” Pouť je určena komukoliv, kdo má chuť jít. Veškerý program je dobrovolný, podstatná je chuť jít a být v přítomném okamžiku se srdcem na dlani a otevřený všemu, co nám putování položí před nebo pod nohy. 🙂 Pouť je organizována pod záštitou Evropská kulturní stezka sv. Cyrila a Metoděje.
Přihláška a program na pout.eu.
Zákolany (Budeč) – Levý Hradec, Česká republika
Nultá etapa Cyrilometodějské pouť z Levého Hradce na Velehrad. Trasa: Střížkov – Ďáblice – Ládví – Dolní Chabry – Brnky – Klecany – Roztoky – Levý Hradec, 16 km („nepovinná” – pro nedočkavce – tj. opačným směrem, naopak do východiska CMP na Levém Hradci) Mše svatá pro poutníky na Budči cca v 9,30 – 9,45 (hned jak dorazíme od vlaku), slouží P. Kamil Vrzal – po mši odchod.
Slovanské hradiště v Mikulčicích, Česká republika
Programový blok pro základní, střední a mateřské školy i veřejnost zahrnuje bohatý program. Pátek 17. ledna – Prohlídka s průvodcem, vyhlídka z věže, tvoření z přírodnin, beseda a program na témata Zimní obživa Slovanů, Zamrzlá řeka, Zimní příroda, Osobnost sv. Konstantina. Sobota 18. ledna program pro veřejnost. Pondělí 20. ledna – Program pro MŠ – Pohádka o princezně Dobroslavě, program S písničkou za archeologem, Poklad velkomoravské princezny, tvoření z novoročních surovin.
Na území obce byla nalezena ručně hnětená pálená keramika s hrubým zrnem, s čarami a nehtovými vrypy, i pozdější keramika z plavené hlíny vyrobená na hrnčířském kruhu. Mezi nejvýznamnější archeologický objev však patří první odkrytí zbytků velkomoravské kamenné stavby na našem území. Vykopávky zde prováděl od roku 1911 profesor bohoslovecké fakulty dr. Jan Nevěřil. Pod jeho vedením se podařilo odkrýt základy nevelkého kostela s pravoúhlým protáhlým kněžištěm a 4 podpěrami v lodi. Původně mu byl přikládán cyrilometodějský původ, což bylo ve vědeckých kruzích odmítáno, teprve po 40 letech se podařilo definitivně prokázat, že jde o první zděný kostel z dob Velké Moravy.
Tyto poznatky přinesl revizní archeologický výzkum, který zahájil v roce 1953 dr. Vilém Hrubý. Tento výzkum nejenom zpřesnil nálezovou zprávu o nalezišti, ale podařilo se při něm odkrýt i malý hřbitov o 36 kostrových hrobech, jejichž charakter odpovídá plně poznatkům o velkomoravských pohřebištích. Všechny hroby se vyhýbaly chrámovým zdem, z toho plyne, že pohřebiště vzniklo až v době, kdy kostel již stál. Nejstarší milodary v hrobech pocházejí z 9. století, není tedy pochyb, že stavba stála už v 1. polovině tohoto století, tj. ještě v době předcyrilometodějské.
Jde o jednolodní kostel s obdélnou lodí s vestavěnými 4 podpěrami a obdélníkovým kněžištěm o rozměrech asi poloviny délky a šířky lodi. Vstup do kněžiště byl snad částečně přehrazen krátkou příčkou, podlaha dlážděna menšími přitesanými kameny. Kamenné zdi, omítnuté zvenčí šedohnědou a uvnitř vícebarevnou malbou, nesly původně plochý dřevěný strop. Rozdílné zahloubení základů naznačuje, že loď měla větší výšku než pravoúhlý chór. Celkově lze usuzovat, že podoba byla ovlivněna misijním proudem ze západu.
Kolem východní části kostelíku byly zjištěny kůlové jamky – stopy ohrazení nebo náznak nějaké starší, snad také církevní stavby. Na severovýchodě a jihovýchodě pak ležel uvedený hřbitov, který svému účelu sloužil asi 100 let. Podle nálezu nožů v 10 hrobech lze soudit, že zemřelí příslušeli ke svobodné, snad i privilegované vrstvě.
Lze předpokládat, že po zániku Velké Moravy návrší u Modré pustlo, neboť v listině z počátku 13. století se hovoří o kostele sv. Jana, který později zmizel, ale který už tehdy stál pustý a prázdný v blízkosti Veligradu, na statku darovaném markrabětem Vladislavem Jindřichem cisterciákům jako provizorium do vybudování velehradského kláštera. Na konci 17. století je pak na rytině Kristiana Hirschmentzela, člena velehradského konventu, zobrazení malé kaple, nápadně se shodující s rekonstrukcí nalezených základů. Vzhledem k nálezu mince ze 17. století v areálu vykopávek lze předpokládat, že jde o totožnou kapli, rovněž lze předpokládat, že jde o kapli sv. Jana, spojenou se založením velehradského kláštera.
Zdroj: cs.wikipedia.org
Archeoskanzen Modrá se nachází 7 km od Uherského Hradiště v podhůří Chřibů, na okraji obce Modrá v dohledu od velehradské baziliky. Jedná se o rekonstrukci velkomoravského sídliště středního Pomoraví z 9. stol., rozděleného na mocenskou, církevní a hospodářskou část, které se nachází v místech autentických archeologických nálezů. Je významným subjektem názorně osvětlujícím jednu z nejvýznamnějších etap našich národních dějin – Velké Moravy.
Skanzen žije svým každodenním životem s domácími zvířaty a bývá doplněn naučnými představeními a programy, výrobou keramiky, pečením chlebů a placek i třeba tavbami kovů. Archeoskanzen je obehnán palisádovým opevněním s branou a strážními věžemi. Uvnitř se nachází repliky slovanských staveb jako např. zemnice, polozemnice, hliněná hrázděná stavba, ale i honosné sídlo velkomoravského knížete a velká srubová stavba církevního areálu – škola písemnictví se sídlem arcibiskupa.
Na návrší v těsné blízkosti Archeoskanzenu se nachází Národní kulturní památka Modrá – Na Díle, se základy předvelkomoravského kostelíku sv. Jana z přelomu 8.a 9. stol. Stojí zde nádherná kamenná replika tohoto zaniklého kostelíku. Velmi zajímavá je návštěva doplňující zdejší historii o poznání rostlinných a živočišných druhů a to v přilehlém areálu Živá voda. Zde můžete spatřit jak původní druhy ryb jako např. obří Vyzy velké i sumce, tak i majestátná suchozemská zvířata – pratury, kteří kralovali zdejším nížinám i lesům v období Velké Moravy.
Návštěvníci se zde mohou nejen seznámit s procesem pálení ovoce a historií vinařství, ale zároveň mohou ochutnat produkty typické pro místní kraj – ovocné destiláty a víno. Centrum dále doplňuje prodejna regionálních produktů a kavárna.
V 9. století bylo území Starého Města hlavní součástí Veligradu, jednoho ze dvou hlavních center Velké Moravy, k němuž ještě patřilo sídliště na místě historického centra města Uherské Hradiště a církevní centrum na výšině v Sadech.
Ve Starém Městě se rozkládal mocenský areál s kamenným palácem moravských knížat a rotundou. V poloze Na Valách, v centru vůbec nejrozsáhlejší velkomoravské nekropole, stál další kostel, jiný pak i s malým pohřebištěm postavili na jihozápadním okraji města v místech zvaných „Špitálky“. V aglomeraci se nacházely i řemeslnické areály členící se dále na výrobní specializované okrsky, v nichž byly zhotovovány skvosty velkomoravského šperkařství, honosné meče, opasky a ostruhy, ale i předměty denní potřeby. Archeologické výzkumy, které ve Starém Městě trvají více než 100 let, prokázaly, že významní obyvatelé velkomoravského Starého Města nosili šaty ušité z hedvábí, brokátů a prošité zlatými nitěmi, což dokládá, že udržovali kontakty s vyspělými oblastmi nejen Evropy, ale i Asie nebo Afriky. Ve druhé polovině 9. století byli téměř všichni z nich křesťané.
Na začátku 10. století Velká Morava zanikla. Z mocného Veligradu se stala vesnice, ovšem se dvěma kostely, z nichž jeden byl kostel sv. Michaela. V roce 1205 do kraje přišli cisterciáčtí mniši a asi 5 km od vesnice Veligrad, která se rozkládala na místě dnešního Starého Města, si vybudovali klášter. Pojmenovali jej Velehrad a nedaleká vesnice Veligrad se stala jeho majetkem. Mniši měli v úmyslu vesnici Veligrad přeměnit na klášterní městečko, centrum svého hospodářského života. V roce 1257 ovšem vzniklo v těsném sousedství královské město Nový Velehrad, později Hradiště, dnešní Uherské Hradiště. Proto se na začátku 14. století změnil název Veligrad na Staré Město.
Zdroje: staremesto.uh.cz
Na území dnešního Starého Města vzniklo již v 6. století několik zemědělských a řemeslnických osad. Nejznámějšími jsou hradiska Na Valách a sídliště Na Špitálkách. V okolí kostelů sv. Michala a sv. Víta byly nalezeny základy čtyř velkomoravských kostelů s pohřebišti a odkryty specializované řemeslnické dílny z 9. až 10. století. Rozsah a bohatství archeologických nálezů (stavby, užitné předměty, výzbroj, šperky) nenechává nikoho na pochybách, že se jednalo o jedno z významných center Velkomoravské říše. Po objevu prvních hrobů v roce 1924 Na Valách se ujal se vedení záchranných prací archeolog Antonín Zelnitius spolu se Státním archeologickým ústavem v Praze. Badatelské aktivity Antonína Zelnitia Na Valách i na zbývajícím území Starého Města definitivně potvrdily staroměstskou aglomeraci za rozsáhlé slovanské sídliště. Zásluhou profesora Viléma Hrubého (1912-1985) byl v roce 1960 ve Starém Městě otevřen Památník Velké Moravy, který je od roku 1969 Národní kulturní památkou.
Dřívější ves se podle listiny olomouckého biskupa Jindřicha Zdíka z roku 1141 jmenovala Veligrad. Na přelomu 12. a 13. století byl poblíž vsi založen cisterciácký klášter, do jehož majetku ves připadla. Když bylo v roce 1257 založeno královské město Uherské Hradiště (tehdy Nový Velehrad), byla ves podřízena právu tohoto města, nazvaná Staré Město (1257) a původní název Veligrad – Velehrad přešel na cisterciácký klášter a osadu, která kolem něj vznikla. Staré Město bylo značně postiženo povodní v červenci 1997. Po této přírodní katastrofě muselo být v jižní části města zbouráno téměř sto domů. Přesto se život v městě nezastavil, lidé si postavili nová obydlí, jiní si poničené domy opravili.
Národně kulturní památka Památník Velké Moravy byl vybudován roku 1960 v lokalitě Na valech. Budova památníku kryje základy kamenného velkomoravského kostela, který byl vybudován v polovině 9. století na starém pohanském pohřebišti ze 7. století. Stálá expozice dokumentuje dějiny centra Velkomoravské říše. V památníku je provozní doba od dubna do října, v zimních měsících je uzavřen. Veřejnosti volně přístupná je národně kulturní památka, archeologická lokalita Špitálky, ukazuje základy podélného kostela z 9. století. V základech římskokatolického kostela sv. Michala byly objeveny zbytky okrouhlé velkomoravské rotundy z 9. století. Hřbitovní kaple sv. Jana Křtitele je pozdně románskou stavbou, původně kostnicí z poloviny 13. století.
The site itself is located in the southeastern part of the town of Uherské Hradiště called Sady, near the road in the direction of Kunovice, on the so-called Sady promontory. In 1959-1963, under the direction of V. Hruby (from the Moravian Museum in Brno) an archaeological excavation, during which the remains of an unfortified court of ecclesiastical and power character were discovered.
It was here that some of the first Christian missionaries arrived sometime in the late 8th century. They came from Aquileia on the Adriatic coast and from Salzburg, and a little later from Passau. Probably with the knowledge of the local prince, they built a church on the Sady promontory, which may have taken the form of a cross above ground, with a massive square tower rising above the centre. The church was plastered, painted, had a poured mortar floor and was covered with a roof made of clay components. This architecture certainly dominated the wider surroundings. It was built sometime between the 8th and 9th centuries, more than 30 years before the foundation of Great Moravia (836). It was one of the first brick churches north of the Danube.
The complex of several brick religious buildings, built in three construction phases, occupied a dominant, far visible position. The church was first built in the first third of the 9th century on the plan of a Greek cross. To the west, a hall church with an apse-shaped roof was added in the 1960s and 1970s. This is sometimes interpreted as a chapel with two side entrances and its origin is probably linked to the newly arrived builders of the Byzantine mission. Probably in the third quarter of the 9th century, a tomb chamber and a chapel were added to the northern perimeter wall of the church with a cruciform layout, while the same phase is also attributed to the creation of a brick partition in the western church. In this context, the possibility arises that the western church became a place of instruction for catechumens, while the chapel with the burial chamber was used for the burial of a prominent Moravian (probably the grave of Prince Svatopluk). A baptistery was built to the west of the complex.
Outside, but also inside the church buildings, 87 burials from the 9th century were uncovered, often in coffins and with rich alms. The cemetery area with the church was separated on the north side by two walls from a cluster of twelve log buildings, where craftsmen and their families lived and worked in workshops. There was also a well. On the opposite side stood a large 36 m long and 6 m wide log structure – a meeting place and perhaps a place of instruction for the priests. A paved road ran between the precincts. Due to the overall situation at the St. Methodius’ Height (Sadská výšina), as well as to the finds from here – a lead cross with a Greek liturgical inscription, styli, etc. – the site is often associated with the workplace of the representatives of the Byzantine mission.
According to the evidence of grave finds, the original Great Moravian burial ground from the 9th and early 10th centuries was later overlain by young burials from the 11th-12th centuries. The chapel, which is attributed with Marian consecration on the basis of a written source from 1247, was finally abandoned together with the cemetery during the 13th century.
Source: www.slovackemuzeum.cz
Jedna z nejvýznamnějších archeologických lokalit z období Velkomoravské říše se nachází v dnešní městské části Uherského Hradiště lidově zvaného “Derfle” na tzv. sadské výšenině nad ohbím původního toku řeky Olšavy. Dokládá přítomnost církevního komplexu několika zděných staveb budovaných ve třech stavebních etapách v průběhu celého 9. století. Jeho součástí bylo i baptisterium a rozsáhlé pohřebiště. Vně i uvnitř církevních staveb archeologové odkryli 87 hrobů, nezřídka uložených v rakvích s bohatými milodary.
Dle nálezů byla v kapli s hrobovou komorou pohřbena významná osobnost, možná samotný kníže Svatupluk. Na severní straně byl sakrální areál oddělen zídkami od seskupení dvanácti srubových staveb, v nichž žili a v dílnách pracovali řemeslníci a jejich rodiny. Na opačné straně stála rozsáhlá stavba, která pravděpodobně sloužila jako shromaždiště věřících a snad i místo výuky kněží. V areálu nechyběla studna a zpevněná cesta mezi jednotlivými okrsky.
Vzhledem k celkové dispozici komplexu i významným nálezům (olověný křížek s řeckým liturgickým nápisem, pisátka) se předpokládá, že tady působili představitelé byzantské misie.
Lokalita byla definitivně opuštěna v průběhu 13. století.
Návštěvníci sadské výšiny mohou zhlédnout rekonstruovaný půdorys církevních staveb a seznámit se prostřednictvím infomační tabule s historií a významem této volně přístupné archeologické lokality, která je majetkem Zlínského kraje ve správě Slováckého muzea v Uherském Hradišti.
Zdroj: uherske-hradiste.cz
V poslední době Hradiště proslulo především archeologickými výzkumy Pedagogické fakulty Masarykovy univerzity, které zde každým rokem probíhají. Průzkum přinesl mnoho poznatků o pravěkém i velkomoravském osídlení zdejší lokality a o životě našich předků. Hradiště vydalo bezpočet nálezů keramiky, kostěných i kovových nástrojů a celou řadu nádherných šperků – bronzových a stříbrných náušnic, skleněných náhrdelníků i jiných.
Z dalších nálezů upoutá objev jednoho z nejstarších kamenných kostelů v Čechách i na Moravě (pravděpodobně z první poloviny 9. stol.) a také odhalení rozsáhlého velkomoravského pohřebiště. Základy kostelíku byly upraveny do podoby malého památníku, pohřebiště se stále zkoumá. V době výzkumné sezóny (červenec – srpen) je možné výzkum pohřebiště navštívit a seznámit se tak s prací archeologů i některými nálezy přímo v terénu. Pro zájemce je možné předem dohodnout komentovanou návštěvu výzkumu spojenou s ukázkou nálezů z lokality.
Zdroj: znojmo-hradiste.wz.cz
Celému Hradišti dnes vévodí komplex budov kláštera a proboštství, které od 13. století patří řádu Křížovníků s červenou hvězdou. Součástí komplexu je také původně gotický kostel sv. Hypolita, přestavěný v 18. století do dnešní barokní podoby. Původní kostel ze 13. století byl postaven na základech velkomoravské rotundy. V interiéru kostela se nachází mistrovská stropní freska Nalezení svatého Kříže od předního rakouského malíře období baroka – F. A. Maulbertsche. Interiér kostela i areál proboštství je možné navštívit každý den od 9 do 17 hodin.
Celý areál proboštství i s přilehlými usedlostmi byl ve středověku obehnán hradební zdí, z níž se do dnešní doby zachovala například západní vstupní brána. Ta dnes stojí v centru obce, na začátku ulice Křižovnické, vedoucí ke kostelu sv. Hypolita.
Na Hradišti nalezneme ještě celou řadu dalších církevních památek. Prostor v okolí kaple sv. Antonína Paduánského (z roku 1635) nabízí úchvatný pohled na město Znojmo, Ochoz kolem kapličky sv. Eliáše zase vyhlídku na údolí Dyje a Znojemskou přehradu. K oběma kaplím (a tedy i na celé Hradiště) směřuje zajímavá křížová cesta z 17. století, která vychází z Gránického údolí přímo pod znojemským hradem. Cesta má 14 zastavení a vede po příkrých zalesněných svazích. Tvoří ji nepravidelné schody z přírodního kamene, místy je cesta do skály přímo zasekána. Jednotlivá zastavení Křížové cesty dokládají nesmírný cit našich předků, kteří dokázali tyto drobné architektonické prvky nenásilně a vkusně zakomponovat do zdejší nenarušené přírody. Na počátku 90. let byla všechna zastavení renovována.
V poslední době Hradiště proslulo především archeologickými výzkumy Pedagogické fakulty Masarykovy univerzity, které zde každým rokem probíhají. Průzkum přinesl mnoho poznatků o pravěkém i velkomoravském osídlení zdejší lokality a o životě našich předků. Hradiště vydalo bezpočet nálezů keramiky, kostěných i kovových nástrojů a celou řadu nádherných šperků – bronzových a stříbrných náušnic, skleněných náhrdelníků i jiných.
Z dalších nálezů upoutá objev jednoho z nejstarších kamenných kostelů v Čechách i na Moravě (pravděpodobně z první poloviny 9. stol.) a také odhalení rozsáhlého velkomoravského pohřebiště. Základy kostelíku byly upraveny do podoby malého památníku, pohřebiště se stále zkoumá. V době výzkumné sezóny (červenec – srpen) je možné výzkum pohřebiště navštívit a seznámit se tak s prací archeologů i některými nálezy přímo v terénu. Pro zájemce je možné předem dohodnout komentovanou návštěvu výzkumu spojenou s ukázkou nálezů z lokality.
Zdroj: znojmo-hradiste.wz.cz
Hradisko na Pohansku je považováno za nejrozsáhlejší raně středověké opevněné území v České republice a zároveň jedno z největších ve střední Evropě. Archeologické nálezy zemědělských osad shlukového typu z doby před vznikem Velkomoravské říše dokládají, že zdejší prostředí vyhovovalo již nejstarším Slovanům. Vědci zde objevili žárové pohřebiště a množství slovanských sídlištních objektů – polozemnic s kamennými pecemi, hospodářských staveb a obilnic. Hradiště nížinného typu o celkové ploše snad až 55 ha bylo významným hospodářským centrem Velkomoravské říše. Lokalita se skládá ze tří celků: centrální část, jižní a severní předhradí. Centrální část hradiště má rozlohu 28 ha a byla opevněna dřevěno-hlinitou hradbou s čelní kamenou zdí a příkopem. Celá hradba měla délku asi 2 200 m a byla až 4 m vysoká. Při archeologickém průzkumu zde byl odkryt palisádou hrazený velmožský dvorec o rozměrech 96×86 m, řada řemeslnických dílen, 2 kostely a rozsáhlý hřbitov vypovídající o početnosti místní komunity.
Celokamenný kostel vystavěný v první polovině 9. století, patřil podle dochovaných základů k typu jednolodních staveb (délka 18,65 a šířka 7,2 metrů) s odsazenou půlkruhovou apsidou a s téměř čtvercovým nartexem. Na jihovýchodní straně přiléhal k lodi čtvercovitý přístavek. Chrám byl zbudován z importovaného lomového kamene spojovaného vápennou maltou. Stěny byly omítnuté a obílené, uvnitř zdobené barevnými freskami. V lodi se nacházely zbytky kamenné předkněžištní příčky s průchodem uprostřed. Vchod byl umístěn uprostřed jihozápadní stěny. Založení kostela lze spojovat se starší fází dvorce, tj. s dobou před polovinou 9. století, některé dostavby mohly být realizovány až v době působení soluňských bratří na Moravě. Kostel zanikl nejpozději kolem poloviny 10. století, přičemž sakrální funkci mohl ztratit již dříve. Šlo zřejmě o tzv. vlastnický kostel sloužící k soukromé potřebě nějakého významného velmože. V nejbližším okolí bylo odkryto pohřebiště s cca 400 hroby, často s bohatou výzdobou, mj. se našly i zlaté a stříbrné šperky. Nedávno byl na Pohansku objeven v místech bývalého seníku i druhý kostel. Podle průzkumů se zřejmě jedná o rotundu, která by mohla mít v průměru kolem 8 – 9 m.
Zbylá plocha centrálního hradiska byla v 9. století zastavěna menšími dvory se stopami řemeslnické činnosti (kovářství, tkalcovství), zde objevené hroby již vykazovaly daleko menší bohatost. Na severním předhradí se rozkládal řemeslnický areál, který měl i obytnou funkci. Jižní předhradí obsahovalo řemeslnické příbytky a osadu početné ozbrojené družiny. Na obou předhradích se nalézala i kostrová pohřebiště s bohatou hrobovou výbavou. Pohansko bylo časem opuštěno a v podstatě zde nenacházíme žádné další stopy lidských aktivit. Funkci zdejšího sídliště převzala přemyslovská Břeclav. Člověk se v těchto místech znovu usadil až v 19. století, kdy zde Lichtensteinové vybudovali svůj lovecký zámeček.
Zdroje: promoravia.blog.cz
V blízkosti zámečku Pohansko asi 3 km jižně od Břeclavi je na místě významného nížinného hradiště postupně budován archeoskanzen, kde si prohlédnete mimo jiné i repliku kultovního místa tvořeného dřevěnými idoly pohanských božstev. Kromě pohanské svatyně z počátku 10. století je zde k vidění polozemnice se studnou z 9. století.
Archeoskanzen se nachází v místech, kde bylo v průběhu 9. až 11. století v souvislosti se vznikem Velké Moravy, vybudováno jedno z největších středověkých hradišť ve střední Evropě. K vidění je pohanská svatyně a kostrové pohřebiště z 10. stol., polozemnice, studna a keramická pec z 9. stol.
Na naučné stezce je zachycen vývoj nevelkého místa uprostřed lužních lesů od 6. století donedávna. Vedle staroslovanská svatyně a velkomoravská polozemnice zde stojí také objekty pohraničního opevnění.
Zdroj: www.kudyznudy.cz
Lokalita se nachází v jižní části Moravského krasu na slepencové skalní ostrožně, v nejvyšší části na severozápadě území dosahující nadmořské výšky kolem 325 m. Ostrožna protáhlá ve směru severozápad–jihovýchod se v okrajových částech prudce svažuje do údolí potoka Říčky, který vyvýšeninu obtéká ze severovýchodu, jihovýchodu a jihozápadu. Výškový rozdíl mezi vrcholovou plošinou a hladinou Říčky činí zhruba 60 metrů.
Území o celkové rozloze asi 13 ha je rozděleno do dvou částí. Na samotné ostrožně ve tvaru trojúhelníku o stranách 230 m, 425 m a 450 m se nachází centrální část hradiska o rozloze kolem 4,5 ha. Ta byla opevněna po celém obvodu (s výjimkou brány v severovýchodní části, sloužící patrně pro přístup k Říčce jakožto zdroji užitkové vody). Severozápadně od ostrožny pak leží předhradí, oddělené od vlastního hradiska přepažujícím opevněním v nejužším místě šíje, další val se nachází asi 150 m směrem na severozápad. Ani jeden však vzhledem k zemědělskému využívání území není dnes v terénu znatelný.
Dobře patrný naopak zůstává asi 320 metrů dlouhý úsek vnějšího valu na jihovýchodním okraji lesa Haleglétňa, převyšující okolní terén o 2–2,5 m, k němuž z vnější strany přiléhá příkop zahloubený oproti okolnímu terénu asi o 2 metry. Zbytek valu se v podobě mírné terénní vlny táhne dále jihozápadním směrem až k líšeňskému hřbitovu.
Zdroj: cs.wikipedia.org
Nejstarší osídlení skalní ostrožny, na níž se hradisko nacházelo, se na základě ojedinělých nálezů příslušejících kultuře s moravskou malovanou keramikou datuje do období pozdního neolitu až raného eneolitu (5. až 4. tisíciletí př. n. l.). V průběhu eneolitu se zde usadil lid kultury nálevkovitých pohárů a později lid kultury s kanelovanou keramikou. O intenzivním osídlení v této době svědčí základy hustě zastavěného sídliště, obehnaného obranným valem a příkopem, jakož i nálezy měděných předmětů, mramorových korálků nebo kostěných pásových zápon. K opětovnému osídlení došlo ještě několikrát v době bronzové (podolská fáze středodunajské kultury popelnicových polí), laténské a začátkem stěhování národů.
Největšího rozkvětu se Staré Zámky dočkaly během slovanského osídlení ve střední a mladší době hradištní během velkomoravského období. Už od 8. století vznikal kolem osady hlinitý val s dřevěnou palisádou. Počátkem 9. století bylo vybudováno mohutné opevnění, velmožský dvorec s asi 10 m vysokou dřevěnou strážní věží, srubové stavby a patrně i kostel. Prostor předhradí byl v této době využíván k pohřebním účelům. Hradisko se v této době stalo jedním z důležitých center říše, které si svůj význam udrželo ještě desítky let po jejím pádu.
Koncem velkomoravského období stihl hradisko ničivý požár, který významně poškodil opevnění i velmožský dvorec. Hroty šípů pocházející z této doby svědčí o násilném vpádu nepřátelských vojsk. Opevnění však bylo v menším rozsahu obnoveno a hradisko fungovalo až do konce 10. století.
Zdroj: cs.wikipedia.org
From the second half of the 1930s, the municipality felt an acute need for a larger and more spacious church. A young priest, Stefan Bitter, finally came up with a concrete idea. After raising funds and digging the foundations, the cornerstone of the new church building was laid in 1942. By the fall of 1944, the church building was already built, plastered and covered with shingles. Early the next spring, however, the cruel whirlwind of war raged. 155 dwelling houses, including the parish building, lay in ashes (April 8-9, 1945). The rough church building offered shelter to the victims.
After the completion of the construction, the main altar was built. The altar is surmounted by a massive cross with the Crucified as a part of it. There are two rows of 23 symmetrically arranged pews in the main nave . The three aisles are separated from each other by massive round columns. The ceiling of the main nave is coffered, the side aisles have flat ceilings. All three bells have been transferred from the old church of St. Martin. The oldest and largest, George, is original, dating back to the first half of the 18th century. The other two are of younger date.
The solemn consecration of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius took place on 8 October 1949 in the presence of the Archbishop of Nitra, Dr. Eduard Néczey. The father of the idea of the new church, vdp. Štefan Bitter.
The interior of the church has undergone significant changes in recent years. The Stations of the Cross have become part of it. The front of the sanctuary was filled with wooden sculptures of the Thessalonian saints. In 1976, Terchova´s stonemasons carved a sacrificial altar. In addition to the artistic imagery, the impressive windows evoke the Cyril and Methodius theme in the interior. They depict motifs from the Cyril and Methodius period of our history through etchings. Like the interior, the exterior of the church has changed beyond recognition over the years. From the last period we should mention especially the inventive flower pots, the epoxy statues of the faithful above the main entrance, or the sculpture of the Taking down of the Cross, located in front of the entrance to the sacristy. Since 1990, the main tower has been decorated with a gilded two-armed cross.
An indispensable part of Christmas in Terchova in recent years is the Nativity scene, which on the eve of the most beautiful holiday of the year is installed in the local Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Cyril and Methodius. It is the work of local men, carvers, designers, electro-mechanics, who have put a piece of their own moulding and free time into this now widely – known project.
The idea to create a symbolic nativity scene was born before Christmas in 1976. Its author was a well-known village carver Štefan Hanuliak, who together with his friends Jozef Holúbek and Štefan Krištofík prepared a nice surprise for the local believers at Christmas of that year. They conceived their joint work in three parts. The first one presents the “old” Terchová with its crafts and characteristic colouring, the second one the “modest” Betlehem, the place of Jesus’ birth, and the third one the “sumptuous” Jerusalem. Over time, the plastic figures have been replaced by figures made of lime wood. It was the idea of the local clergyman, Vdp. Jozef Šabu. Since about the end of the 1970s, the designers have focused exclusively on lime wood. After the death of Štefan Hanuliak, his sons Jozef, Ján, František and their namesake Ján Hanuliak, followed up on the noble idea with the aforementioned masters.
Every year you can admire something new at the Nativity scene in Terchová. Religious scenes from Bethlehem and Jerusalem are added, the atmosphere of historical Terchova is evoked by other folk crafts and workshops of masters. And only the folk artists of Terchová know what the final form of the work will be. All three parts will continue to be tastefully supplemented with new bizarre scenes and figures.
Source: terchova.uteczmesta.eu
Kostol v Terchovej je situovaný takmer v centre obce. Bol postavený v blízkosti staršieho kostola zasväteného sv. Martinovi, ktorý bol koncom 60-tych rokov kvôli jeho zlému stavu zbúraný. Základný kameň položili v roku 1942, na jeseň 1944 už kostol stál a v roku 1949 bol kostol vysvätený. Kostol má tri chrámové lode, ktoré sú od seba oddelené okrúhlymi stĺpmi. Hlavná loď má kazetový strop, bočné lode ich majú rovné. Kostolu dominuje oltár s masívnym krížom s ukrižovaným Kristom.
V predsieni kostola sa nachádza celodrevený pohyblivý betlehem, ktorý bol vyhotovený miestnymi ľudovými majstrami.
Cyrilometodské dni sú neodmysliteľnou súčasťou kultúrneho leta v Terchovej. Každoročné oslavy venované našim vierozvestcom, ktorým je zasvätený tunajší kostol sa konajú vždy za prítomností najvyšších cirkevných hodnostárov Žilinskej diecézy.
Podujatie je bohaté na liturgický, ale i kultúrny program. Je rozdelené do niekoľkých dní, počas ktorých je pre veriacich pripravené plné duchovné vyžitie. Vyvrcholením osláv sv. Cyrila a sv. Metoda je každoročne konaná svätá omša na vrchu Oravcové.
Terchovský pohyblivý betlém patří k nejoblíbenějším atrakcím této obce na severozápadě Slovenska. Jeho vznik je spojován zejména s místním řezbářem Štefanem Hanuliakem a nejedná se o žádné „poselství dávných časů“. Betlém vznikl – nebo lépe řečeno byl veřejnosti poprvé představen – teprve na Vánoce roku 1976. V každém případě je ale opravdu velice půvabný a zajímavý.
Podle některých informačních pramenů rozdělili betlém jeho tvůrci do dvou částí (starou Terchovou s jejími lidovými řemesly a krajinu biblického příběhu Nového zákona), podle jiných se jedná o části tři (stará Terchová s původním kostelem sv. Martina, skromný Betlém a přepychový Jeruzalém).
Južná loď chrámu má dve stavebné časti; v novšej sa zachovala pôvodná krížová klenba; interiér južnej lode osvetľujú štyri gotické okná. Severná loď má polygonálny uzáver a v podstate si dodnes zachovala pôvodný gotický vzhľad. Bočné lode boli s hlavnou loďou spojené lomenými oblúkmi.
Po stranách presbytéria sú dve sakristie; severná (staršia) je zaklenutá pôvodnou valenou klenbou; našlo sa v nej gotické pastofórium. Pri systematickom výskume kostola boli objavené dva veľké kamenné svorníky (pravdepodobne z pôvodnej klenby hlavnej lode), ďalej kamenný epitaf s jednoramenným krížom a dvoma kalichmi zo 14. storočia a umelecky vysoko hodnotný gotický reliéf, na ktorom je výjav z Olivovej hory po Poslednej večeri.
Predstavaná vysoká veža má dvojitú cibuľovú strechu; štvorhranná veža je horizontálne členená rímsami na tri poschodia. V rozoklanom tympanóne nad hlavným portálom sú na podstavcoch kamenné plastiky svätého Františka, Panny Márie a svätého Floriána.
V devínskom farskom kostole sa zachovala spodná časť monumentálneho reliéfu Nanebovzatia Panny Márie, ktorý bol pravdepodobne v strede ranobarokového oltára (v 17. storočí bol kostol v Devíne zasvätený Panne Márii). V 19. storočí umiestnili do presbytéria kostola hlavný oltár so stĺpovým pavilónovým tabernákulom na predstavenom oltárnom podstavci a s vysokým krížom vo vrchole. Pozornosť si zasluhuje korpus. Idealizovanú podobu Ukrižovaného (bez znakov utrpenia) vytvoril sochár ovplyvnený krížmi neskobarokového sochára Františka Xavera Messerschmidta. Bočné oltáre sv. Rodiny a Piety tvoria stĺpové architektúry s ústredným oltárnymi obrazmi. Mariánske bočné oltáre pripomínajú staré patrocínium Panny Márie. V južnej lodi je obraz Najsvätejšej Trojice z neogotického oltára. V kostole sa zachovala baroková kamenná krstiteľnica kalichového typu.
Návštevníkov zaujme i záhrada kostola, v ktorej je sústredená galéria sôch viažúcich sa k najranejším dejinám Slovákov: sediaca socha veľkomoravského kniežaťa Rastislava (dielo akademickej sochárky Ľudmily Cvengrošovej), ktorú premiestnili na križovatku na pol ceste k Devínskemu hradu, zostalo tam dnes súsošie slovanských vierozvestcov svätých Cyrila a Metoda. Vpravo pred vchodom je za balustrádovou kamennou ohradou vztýčený stĺp s motívom Ukrižovaného Krista na jeho hlavici.
Zdroj: sk.wikipedia.org
Kostol postavili v obci ako pomerne veľkú stavbu niekedy v 30. až 40. rokoch 13. storočia. Išlo o reprezentatívne jednolodie v celom rozsahu dnešnej hlavnej lode s kratšou kvadratickou svätyňou. Múry pôvodne zrejme plochostropej lode sa zachovali do približne dvojtretinovej výšky, bočné steny svätyne v celej svojej pôvodnej výške.
Ďalšia stavebná fáza nasledovala po výraznom poškodení kostola pri útoku vojsk českého kráľa Přemysla Otakara II. v 70. rokoch 13. storočia. Zahŕňala výraznú prestavbu svätyne, ktorú predĺžili východným smerom do podoby polygónu a zaklenuli ťažkou rebrovou klenbou. Túto opreli o mohutné postranné piliere zachované v základoch. V závere svätyne úlohu pilierov prevzalo plné murivo nároží, čím v exteriéri vznikla rovná východná stena presbytéria. Následne pripojili zo severnej strany svätyne obdĺžnikovú sakristiu zaklenutú valenou klenbou.
V 14. storočí pristavali južnú kaplnku, pričom pôvodne mala siahať len po južný portál do hlavnej lode. Ešte počas výstavby však bola predĺžená až po západné priečelie lode. Pod prístavbou bola súčasne vybudovaná krypta s kamennou valenou klenbou. Kaplnka bola zaklenutá krížovými rebrovými klenbami; zachovalo sa len novšie západné pole.
Severná bočná loď vznikla tiež ako bočná kaplnka v druhej štvrtine 15. storočia. Kaplnka bola prepojená s hlavnou loďou lomenými arkádovými oblúkmi podobnými ako v prípade južnej lode. Z neskorogotického obdobia pochádzajú aj spodné časti murív zrejme pôvodnej gotickej veže zachované v základoch dnešnej barokovej veže.
V druhej tretine 16. storočia sa realizovala oprava v renesančnom štýle, ktorú si vyžiadalo vypálenie kostola tureckými vojskami. Sakrálny priestor bol vtedy ochránený zamurovaním arkád prepájajúcich pôvodne bočné lode s hlavnou.
Barokizáciou prešiel kostol pri obnove v 70. rokoch 17. storočia. Pristavaná bola veža, hlavná loď a svätyňa dostali valené klenby so styčnými hrebienkovými výsečami. Práce pokračovali aj v 18. storočí, kedy bolo dotvorené západné priečelie portálmi so sochami v nadstavcoch a ďalšími sochami v štítoch. Osvetlenie lode bolo riešené tzv. termálnymi oknami polkruhového tvaru a do rovnakého tvaru upravili aj gotické okná bočných lodí. V interiéri boli znova otvorené arkádové oblúky do bočných lodí. Na pilier arkádového oblúka v severovýchodnej časti bola osadená drevená kazateľnica prístupná schodiskom zo sakristie. V západnej časti lode vybudovali novú tribúnu. Zvýšili tiež vežu, upravili jej fasádu a zastrešili novou strechou typického cibuľovitého tvaru. Prístup na vežu bol vyriešený schodiskom z novej prístavby.
K južnej strane svätyne pristavali novú sakristiu a v rokoch 1788 – 1789 obnova vyvrcholila reprezentatívnou úpravou svätyne s novou valenou klenbou, ornamentálnou výmaľbou stien a napokon postavením nového hlavného oltára v súvislosti so zmenou patrocínia na dnešné sv. Kríža. Ústredným motívom je tak plastika Ukrižovaného Krista, ktorá zrejme vznikla v dielni známeho sochára F. X. Messerschmidta, pôsobiaceho na sklonku života v Bratislave.
Ďalšie opravy a úpravy sa spomínajú k rokom 1863, 1937 a 1949 – 1950. Veľká obnova sa uskutočnila v 70. a 80. rokoch minulého storočia na základe výsledkov výskumov spolu s reštaurovaním niektorých prvkov a pokračuje aj v súčasnosti. Výskum v rokoch 2015 – 2017 významným spôsobom zmenil náš pohľad na najstaršie dejiny kostola.
Zdroj: apsida.sk
Výnimočná gotická dominanta Bratislavy by nemala uniknúť pozornosti žiadneho návštevníka. Po Bratislavskom hrade je druhým najvyhľadávanejším turistickým objektom hlavného mesta Bratislava. Zaujímavosťou je, že dóm je postavený na cintoríne a takmer tristo rokov tu korunovali uhorských panovníkov vrátane Márie Terézie. Dodnes sa v hlavnom meste každoročne konajú Korunovačné slávnosti, ktoré prilákajú tisícky návštevníkov. Od 14. februára 2008 je hlavným chrámom novovzniknutej Bratislavskej arcidiecézy a je prístupný verejnosti.
Bola súčasťou stredovekého mestského opevnenia. V rokoch 1764-1766 po požiari spôsobenom bleskom sa uskutočnila jej prestavba. Na jej vrchol umiestnili model kráľovskej koruny. Nahradila tak typický latinský kríž. Na helmicu a model koruny použili vyše šesť ton medi. Takmer tri štvrtiny darovala Mária Terézia a zvyšok dokúpila dómska fara. Do koruny vtedy umiestnili aj medený tubus, v ktorom schovali pamätnú listinu. Tá sa zachovala dodnes. Koruna bola na veži až do roku 1833. Vtedy do strechy veže opäť udrel blesk a jej drevený krov začal horieť. Medená helmica spadla na zem a korunu sa už nepodarilo zachrániť. S jej rekonštrukciou sa začalo až po tom, čo cisár Ferdinad prispel kostolu na opravu veže meďou. Novú pozlátenú korunu z medeného plechu vyhotovili meďotepci. Karl Mayer vytvoril korunu a Johann Gschnattl zhotovil vankúš, na ktorom je položená. Strapce na vankúši sú pripevnené a aby sa nekývali vo vetre, vyplnili ich pieskom. Vankúš, na ktorom je koruna položená, meria od strapca k strapcu 135 centimetrov. Koruna aj s vankúšom je vysoká 156 centimetrov a váži 160 kilogramov. Aj do tejto koruny vložili medený tubus, do ktorého pridali pamätnú listinu a iné písomnosti.
Pôvodne vo veži Dómu svätého Martina viselo šesť zvonov. Najväčší z nich, Wederin, odliaty v roku 1670 vo zvonárskej dielni Baltazára Herolda, mal hmotnosť 2513 kilogramov. Okrem neho tu bolo päť ďalších zvonov. V roku 1914 po začiatku prvej svetovej vojny všetky zvony, okrem najväčšieho Wederina, z veže zložili, roztavili a materiál z nich použili na odlievanie diel. Dnes je vo veži katedrály umiestnených osem zvonov. Okrem pôvodného Wederina, ktorý musel byť pre značné poškodenie zrekonštruovaný, nainštalovali v novembri 2000 do zvonice ďalších sedem zvonov, symbolických darov od okolitých štátov.
V podzemí dómu v hĺbke približne šesť metrov sa nachádzajú tri krypty. Jedna z nich patrila rodine Pálffyovcov. Pochovávanie členov tohto rodu pod najvýznamnejším bratislavským kostolom bolo nielen záležitosťou prestíže, ale tiež odrazom dôležitého postavenia Pálffyovcov medzi uhorskou šľachtou. Hrobka rodiny je umiestnená priamo pred hlavným oltárom a vstupuje sa do nej z exteriéru. Ten je na severnej stene dómu prikrytý bielou mramorovou doskou s erbom rodiny Pálffyovcov. Do ďalších dvoch krýpt sa vchádza z kaplnky svätej Anny. Jednou je Jezuitská krypta a druhou Arcibiskupská, ktorá je ako jediná sprístupnená. V krypte sa nachádza viac ako 90 hrobov. Pochovaní sú tu napr. kardinál Peter Pazmány, bratislavský kanonik Jozef Ignác Bajza, či biskup Michal Buzalka.
Zdroj: xplor.app
Pýchou každého kresťanského mesta je farský kostol. Bezpochyby to platí aj o Dóme sv. Martina – najväčšom, najstaršom a najvýstavnejšom bratislavskom chráme.
Na začiatku jeho existencie bol pápežský súhlas s premiestnením prepoštského Kostola Najsvätejšieho Spasiteľa z hradu do podhradia. Pápež Inocent III. v roku 1221 v tejto veci vyhovel žiadosti uhorského kráľa Imricha. Prestavba, ktorá sa od 14. storočia realizovala pod patronátom panovníka a mestskej rady, vtláčala vtedy už mestskému farskému kostolu gotickú podobu.
Dóm sv. Martina bol korunovačným kostolom v rokoch 1563 až 1830. Ako prvého tu korunovali Maximiliána II. Slávnostná korunovačná ceremónia sa odohrala 8. septembra 1563. Po nej ich nasledovalo ďalších osemnásť, medzi nimi aj korunovácia Márie Terézie (25. júna 1741). Posledným, kto pod olovenou sochou sv. Martina prijal svätoštefanskú kráľovskú korunu, bol Ferdinand V. (28. septembra 1830). Neúplný zoznam 11 kráľov a 8 kráľovských manželiek korunovaných v bratislavskom Dóme visí na tabuli umiestnenej na severnej stene interiéru kostola. Každý rok sa postupne pripomína korunovácia všetkých panovníkov počas obľúbených korunovačných slávností.
Postupná barokizácia Dómu sa sústredila najmä na interiér a výstavbu štvrtej kaplnky. V rokoch 1732 až 1734 sa chrámový pôdorys na severnej strane rozšíril o Kaplnku sv. Jána Almužníka, ktorá patrí k umelecky najhodnotnejším pamiatkam v Bratislave. Barokovú kaplnku pravdepodobne postavili podľa projektu G. R. Donnera, ktorého poverili aj ďalšími zákazkami v interiéri bratislavského Dómu. Namiesto odstráneného gotického oltára postavili mohutný barokový oltár, na ktorom dominovalo Donnerovo monumentálne súsošie sv. Martina na koni. Nádherné sochárske dielo zhotovené okolo roku 1744 z olova predstavuje rímskeho vojaka pochádzajúceho zo zadunajskej Panónie, ktorý energickým pohybom šable pretína svoj plášť, aby polovicu daroval žobrákovi trpiacemu zimou.
Barokovú vežu v roku 1833 zničil požiar spôsobený bleskom. Bolo to tri roky po poslednej korunovácii v Dóme. Opravu kostola zverili do rúk významného klasicistického architekta I. Feiglera st. Ten siahol po v tom čase modernom romantizujúcom stvárnení. Veža tak získala novogotický vzhľad, ktorý má dodnes. V súčasnosti dosahuje výšku 85 m. Na jej vrchole sa nachádza pozlátený vankúš s rozmermi 2×2 m, na ktorom leží pozlátená kópia uhorskej kráľovskej koruny. Napodobenina koruny dosahuje výšku 1 m a hmotnosť 300 kg. Vo veži sú osadené dva zvony – väčší z nich sa nazýva Wedderin.
Zdroj: slovakia.travel
Od počiatkov Trnavy predstavuje farský kostol sv. Mikuláša hlavný mestský chrám. Význam tohto chrámu symbolicky odzrkadľuje i jeho dominantná poloha na najvyššom mieste historického jadra mesta. Počas výstavby gotického trojlodia, začatej kedysi po roku 1325, bol odstránený starší románsky predchodca, ku ktorému sa viaže najstaršia zachovaná písomná zmienke o Trnave. Výstavba najväčšej sakrálnej stavby v Trnave aj okolí bola zavŕšená bezmála po sto rokoch priebežných prác, dakedy v prvej tretine 15. storočia.
Aj dnes ešte môžeme obdivovať fresky z tohto obdobia v chrámovej predsieni, gotické portály či kružbové okná, listové svorníky klenieb ukrývajúce ľudské tváre, malú kamennú krstiteľnicu či zvon sv. Štefana v jednej z veží. Prestíž farského kostola sa neskôr znásobila v období tureckej expanzie do Uhorska, keď sa na pomerne dlhé obdobie (1543 – 1820) stal zároveň aj hlavným katedrálnym chrámom tu dočasne pôsobiacich ostrihomských arcibiskupov, ktorých pripomínajú krásne kamenné epitafy.
Ako nový sídelný kostol bol niekoľkokrát upravovaný, najrozsiahlejšie stavebné práce medzi rokmi 1618 – 1630, počas ktorých bolo trojlodie rozšírené o bočné kaplnky, inicioval arcibiskup Peter Pázmaň. Po roku 1630 vznikol najstarší zachovaný oltár kostola zasvätený Všetkým svätým. Neskôr bol v južnej gotickej podvežovej kaplnke vytvorený trezor chrámových cenností. Okrem barokového mobiliáru vznikla v 18. storočí aj osemboká kaplnka, do ktorej bol z kostola prenesený obraz Panny Márie Trnavskej, uctievaný ako zázračný.
Z 19. storočia pochádza hlavný oltár a dekoratívny drevený obklad stien svätyne. Napokon na začiatku 20. storočia vznikli neogotické nástenné maľby, a snáď najväčším vkladom tohto obdobia sa stal zvuk hlavného organu firmy Rieger z roku 1912, dennodenne sprevádzajúci bohoslužby. V roku 2008 bol farskému kostolu sv. Mikuláša udelený čestný titul Bazilika minor a stal sa Mariánskym pútnickým miestom Trnavskej arcidiecézy.
Zdroj: vitajtevtrnave.sk
A significant monument of Trnava is the Basilica of St. Nicholas, the construction of which began in 1380. This Gothic three-nave church was built on the site of an older Romanesque church, to which the earliest written record of Trnava refers (1211) and part of whose foundations were uncovered during extensive renovation work in 1975.
The construction of the basilica was done as a municipal building, as the city as patron supplied building materials from its own resources, but also with the support of the rulers and the wealthy bourgeoisie. The three-nave temple was built on the highest point of the old town. Around it was a cemetery. The original main street facade of the basilica was single-towered (Gothic). The Gothic portal on the south side is original. The perimeter outer masonry had supporting pillars, with tall Gothic windows between them.
In the sanctuary of the pentagonal conclusion, the original Gothic pastophorium is preserved. On the north side there is a Gothic opening leading today to the sacristy. It originally led to the Romanesque chapel of St. George, which served the parish needs during the construction of the church.
The cross vault of the sanctuary has pear-shaped ribs. The sanctuary is connected to the nave by a massive triumphal arch. The nave has side aisles of equal width on either side, separated by unequal width Gothic arcades.
The four arched bays of the nave are similar in design to those of the sanctuary. In the centre of the bays there are hollowed-out stone studs with sculptural coats of arms (Sigismund of Luxembourg, Albert of Habsburg and the city of Trnava). The side aisles are similarly arched with stone ribs and studs. The original frescoes have been preserved in the vestibule of the church (sub-chancel): the attributes of the Evangelists , the emblem of the town in the middle and on the walls and pillars St. John the Evangelist, St. Nicholas, St. Paul and the scene of St. George.
The original chapels on either side of the main entrance were rebuilt and reinforced at the beginning of the 16th century. Century, when extensive alterations and repairs were carried out. At that time, Archbishop Nicholas Oláh wanted to emphasize the importance of this church, which from 1543 also served the Archbishop of Esztergom and his chapter, who evacuated to Trnava from the Turks. The façade was rebuilt into a double tower and the chapels under the tower were enlarged. In 1577, weathervanes were placed on top of the towers: roosters with a double cross. (The cockerel on the snood is also at the side entrance. It is from the coat of arms of the town captain Hollý – 1498).
The 17th century was marked by the most extensive building modifications and changes to the church. At the instigation of Archbishop Cardinal Peter Pazman, extensive rebuilding and interior alterations began in 1618 and were completed in 1630. The addition of the side chapels changed not only the plan of the church, but also its uniformity and Gothic structure. At that time, the Gothic chapel of St. George was also demolished and a sacristy was built in its place. A new choir, pulpit, new pews and new altars were built – all in Baroque style.
A great fire in 1666 affected the north tower, which Archbishop Juraj Szelepchen – Pohronec had rebuilt to the height of the south tower in 1676. The sacristy was also rebuilt and decorated with a linette vault with stucco decoration.
The last significant addition to the church was the central Baroque chapel of the Virgin Mary, built in 1739 – 1741 with a canopied altar by A. Huetter.
At the beginning of 19. The triumphal arch was repaired in the 19th century, the abolished saddle towers of the sanctuary walls were given wooden panelling and on the south side in 1823 the supporting pillars were reinforced from the materials of the abolished Slovak church of St. Michael arch.
In 1900-1905 new stained glass windows were installed, the side walls of the nave and the sanctuary were painted. In 1916, the brick infill of the three-circular Gothic window of the south under-tower chapel was removed and the chapel was renovated in 1922.
In 1954-1958 the towers were plastered and extensive cleaning and conservation work was carried out on the cornices, stone lintels, phyllons and stone gargoyles.
Cleaning of the Baroque ceiling of the sacristy in 1964, electrification of the bells in 1967, etc.
Source: trnava.fara.sk
Tehlový kostolík postavili niekedy v polovici 13. storočia, vzhľadom na vyvýšenú polohu nad dôležitou križovatkou ciest, zrejme ako súčasť opevneného hrádku. Išlo o stavbu s pomerne dlhou obdĺžnikovou loďou, polkruhovou apsidou a západnou vežou. V 14. storočí bol objekt upravený goticky, z tejto etapy sa zachovalo nadpražie vložené do južného portálu.
V 17. storočí prešiel rozsiahlou rekonštrukciou. Románska veža bola zbarokizovaná, loď dostala novú valenú klenbu, zo severnej strany k nej pristavali sakristiu a z južnej predsieň. Statiku zlepšili oporné piliere v západnej časti lode. Prerazené boli aj nové okná a západný vstup do veže. Niekedy v tomto období sa kostolík mení na pútnický (prvá písomná zmienka z roku 1763). Opravovaný bol ešte aj v roku 1924 po výstavbe krížovej cesty.
Zdroj: apsida.sk
Pútnicke miesto Hájiček s kostolom Panny Márie je zároveň aj vzácnym historickým areálom nachádzajúcim sa severovýchodne od obce Trstín. Podľa tradície je toto miesto najstarším patrocíniom Sedembolestnej Panny Márie v strednej Európe.
Pútnicke miesto tvorí kostol Panny Márie, krížová cesta, drevená zvonička a studnička na neďalekej lúke. Kostolík postavili v polovici 13. storočia, pravdepodobne okolo roku 1235. Ide o najcennejšiu pamiatku Trstína. Je to jednoloďová stavba s predstavanou západnou vežou ukončenou polkruhovou aspidou. Je postavený na vyvýšenom mieste uprostred cintorína v lokalite Hájiček a v minulosti bol zrejme súčasťou opevneného hrádku na dôležitej križovatke ciest.
V 14. storočí bol kostol goticky upravený, ďalšími rozsiahlymi prestavbami prešiel kostol na konci 17. storočia. Koncom 18. storočia bola do sklenenej skrine na oltári umiestnená soška Bolestnej Panny Márie odetá v hodvábnych šatách známa aj ako zázračná Pieta.
Medzi ľuďmi sa v roku 1793 rozniesla správa, že sa pred sochou Bolestnej Panny Márie v Hájičku stali zázračné uzdravenia chorých. V roku 1794 sochu Bolestnej Panny Márier premiestnili do Trnavy, umiestnili ju v kaplnke sv. Michala kostola sv. Mikuláša. Snahou veriacich bolo navrátenie tejto sochy späť na pôvodné miesto. Došlo k tomu v roku 1923, keď zhotovili novú sochu a originál vrátili z Trnavy na jej pôvodné miesto do kostola v Hájičku.
Kalvária s krížovou cestou je z roku 1923, súsošie a reliéfy jednotlivých zastavení sú zhotovené z pieskovca.
Hlavná púť, kde sa každoročne schádzajú pútnici z blízka i vzdialeného okolia, sa koná okolo sviatku Nanebovzatia Panny Márie 15. 8. od piatku do nedele.
Kostol patrí pod farnosť Trstín, dekanát Smolenice a Trnavskú diecézu. Pútne miesto s kostolíkom sa nachádza pri ceste smerom na Dechtice a Vrbové.
Zdroj: turistika.cz
Jedným z centrom kultu uctievania Sedembolestnej Panny Márie, ktorá sa stala patrónkou Slovenska, je Kostol Sededembolestnej Panny v Šastíne, ktorý pochádza z roku 1736. Navštevujú ho tisíce pútnikov nielen zo Slovenska, ale aj zo zahraničia.
Obec Šaštín-Stráže je na Slovensku i v zahraničí známa predovšetkým ako pútnické miesto, do ktorého sa kvôli soche Panny Márie oddávna schádzali ľudia zo širokého okolia. Po kanonickom vyšetrení vyhlásili šaštínsku sochu Panny Márie za zázračnú, čo dekrétom potvrdil aj pápež Urban VIII. V roku 1733 sochu dostali paulíni, ktorí sa v obci rozhodli postaviť pútnický chrám a kláštor.
Kostol postavili v barokovom slohu a slávnostne ho vysvätili v roku 1764 za účasti cisárovnej Márie Terézie a cisára Františka I. Lotrinského. Sochu Sedembolestnej Panny Márie preniesli na hlavný oltár vyrobený z červeného mramoru. Chrám má šesť bočných oltárov s obrazmi J. L. Krackera. Jeho dĺžka je 62 m, výška 26 m a šírka 23 m.
Hlavná loď je široká 13 m. Južnú stranu kostola spája s kláštorom arkádová chodba. Budova kláštora má tri krídla, zo štvrtej strany ju uzatvára bazilika. V roku 1964 pápež Pavol VI. povýšil Kostol Sedembolestnej Panny Márie na baziliku minor – prvú na Slovensku.
Zdroj: slovakia.travel
Kostol postavili vo vyvýšenej polohe zrejme niekedy v priebehu prvej polovice 13. storočia ako pomerne veľké jednolodie a kvadratickým presbytériom, ktorého fasády boli zdobené slepými arkádami tvorené oblúčikovým vlysom a lizénami (rovnakú podobu arkád nájdeme na kostolíku v Novej Dedinke). Patrí do skupiny tehlových románskych kostolov, ktoré sa stavali v tomto období na území najmä juhozápadného Slovenska (okrem iného Diakovce či Čierny Brod-Heď).
Až do 17. storočia stál podľa všetkého v takmer nezmenenej románskej podobe, iba niekedy v 16. storočí zo statických dôvodov pristavali k nárožiam presbytéria oporné piliere.
Veľkou prestavbou, ktorej v podstate vďačí za svoju súčasnú podobu, prešiel objekt medzi rokmi 1632 – 1713. Vtedy pristavali k západnému priečeliu vežu a zo severnej strany pripojili k presbytériu neveľkú sakristiu. V tomto období dostala podľa všetkého novú klenbu aj svätyňa, ktorá nahradila pôvodnú valenú klenbu. Osvetlenie lode bolo zlepšené prerazením dvoch väčších okien na južnej strane lode.
Medzi rokmi 1733, kedy sa spomína zlý stav kostola, a rokom 1756 bola do lode vstavaná západná tribúna pre organ. Krátko na to bol zaklenutý aj priestor lode, pričom jej obvodové múry boli i trochu zvýšené. Novú klenbu podopierajú prístenné piliere, z ktorých jeden vyšiel práve do priestoru južného románskeho portálu, ktorý bol preto zamurovaný. Rovnaký osud mali aj ranobarokové okná, ktoré preto museli nahradiť novými. Nový južný vstup súčasne doplnili murovanou predsieňou. Tejto prestavbe zrejme padli za obeť aj pôvodné slepé arkády zdobiace až dovtedy exteriér kostola.
Po zrušení paulínov Jozefom II. v roku 1786 sa ich kláštorný kostol Panny Márie (bazilika) stal farským, pôvodný farský chrám v Šaštíne i filiálny v Strážach prestali slúžiť svojmu účelu a premenili ich na sýpky. Tomuto účelu slúžil kostol v Strážach ešte v roku 1823, neskôr ho tamojší veriaci odkúpili a dali znova posvätiť.
V roku 1876 spôsobil blesk požiar, pri ktorom zhorela strecha stavby. Po menších úpravách v neskoršom období sa udiala v roku 1953 zmena zastrešenia veže a zrejme aj lode a svätyne. Pred rokom 1960 bola z južnej strany k svätyni pristavaná nová sakristia.
V roku 2007 sa začali realizovať oprava stavby, pri ktorej bolo po odstránení omietky objavené románske murivo so zosekanými slepými arkádami a viacerými architektonickými detailmi. V júni 2009 bol kostol vyhlásený za národnú kultúrnu pamiatku a začalo sa s jeho obnovou. V roku 2017 bola zavŕšená obnova exteriéru opravou veže, ktorá dostala iluzívne kvádrovanie. V tom istom roku bol kostol nominovaný do ankety Nadácie SPP o najkrajšie obnovenú pamiatku roka.
Zdroj: aposida.sk
Mikulčice-Valy jsou významným hradiskem doby velkomoravské říše v blízkosti obce Mikulčice. Svou rozlohou cca 10 ha představují nejrozsáhlejší slovanské archeologické naleziště v ČR. Lokalita je chráněna jako národní kulturní památka. Jedná se o jedno z nejvýznamnějších opevněných hradištních sídel se znaky městského uspořádání, spíše vojenského charakteru, s doklady osídlení předvelkomoravského a velkomoravského horizontu s množstvím kostelů a artefaktů svědčících o přítomnosti velkomoravské nobility. Existují domněnky, že se mohlo jednat o kmenové centrum s vyššími mocenskými aspiracemi, možná i sídlo prvních Mojmírovců. Zlom ve vývoji hradiska nasvědčuje tomu, že se v další fázi stalo důležitým prvkem začleněným do systému obrany říše a jejího centra.
Na nejvyšším místě akropole byly situovány dvě stavby reprezentující knížecí prostředí – knížecí palác s litou maltovou podlahou a kamenným krbem a bazilika. Objekty tvořily samostatný okrsek. V okolí paláce bylo zjištěno opevnění příkopem a bazilika se hřbitovem byla oddělena palisádovým plotem. Rozsáhlá trojlodní bazilika s atriem a nartexem je plošně dosud největší odkrytou velkomoravskou církevní stavbou. V prostoru baziliky a v okolí bylo odkryto několik hrobek patřících významným představitelům vládnoucí vrstvy Velké Moravy, pravděpodobně i některým z Mojmírovců. Kolem kostela bylo pohřebiště čítající přibližně 550 hrobů, jejichž hustota a vzájemné překryvy svědčí o značné intenzitě pochovávání, tedy i o poměrně vysoké hustotě obyvatelstva. Pohřebiště vyniká množstvím bohatých hrobů s meči, zlatými a stříbrnými šperky a honosnými soupravami opaskových kování a stříbrných a litých bronzových nákončí, zlatými gombíky. Tyto i řada dalších nálezů představují mistrná díla místního uměleckého řemesla.
Nákončí se stala neoficiálním symbolem lokality Valy u Mikulčic. K cenným nálezům patří zejména stříbrný závěsný křížek s postavou Krista a zlatý solidus byzantského císaře Michaela III. Určitým dokladem vzdělanosti jsou také nálezy železných pisátek–stilů. Stopy kovoliteckých a šperkařských dílen na hradě jsou časově řazeny do období před pol. 9. stol. ve vrcholném období mizí a převládá zpracování železa, dřeva, hrnčířství a textilnictví.
Zdroj: toulkypocechach.com
Pútnické miesto Skalka sa nachádza na území farnosti Skalka nad Váhom v Nitrianskej diecéze. História pútnického miesta Skalka pri Trenčíne siaha do 11. storočia a spája sa so životom sv. pustovníkov Andreja-Svorada a Beňadika, ktorí na tomto svätom mieste nejaký čas žili. Pozostáva z dvoch objektov – Diecéznej svätyne Sv. Andreja-Svorada a Beňadika na tzv. Malej Skalke, ktorý je postavený na skale, z ktorej bol sv. Beňadik zhodený do Váhu a z tzv. Veľkej Skalky – pozostatkov benediktínskeho opátstva z roku 1224, v ktorom sa nachádza aj Beňadikova jaskyňa. Sv. Andrej-Svorad a Beňadik, ktorých si na tomto pútnickom mieste uctievame, sú hlavnými patrónmi nitrianskej diecézy.
Na mieste, kde žil pustovníckym životom sv. Benedikt († okolo r. 1033), založil nitriansky biskup Jakub I. v roku 1224 neveľký kláštor – opátstvo sv. Benedikta. Jeho srdcom boli jaskynné priestory, kde pustovník žil, ku ktorým pristavali na našom území jedinečnú trojpodlažnú kaplnku, ktorá je v najvyššom podlaží otvorená do spomínanej jaskyne. V tesnej blízkosti boli postavené ďalšie kláštorné budovy.
Život benediktínskych mníchov v priebehu stáročí však vážne narušilo nepokojné obdobie počas expanzie Matúša Čáka z neďalekého Trenčína a neskôr aj nájazdy husitských oddielov z blízkej Moravy. Zánik tunajšieho opátstva má na svedomí útok vojsk generála Katzianera v roku 1528.
Nový život na veľkú Skalku priniesli až v roku 1644 trenčianski jezuiti, ktorí majetok zaniknutého opátstva získali darom od kráľa Ferdinanda III. (iné zdroje uvádzajú ako darcu nitrianskeho biskupa Jána Püskyho). Následne, v rokoch 1667-69 jezuiti postavili vedľa pôvodných stavieb nové budovy kláštora a postupne celý areál upravovali. V roku 1717 je spomínaná prestavba horného podlažia stredovekej kaplnky, v roku 1755 boli vybudované kamenné schody ku kláštoru a v roku 1768 bola uskutočnená výmena strechy.
Po zrušení rádu v rakúskej monarchii v roku 1773 museli aj z Veľkej Skalky jezuiti odísť a opustené budovy začali chátrať až sa zmenili na ruiny.
Čiastočné opravy na Veľkej Skalke sa realizovali v rokoch 1852-1853, v roku 1892, 1911 a 1914. Po druhej svetovej vojne sa uskutočnili ďalšie práce v roku 1951 a potom aj v roku 1982. Väčšie práce na oprave a konzervovaní ruín spojených s výskumom sa začali po roku 2000.
Dvojvežový kostolík postavený v románskom slohu sa tu spomína po prvý raz v roku 1208. Bol zasvätený sv. Beňadikovi. Roku 1520 dal na jeho mieste vybudovať kaplnku ku cti sv. Doroty Juraj Thurzo horlivý katolík, starý otec Juraja Thurzu, neskoršieho palatína.
Počas pôsobenia jezuitov na Skalke kaplnku renovovali v r. 1713 a pristavili k nej vežu. V r. 1679 bol postavený nový oltár na počesť Panny Márie Čenstochovskej. Počas kuruckých vojen bol kostolík poškodený. V r. 1745 kaplnku rozšírili do súčasnej podoby a pristavili k nej dve veže. V r. 1949 v ňom postavili Boží hrob a na Veľký piatok sa tu konali procesie. Neskôr postavili na Malej Skalke aj kalváriu (1676) so štrnástimi stanicami krížovej cesty.
Kostol bol opäť zreštaurovaný za trenčianskeho farára opáta Ľudovíta Stáreka v r. 1852-1853; opravený a posvätený v r. 1924 nitrianskym biskupom Karolom Kmeťkom. Hlavný oltár odvtedy zdobia sochy pustovníkov sv. Andreja-Svorada a Beňadika. Vojnové udalosti druhej svetovej vojny neobišli ani Skalku a preto bolo potrebné opäť pristúpiť k rozsiahlej oprave, ktorá bola ukončená r. 1951. Slávnostnú svätú omšu celebroval nitriansky administrátor biskup Eduard Nécsey. Maľba svätcov na stene je dielom pátra Emila Prokopa, SVD, z r. 1983.
Ostatné úpravy kostola na Malej Skalke sa uskutočnili v rokoch 2003-2006. V r. 2011 boli vybudované sociálne zariadenia, oprava pútnického domu a okolia. V r. 2012 pribudla v pútnickom areáli nová krížová cesta.
Zdroj: apsida.sk; putnickemiestoskalka.sk
Slovanské hradiště v Mikulčicích bezpochyby patří mezi nejvýznamnější místa poukazující na historii našeho státu. S největší pravděpodobností byly Valy u Mikulčic hlavním městem Velké Moravy. V muzeu zhlédnete nejenom předměty denní potřeby, ale také výrobky uměleckého řemesla.
Na území obce Mikulčice se nachází jedno z nejvýznamnějších archeologických nalezišť v České republice. Byly zde nalezeny důkazy o osídlení zdejší krajiny již v nejstarších dobách.
Sedmihektarový areál láká na prohlídku dvou muzejních expozic archeologických nálezů a v exteriérech si pak můžete prohlédnout kopie osmi mikulčických kostelů a knížecího paláce. Památník letos (2017) doplní interaktivní model areálu zvaného Valy, který bude postaven v hale nového návštěvnického centra. Valy mohly být podle archeologů bájným hlavním velkomoravským městem Veligradem, které se dosud nepodařilo objevit. Z hradiště se zachovalo jen zelené prostranství se základy 12 kostelů a knížecího paláce.
První muzejní expozice zde byla pro veřejnost otevřena v roce 1960. Stálá expozice “Velkomoravské Mikulčice – Knížecí hrad v údolní nivě řeky Moravy” ukazuje nejen předměty denní potřeby (keramika, železné výkovky, kamenné předměty), ale také výrobky uměleckého řemesla. Zdejší kovolitci a šperkaři je vyráběli ze železa, bronzu, stříbra či zlata. Honosné součásti velmožné výstroje – meče, ostruhy stejně jako šperky – náušnice, gombíky, prsteny – představují mistrovské kusy raně středověkého uměleckého řemesla.
Unikátní jsou zvláště dřevěné nálezy, které se v našem prostředí běžně nedochovávají. Tyto nálezy, mezi nimiž jsou dřevěné čluny – monoxyly, byly objeveny při výzkumu zaniklých říčních koryt.
Druhá stálá expozice „Velkomoravské Mikulčice – Druhý kostel a sakrální architektura knížecího hradu“ v pavilonu II sestává nejen z prohlídky autentického negativu základů II. mikulčického kostela, hrobových jam s pohřby a trojrozměrných maket všech mikulčických kostelů i paláce, ale také z emotivního prožitku z moderní muzejní archeologické prezentace spojující prvky mluveného slova, hudby a filmové projekce s přímou prohlídkou muzejních exponátů.
Interaktivní model velkomoravského hradiště z devátého století, která vychází z nejnovějších poznatků archeologů bude možné spatřít od listopadu 2018 v expozici Slovanského hradiště. Příchozí čeká laserové animace i hlasové představení akropole, předhradí, velmožské dvorce, opevnění, mosty a chrámy.
Nové lákadlo najdou příchozí v návštěvnické hale už v říjnu. Postupně k němu do konce roku přibudou ještě audiovizuální prostředky. Zkušební provoz má začít v listopadu 2018. Naplno se pak projeví na jaře, se zahájením nové sezony 2019.
Muzejní expozice je možné zhlédnout také v zimním období.
Po prohlídce pavilonu II je možno absolvovat pěší okruh hradištěm po návštěvnické trase a na ní shlédnout v terénu kopie základů kamenných staveb, opatřených panely s popisem zajímavostí daného okrsku. Z rozhledny se otevírá výhled na okolní lesy, řeku Moravu, Hodonín, Moravskou Novou Ves a také na slovenskou stranu do Holíče a Kopčan.
Zdroj: www.kudyznudy.cz
Skalka pri Trenčíne. Nachádza v západnej časti Slovenska, neďaleko mesta Trenčín. Je to najstaršie pútnické miesto v našom regióne a pozostáva z dvoch častí : Malej a Veľkej Skalky. Jeho história sa začína v 11. storočí, kedy tu žili svätí pustovníci Andrej-Svorad a Beňadik. Podľa legendy tu nejaký čas žili a spravili tu mnoho zázrakov. Za návštevu určite stojí pútnický kostol sv. Andreja-Svorada a Beňadika na Malej Skalke. Ten stojí na bradle odkiaľ bol zhodený do Váhu sv. Beňadik. Na tzv. Veľkej Skalke nájdeme pozostatky benediktínskeho opátstva z roku 1224. Tu sa rozprestiera aj Beňadikova jaskyňa.
Vrátime sa teraz z minulosti späť do súčasnosti. Priľahlý vrch je významnou archeologickou lokalitou, žili tu naši predkovia, od keltského obdobia cez Pribinovo Nitrianske kniežatstvo až po Veľkú Moravu, ako aj celý stredovek. Vďaka dobrovoľníkom sa podarilo čiastočne zrekonštruovať areál opátstva s jaskyňou. V roku 1924 bola Skalka pri Trenčíne vyhlásená za najvýznamnejšie pútnické miesto Slovenska (katolíckou cirkvou), mohli by sme ho teda významovo prirovnať k Lurdám vo Francúzsku.
Dnes sem na púte chodí okolo 15-tisíc veriacich zo Slovenska i zahraničia. Hlavná púť prebieha v sobotu a nedeľu po 17. júli, kedy je sviatok sv. Svorada a Benedikta (Beňadika). Od roku 2008 je predzvesťou púte medzinárodné výtvarno-literárne sympózium Ora et Ars. Počas neho sa umelci nechajú inšpirovať atmosférou Skalky, neskôr svoje inšpirácie pretvárajú do reálnych diel. Tie potom prezentujú na dvoch vernisážach a na neskorších putovných výstavách. Niekoľko rokov dozadu pribudol aj kultúrno-historický seminár. Diela zo sympózia sú publikované v katalógu Ora et Ars Skalka. V miestnej časti Trenčína pod názvom Opatová sa nachádza Kostol sv. Svorada a Benedikta, jeho základom bola Kaplnka sv. Doroty, ktorú dal postaviť v roku 1528 Juraj Turzo. Súčasťou interiéru je malý relikviár s časťou telesných ostatkov sv. Benedikta.
Krása prírody sa tu snúbi s neopakovateľnou duchovnou atmosférou. Zaujímavosťou miesta je aj možnosť lezenia po skalnej stene neďaleko pútnického miesta, ktorá zlákala už viacerých „dobrodruhov“.
Zdroj: dromedar.zoznam.sk
Rotundu postavili okolo roku 830 ako súčasť veľkomoravského osídlenia datovaného do tohto obdobia. Po zániku Veľkej Moravy vznikla v tejto lokalite osada železiarov, pre potreby ktorých v prvej polovici 11. storočia bola rotunda zrejme opravená. Slúžila im až do 13. storočia, kedy tunajšia osada zaniká a presúva sa do polohy súčasnej obce Nitrianska Blatnica.
V nasledujúcom období začína stavba chátrať, až sa premenila na ruinu s polozrúcanými obvodovými múrmi. V prvej polovici 16. storočia bola rotunda obnovená. Múry, ktoré sa zachovali do výšky 4 – 7 metrov, boli dostavané a nanovo zastrešené. Podľa kanonických vizitácií mala za obnovou (datovanou do rokov 1530 – 1541) stáť Mária Thurzová na pamiatku svojho manžela, ktorý padol v bitke pri Moháči. Archívny výskum však túto informáciu nepotvrdil.
Súčasnú podobu dostala rotunda v období baroku.
V roku 1777 bola v západnej časti lode vybudovaná murovaná tribúna, ktorá sa napájala na novo pristavanú vežu (tú datuje letopočet na fasáde do roku už 1655, toto datovanie však výskum nepotvrdil). Loď dostala murovanú klenbu a triumfálny oblúk bol zvýšený. Počas nej dostala súčasnú podobu, keď k západnej strane lode pristavali vežu a z južnej strany pustovňu. V nej boli ubytovaní pustovníci, ktorí sa mali starať o kostolík a súčasne viedli aj školu, ktorej budovu postavili niekoľko desiatok metrov severne od rotundy. Posledný pustovník zomrel v roku 1802. Potom prevzali starostlivosť o stavbu veriaci z miestnej farnosti.
V 50. rokoch minulého storočia dostal kostolík novú strechu, keď pôvodnú šindľovú nahradili plechovou. V roku 1973 poslal kňaz miestnej farnosti František Jurík list Slovenskému ústavu pamiatkovej starostlivosti a ochrany prírody v Bratislave, v ktorom upozornil na rotundu v súvislosti s plánovanou obnovou.
V roku 1974 – 1980 sa v okolí kostolíka uskutočnil archeologický výskum. Na základe neho sa datovanie rotundy posunulo z dovtedajšieho 16. storočia na prvú polovicu 11. storočia, pričom sa zvažoval aj veľkomoravský pôvod.
V roku 1980 dostal kostolík novú strechu z medeného plechu, v nasledujúcich rokoch dostal kostolík aj novú dlažbu, dvere a uskutočnili sa aj ďalšie menšie opravy. Od roku 2001 sa začala postupná obnova objektu, spojená s ďalším výskumom, ktorý priniesol dôkazy o vzniku stavby v 9. storočí.
Rotunda sv. Juraja patrí do extravilánu obce Nitrianska Blatnica a je od nej vzdialená približne 5 km. Osamotená stojí na skalnatom výbežku pod úpätím vrchu Marhát, obkolesená lesmi Považského Inovca. Je jediným zachovaným stojacim svedkom dávneho zaniknutého osídlenia. Výsledky ¹⁴C datovania určili jej vznik do roku 830±40 rokov. Objekt rotundy bol postavený ako súčasť približne päť storočí trvajúceho neznámeho osídlenia, ktoré vzniklo začiatkom 9. storočia. Z najstaršieho osídlenia z 9. stor. boli objavené dva palisádami opevnené veľmožské dvorce. Neskôr, koncom 10. stor., došlo k zmene osídlenia vo forme rozptýlenej osady. Archeologické nálezy doložili, že obývaná lokalita zaznamenala hospodársky rozkvet aj v súvislosti s ťažbou a spracovaním železnej rudy. Po vyčerpaní jej lokálnych ložísk osídlenie upadalo a postupne, v priebehu 13. storočia, zaniklo. Obyvateľstvo sa presunulo do nížinných oblastí, kde boli lepšie podmienky pre život.
Rotunda po zániku osídlenia postupne chátrala a časom sa zmenila na ruinu. Približne po 3 storočiach od zániku osídlenia, v rokoch 1530-40 zubom času poškodené murivo rotundy opravili a objekt zastrešili. Tvorí ho kruhová loď a svätyňa – apsida v tvare podkovy. Pôvodné múry rotundy sa v lodi zachovali do výšky približne 6,5 m, v apside do 4,5 m. Od tejto opravy v renesancii je rotunda znovu využívaná pre liturgické potreby RK cirkvi počas každoročne konanej Svätojurajskej púte, neprerušene, až do súčasnosti. S približne 500 ročnou tradíciou patrí k najstarším púťovým miestam na Slovensku. Exaktne určený fakt datovania jej vzniku potvrdzuje, že Rotunda sv. Juraja v Nitrianskej Blatnici je pravdepodobne najstaršou zachovanou stojacou sakrálnou stavbou nielen na Slovensku, ale aj v strednej Európe. Má unikátnu hodnotu dejinného a kultúrneho významu a patrí medzi naše najvzácnejšie sakrálne národné kultúrne pamiatky.
Na západnej strane Malých Karpát, na ich úpätí, leží obec Marianka, ktorá sa radí k najstarším pútnickým miestam na Slovensku. V minulosti v tomto údolí stál pavlínsky kláštor založený v roku 1377 kráľom Ľudovítom I. Veľkým, ktorý uctieval mariánsky kult a a podporoval pavlínsky rád. Už pred výstavbou kláštora sa k tomuto miestu viazalo niekoľko legiend o soške Panny Márie a zázračnom prameni, v ktorom sa našla. Tieto legendy už vtedy privádzali na toto miesto početných pútnikov. Po zriadení kláštora a postavení kostola sa stalo vďaka svojej polohe a významu veľmi obľúbeným pútnym miestom. Z pôvodného kláštora sa do súčasnosti veľa nezachovalo. Po zrušení rádu v roku 1786 Jozefom II. sa o kostol starala len diecéza. Kláštor, ktorý menil svojich vlastníkov, bol neskôr prestavaný na kaštieľ.
Z pôvodného kláštora zostal len kostol – terajší farský kostol, ktorý od tej doby prešiel niekoľkými prestavbami. Spočiatku mal len jednu loď s predĺženým polygonálnym presbytériom. Nemal vežu, čo bolo pre pavlínov výrazom pokory a chudoby. Ide o jediný zachovaný relikt stredovekej architektúry pavlínskych kláštorov na Slovensku. Neskôr kostol prestavali podľa rôznych umeleckých štýlov, napríklad v lodi je krásna sieťovo-hviezdicová klenba pravdepodobne z obdobia okolo roku 1471. Najviac sa ho však dotkla baroková prestavba, kedy znova nastalo rozšírenie kultu po víťazstve nad Osmanskou ríšou. V blízkom okolí kostola je niekoľko výnimočných architektonických pamiatok. Na južnej strane kostola stojí baroková Kaplnka sv. Anny, ktorá zrejme stála už aj v stredoveku a neskôr bola len nanovo postavená. Z tohto obdobia (1696) je taktiež Kaplnka Zázračnej alebo Svätej studne situovaná ďalej od kostola a hlbšie v lese. V minulosti bola studňa nezakrytá, ale podobne ako kostol Narodenia Panny Márie, je dôležitým pútnickým miestom. Na začiatku 20. storočia bola postavená Lurdská jaskyňa a Krížová cesta situovaná taktiež na úpätí lesa.
Od 20-tych rokov sa o kostol aj pútnické miesto stará Kongregácia bratov tešiteľov z Gethseman (až na obdobie medzi rokmi 1950 až 1990, kedy bola ich činnosť násilne prerušená). Od júla 2011 bol kostol, dekrétom pápeža Benedikta XVI., povýšený na baziliku minor.
Zdroj:
B. Pomfyová/H. Žažová: Marianka (okr. Malacky). Kostol bývalého pavlínskeho Kláštora Panny Márie (dnes farský, kláštorný a pútnický Kostol Narodenia Panny Márie). In: Stredoveký kostol. Historické a funkčné premeny architektúry. Bratislava 2015, 486-492.
Marianka, predtým Mariatál (Bratislava-vidiek). Súpis pamiatok na Slovensku. II. zv. Bratislava 1969, 294-295.
Marianka je známe pútnické miesto, ktoré leží na juhozápadnom okraji Malých Karpát na ich styku s južnou časťou Záhorskej nížiny šesť kilometrov juhovýchodne od Stupavy. Obec sa po prvý raz spomína v roku 1367 pod názvom Vallis Mariae.
Marianka je známe pútnické miesto, ktoré leží na juhozápadnom okraji Malých Karpát na ich styku s južnou časťou Záhorskej nížiny šesť kilometrov juhovýchodne od Stupavy. Obec sa po prvý raz spomína v roku 1367 pod názvom Vallis Mariae. Uhorský kráľ Ľudovít I. Veľký ju v tomto roku daroval kláštoru paulínov, ktorý sám založil. V 14. storočí sa obec označovala aj ako Tol, Taal a Vallis Mariae in teuptonico Thal. Od 15. storočia sa zaužívalo slovenské pomenovanie Marianka. Kláštor bol v 16. a 17. storočí sídlom generála paulínskej rehole a strediskom paulínskeho rádu v Uhorsku. Obec s kostolom a kláštorom zo 14. storočia sa postupne stala najnavštevovanejším pútnickým miestom na Slovensku. Pod názvom Marienthal ju veľmi dobre poznali aj veriaci z Dolného Rakúska.
Najznámejšou cirkevnou stavbou v obci Marianka je rímskokatolícky Kostol Narodenia Panny Márie. Postavili ho v roku 1377 v gotickom štýle, rozšírili v 17. storočí a barokovo prestavali v 18. storočí. V roku 1877 J. Lippert goticky upravil presbytérium, v lodi však zostala baroková štuková výzdoba klenby s motívom paulínskej rehole (dva levy pri palme). Táto výzdoba, ktorá sa delí na menšie obrazové kompozície zo života sv. Pavla Eremitu a sv. Antona Pustovníka od J. I. Mildorfera, prekrýva pôvodnú gotickú klenbu.
Zdroj: visitbratislava.com
Kostolík bol postavený niekedy koncom 9. storočia až začiatkom 10. storočia na úpätí kopca. Typologicky išlo o neveľkú jednoloďovú stavbu s apsidou v tvare nepravidelného lichobežníka, podobnú kostolíku v Kopčanoch.
Zrejme po požiari došlo k obnove objektu v priebehu 11. storočia, v rámci ktorej bol interiér vyzdobený nástennými maľbami. V ďalšej predrománskej etape boli zmenšené okná na severnej strane lode.
Začiatkom 12. storočia je časť dediny spomínaná ako vlastníctvo benediktínskeho kláštora na Zobore.
Niekedy v období od druhej polovici 12. storočia až po začiatok 13. storočia sa realizovali menšie úpravy v románskom štýle v podobe prerazenia väčšieho okna na južnej strane apsidy na mieste pôvodného predrománskeho. V tomto období bol premurovaný aj východný štít lode.
Niekedy v polovici 13. storočia bola stavba zväčšená v románskom štýle prístavbou novej štvorcovej lode so západnou vežičkou nad emporou. Prístavbu si zrejme vynútil nárast počtu veriacich a realizoval ju zrejme nový vlastník obce, ktorým sa stali Forgáčovci.
Statické poruchy empory nesúcej vežu si už po niekoľkých desiatkach rokov (3. štvrtina 13. storočia) vynútili rozsiahle premurovanie veľkej časti veže, pričom miesto kameňa už boli použitá tehla, z ktorých vytvorili aj združené okná (dvojité i trojité).
Statické problémy s vežou si vyžiadali zamurovanie viacerých okien v priebehu 14. storočia. V tomto období bola upravovaná aj horná časť východného štítu apsidy a východné okno apsidy upravené do podoby štrbinového okna s roztvorenými špaletami.
V 16. storočí kostolík vyhorel a istý čas stál bez strechy, čím najviac utrpeli najmä románske maľby. V 17. storočí kostol opravili, v interiéri okrem iného doplnili murovanú kazateľnicu. Južne od apsidy postavili na podmurovke neveľkú stavbu – márnicu alebo zvonicu.
V roku 1721 bol nahradený drevený strop lode murovanou klenbou a netradične k západnému priečeliu bola pristavaná sakristia. Románska veža bola zvýšená a pôvodné okná boli zamurované. V tomto období boli taktiež zamaľované stredoveké fresky.
V medzivojnovom období už kostolík chátral, strecha zatekala, narušená bola aj statika obvodových múrov. Koncom 50. rokov minulého storočia už bol kostolík v havarijnom stave, istý čas bol dokonca zatvorený (1957 – 59), lebo hrozilo jeho zrútenie. Potrebu rekonštrukcie potvrdil aj objav starých malieb v roku 1960 a tak bola schválená jeho rekonštrukcia.
Tá sa uskutočnila v rokoch 1964-65. S prácami začali miestni obyvatelia z vlastných peňazí a rámci nej bola zbúraná baroková sakristia a nahradená novodobou prístavbou, ktorá však vážne narušila pôvodný stredoveký ráz kostolíka. Opravy boli navyše vykonané neodborne a v niektorých prípadoch kostolíku viac uškodili, ako pomohli. Preto sa muselo začať odznova a súčasne sa rozbehol aj archeologický výskum. Ten podľa hrobov datoval kostolík do 11. storočia. Ani odborná obnova kostolíka sa však nevyhla viacerým chybám, okrem iného sa nedotkla románskej veže, ktorá zostala v podobe, akú jej dala neodborná obnova.
V rokoch 1966 až 1969 boli s prestávkami reštaurované fresky, ktoré však napriek tomu dosť utrpeli. V 90. rokoch minulého storočia si kostolík opäť vyžadoval opravy. V rokoch 2001 až 2003 bol reštaurovaný južný románsky portál, čiastočne upravená veža a obnovené fasády. Ďalšie práce sa rozbehli až v roku 2005.
Vek kostolíka spresnil najnovší výskum, ktorý sa rozbehol v lete 2006 a potvrdil domnienky odborníkov, že ide o ešte staršiu stavbu, datovateľnú do veľkomoravského obdobia. V ramci obnovy boli zamurované veľké okná na južnej stene modernej prístavby a vyrúbané stromy tieniace kostolík z juhu s cieľom zlepšiť mikroklímu interiéru kvôli freskám. Tie prešli v rokoch 2009 – 2017 reštaurátorským výskumom a reštaurovaním, ktoré ešte stále nie je ukončené. Ukončenie reštaurovania v románskej lodi a charakter dokončovacích prác v najstaršej časti umožnil od roku 2018 znova využívať kostol na liturgické účely.
Zdroj: apsida.sk
Malebná dedinka Kostoľany pod Tribečom je vsadená do pekného prostredia pohoria Tribeč. Leží v širokej doline potoka Drevenica medzi vyvýšeninami Dúň (514 m) a Ploská (567 m). Dedinka je známa vďaka Kostolu sv. Juraja, ktorý sa skromne týči nad obcou v jej severovýchodnej časti. Tento kostolík je najstaršou architektonickou pamiatkou Slovenska, spadajúcou do predrománskeho obdobia. Originálne jadro sa skladá s presbytéria a lode, ktoré sa datuje do 10. storočia, či ešte skorších čias. Presbytérium je v tvare nepravidelného lichobežníka zaklenutého klenbou. Starosvetský vzhľad dodáva kostolíku hrubé obvodové murivo s malými okennými otvormi. Aj po výtvarnej stránke je vnútrajšok kostolíka veľmi atraktívny. V dejinách umenia zastáva prvotné miesto kvôli dobovým freskám (maľovanie na mokrú omietku) s výjavmi zo života Panny Márie a inými kresťanskými motívmi. Predpokladá sa, že umelec pochádzal zo Zoborského kláštora. V 13. storočí bol architektonicky rozšírený o vežu a druhú rozľahlejšiu loď s mierne nepravidelným pôdorysom. Takouto podobou kostolík pripomína architektonickú koláž viacerých storočí. Po požiari v 16. storočí zostal kostol bez strachy, ponechaný svojvôli času. Opravili ho až v nasledujúcom storočí. V roku 1721 bola odstránená drevená povala a nahradená štukovou výzdobou. Kostol sv. Juraja je zaradený do národných kultúrnych pamiatok Slovenska.
Kostolík je už zďaleka viditeľný z príjazdovej cesty.
Zdroj: nitra.eu
Kostolík patrí Rímskokatolíckej cirkvi a slúžil ako pútnická kaplnka. V posledných rokoch sa tu organizuje slávnosť na sviatok sv. Cyrila a Metoda. Obnova kostolíka stále nie je ukončená, zvažuje sa aj omietnutie exteriéru. V roku 2019 bola vybudovaná lávka ponad rieku Moravu, ktorá umožní prepojenie mikulčického areálu s Kopčanmi.
Prastarý kostol pri obci Kopčany na Záhorí, je pamiatkou, ktorá má všetko podstatné, až na to, že sa o nej takmer nevie. Má všetky atribúty prvotriednej atrakcie. Leží v peknej, rovinatej krajinke, v ktorej spolu s priľahlým, starým stromom dominuje okoliu. Stavba je citlivo zreštaurovaná a v jej blízkosti nie sú žiadne nadbytočné ,,gýče”.
Je zachovaná tak, ako tu stála celé stáročia. Dokonca tu nenájdete ani asfaltové parkovisko, ktoré by miestu násilne vtislo nežiadúci kontrast. Samotný kostol evokuje kostolík nad obcou Dražovce pri Nitre. Napokon taktiež pochádza z obdobia Veľkej Moravy a radí sa tak k najstarším sakrálnym stavbám na našom území. Jeho výstavba sa datuje do 9-10. storočia.
Kostolík sv. Margity Antiochijskej je veľmi fotogenickou stavbou. Jedná sa o stavbu predrománskej doby a časov Veľkej Moravy. Tieto stavby pôsobia všeobecne veľmi útulne a jedinečne. Kostol bol prestavovaný, ako je to u takýchto pamiatok bežné a ovplyvnila ho gotická úprava v 13. storočí.
Zaujímavosťou je, že bočné múry sú pôvodné. Bohoslužby sa tu vykonávali do 18. storočia, až do doby postavenia kostola priamo v Kopčanoch. Samotný kostol je uzavretý, dnes sa v ňom ojedinele slúžia omše k jeho patrónke.
Zdroj: planetslovakia.sk
Structurally, it was a small building with a simple layout with a longitudinal nave and an irregular square apse, such as were widespread in Europe since the 8th century. The apse and possibly the nave were vaulted with a simple vaulted vault. It was probably not a normal church, as archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a western two-roomed narthex (nartex) with a rectangular plan, which was added to the church.
The building had its first major reconstruction around the middle of the 13th century. At that time, the windows on the north side of the nave were bricked up, as well as the window on the west front. As part of this reconstruction, the entire interior was also decorated with frescoes.
Sometime at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, the windows on the south side of the nave and sanctuary were enlarged into a Gothic form with a stone nunnery. In the second half of the 15th century the church was fortified and surrounded by a moat. These modifications were probably related to the war clashes between Hungary and the Kingdom of Bohemia, when it served as a support point near the border.
Experts also place the demolition of the western vestibule and the insertion of a large Gothic portal into the western facade in this period. This was connected with the moving of the altar from the apse to the nave and the raising of the floor level. The reason for these alterations was the insufficient capacity of the church for the growing congregation, some of whom had to stand outside during services. The large portal thus acted as a triumphal arch. Along with these modifications, an emporium was built in the west part of the nave and the west window on the south wall of the nave was reduced in size to accommodate it. Sometime in the following period (around the mid-16th century), the east window of the apse was bricked up, and the newly created whole area was decorated with a mural, probably depicting St. Margaret.
The next stage of construction dates from 1647, when the altar was moved from the nave back to the apse, where the southern Gothic window was also bricked up and turned into a niche for worship in the interior. In the 17th or 18th century, the nave lighting from the south was redesigned. The previously reduced west window was completely bricked up and the east window was replaced by a large Baroque semicircular window opening. Minor alterations were also carried out in the following period, most recently in 1926.
The first archaeological research around the church was carried out in 1964. In 1994, the conservationists began research work with the aim of mapping the construction development of the church and at the same time archaeological research of the surroundings of the building was started. In 2004, graves containing Great Moravian jewellery were uncovered, confirming the dating of the church. During the research, in 2000, the restoration of the church began, but it was not carried out in the most appropriate way from today’s point of view.
The church received a new roof, the windows were restored, the Gothic portal was bricked up and a new entrance was created, but its shape did not correspond to the pre-Romanesque period. The interior floor was also lowered to its original level. In 2008, the roof of both the nave and the apse was raised by about half a metre to divert rainwater away from the walls. In 2014, the exterior of the church was altered by changing the unsatisfactory shape of the western entrance, better presenting the bricked-up Gothic portal and marking out the plan of the western narthex. Large flat stones were also used to mark the places near the church where the oldest graves were found.
Source: apsida.sk
Miesto vzniku nášho najstaršieho románskeho kláštora nebolo zvolené náhodne. Malo priaznivé prírodné podmienky (Slovenská brána otvárajúca vstup na Pohronie) a existovala tu stará obchodná cesta spájajúca Nitru s banskými lokalitami, z ktorých sa neskoršie vyvinuli kráľovské mestá.
Archeologický výskum potvrdil, že toto miesto bolo obývané už vo veľkomoravskom období.
Z prvotného románskeho komplexu (z r. 1075) sa zachovalo veľmi málo. Prieskum konaný na tejto lokalite už v rokoch 1881 – 1883 odkryl murivá patriace k najstarším kláštorným stavbám na území Slovenska. Boli to pravdepodobne trojloďová bazilika a južne od nej ležiace kláštorné budovy. Tieto stavby tu však jestvovali iba asi tristo rokov. Prvá polovica 14. storočia priniesla chátranie objektu a zborenie kláštorných budov i kostola. Z interiérového vybavenia sa zachovali iba krstiteľnica a veľký drevený kríž.
K stavbe dnešného komplexu budov došlo za vlády kráľa Ľudovíta I. Veľkého z Anjou v rokoch 1345 – 1350 (niekedy sa uvádzajú roky 1346 – 1375). Prvou stavbou bol gotický kostol a trojica svätýň s krížovými klenbami. Súčasne sa pristúpilo i k stavbe kláštorných budov. Po dokončení tejto stavebnej etapy, na sklonku 14. storočia, postavili trojlodie s dvojicou charakteristických veží a s reprezentačným neskorogotickým vstupným portálom. Kláštor bol stavebne doplnený o južné krídlo s krížovou chodbou. Poslednou stavbou, zasahujúcou do obdobia gotiky, bolo tzv. opátske krídlo, dokončené v roku 1508. V strede kláštora sa nachádzala kláštorná záhrada. Po dokončení stavebných prác sa kostol začal zapĺňať významnými umeleckýmu dielami, najmä oltármi, z ktorých sa však zachovalo veľmi málo.
Z obdobia nasledujúcom po opätovnom zriadení kláštora až do 15. storočia sa o osude objektu zachovalo pomerne málo správ. Výnimkou je doba správcovstva opátom Jánom III. (1476 – 1510). Ten dal podľa záznamov pokryť nanovo strechu kostola, zriadil kaplnku sv. Krvi a okolo roku 1506 dal v kostole inštalovať organ. Významne sa pričinil i o rozvoj vzdelanosti a knižnej kultúry.
V roku 1483 dostal kláštor od kráľa Mateja I. (Korvína) relikviu Kristovej krvi. Má ísť o časť plátna šatky ktorou Veronika utrela Ježišovu tvár pri krížovej ceste. Kráľ pravdepodobne relikviu dostal od pápeža Pavla II.[6]
Už od počiatku existencie sa kláštor okrem šírenia duchovného slova preslávil i ako významné centrum stredovekej kultúry a vzdelanosti ale i technického pokroku (napr. zavádzaním nových pracovných postupov v poľnohospodárstve). Významné pamiatky výtvarného umenia, liturgie, hudby a teologických prác mali svoj pôvod práve za múrmi beňadického kláštora. Odtiaľ pochádza Nitriansky kódex, latinský evanjeliár, najstarší text napísaný v latinčine na území Slovenska.
Kláštor bol tiež jedným z tzv. hodnoverných miest. Do jeho kompetencie patrilo vydávanie, potvrdzovanie a overovanie dôležitých listín a písomností, na tunajší konvent sa ľudia obracali so žiadosťami o vyriešenie sporov v majetkových záležitostiach. Kláštor bol súčasne miestom na uchovávanie archívov a cenností.
Začiatok 16. storočia niesol so sebou narastanie tureckého nebezpečenstva ale i útoky miestneho obyvateľstva, pre ktorých kláštor predstavoval feudálneho vykorisťovateľa. Tieto skutočnosti mali za následok ďalšie stavebné úpravy kláštorného komplexu. Po roku 1537 sa začali na objekte fortifikačné úpravy majúce za cieľ zabezpečenie kláštora pred vonkajšími nepriateľmi. Výsledkom bolo prebudovanie kláštora i kostola na renesančnú pevnosť, ktoré bolo zavŕšené v rokoch 1565 – 1588, kedy majiteľom objektu bola ostrihomská kapitula. Súčasťou kláštorného areálu sa stali mohutné hradby a delové bašty. Daňou za túto prestavbu však bol zánik niektorých gotizujúcich prvkov architektúry. Objekt kláštora po uvedenej prestavbe sa stal súčasťou sústavy pevností, chrániacich stredné Slovensko, ba dokonca v roku 1663 bol priamo hraničnou pevnosťou počas tureckej okupácie Levíc.
Napriek týmto úpravám boli stavby kláštora počas tureckých nájazdov značne poškodené. Celé zostávajúce obdobie 17. ako i 18. storočie boli poznamenané opravami zničených častí. V tomto storočí postavili na mieste zrúteného krídla veľkú sýpku (rozmery 60 x 10 m).
Tragickým dňom pre kláštor sa stal 21. júl 1881, kedy boli budovy kláštora zachvátené veľkým požiarom. Ten poškodil objekt natoľko, že kapitula v Ostrihome bola nútená pristúpiť k rozsiahlym úpravám. Puristickú prestavbu v štýle neogotiky – regotizáciu – projektoval Ferenc Storno, jej realizáciu v rokoch 1882 – 1889 dokončil Otto Sztehló. Znamenala ďalší úbytok dovtedy pomerne dobre zachovaných častí kláštora, napr. bola odstránená vstupná brána s padacím mostom. Niektoré prvky gotického mobiliáru našli nové umiestnenie v Diecéznom múzeu, dnešnom Kresťanskom múzeu v Ostrihome.
Na prelome 19. a 20. storočia prebehla na objekte pamiatková obnova, kedy sa regotizoval exteriér a do interiéru umiestnili neogotické oltáre s časťami pôvodného gotického zariadenia.
Zdroj: sk.wikipedia.org
Ústrednú časť kláštorného komplexu tvorí tzv. rajský dvor obkolesený krížovou chodbou s arkádami. Okolo dvora stoja kláštorné budovy a priestor dotvára dominantný chrámový kostol Panny Márie a svätého Benedikta stojaci na severnej strane. Je to veľkolepá trojloďová bazilika s impozantne riešeným gotickým vstupným portálom na západnej strane a rozmerným priečelím tvoriacim dvojicu typických veží. Kostol je zaklenutý krížovými klenbami. Na jeho južnej strane je časť gotickej krížovej klenby starého gotického kláštora, ku ktorej prilieha gotická sakristia s neskorogotickou kaplnkou sv. Krvi z roku 1489.
V súvislosti s renesančnou prestavbou na pevnosť v 16. storočí sa priestor kláštora zväčšil asi trojnásobne. Pri nej boli do novovznikajúceho komplexu zahrnuté i pôvodné stavby – zachovalá východná fasáda, kostol i staršia obranná veža so vstupnou bránou. Kostol sa stal súčasťou pevnostného systému keď plnil funkciu severozápadnej bašty. Nárožia kláštora boli zosilnené a dobudované mohutnými valcovitými baštami, z ktorých do dnešných dní sa v nezmenenej podobe zachovala iba jedna. Komplex kláštora dostal po prestavbe ráz protitureckej pevnosti. V jednej z bášt sa zachoval, na vtedajšiu dobu unikátny, systém odsávania spálených plynov, vznikajúcich pri streľbe. Ďalším technickým prvkom, ktorý našiel uplatnenie pri prestavbe, bol rúrkový keramický vodovod privádzajúci pre obyvateľov kláštora vodu z neďalekého prameňa. Jeho ústie bolo v dnešnej studni na nádvorí.
Inventár kostola je dnes pomerne skromný. Mnohé vzácne artefakty sa nachádzajú v múzeách v Maďarsku (napr. pašiový oltár – významná pamiatka tabuľového maliarstva). Z pôvodného vybavenia sa zachovalo iba niekoľko sôch (tri plastiky z pôvodného hlavného oltára), relikvia Božej krvi darovaná kláštoru kráľom Matejom Korvínom, neskorobaroká krstiteľnica z pôvodného románskeho kostola z konca 18. storočia s kamennou polychrómiou a krypta rodiny Koháryovcov s neskororenesančným mramorovým epitafom Štefana Koháryho z konca 17. storočia. Nápisová doska je zdobená bohatým ornamentálnym dekorom. Vzácnou pamiatkou je chrámový organ z roku 1714 patriaci k najvzácnejším u nás.
Kláštorný komplex ohromujúci súčasných návštevníkov svojou monumentálnosťou predstavuje ojedinelé spojenie stavieb sakrálnych a fortifikačných ako i symbiózu jednotlivých stavebných slohov – gotiky, renesancie a baroka. Komplex budov ešte i dnes pôsobí ako strážca križovatky ciest.
Bohatá história, vzácne architektonické dielo ako i existencia tunajšieho najstaršieho benediktínskeho kláštora na Slovensku boli podnetom, že kláštorný komplex v Hronskom Beňadiku bol 24. apríla 1970 zaradený do zoznamu národných kultúrnych pamiatok.
V súčasnom období, po odchode rehole saleziánov, ktorí tu pôsobili od roku 1927 s prestávkami až do roku 1999, v kláštore pôsobí rehoľa pallotínov. Kláštor sa využíva ako charitný domov, ale i ako miesto krátkodobého pobytu.
Kláštor „je stále živým miestom konania pútí, pravidelných bohoslužieb, modlitieb, táborov a tiež duchovných cvičení.“
Zrúcanina hradu Branč leží na rovnomennom kopci Myjavskej pahorkatiny nad Podzámkom, miestnou časťou obce Podbranč. Najstaršia písomná zmienka je z roku 1317. Hrad sa rozkladá na ploche asi 7.500 m2, vo výške 480 m n.m. Keďže hrad stál na pomerne ľahko prístupnom kopci, jeho obrana sa neustále zdokonaľovala. Hlavný vchod do dolného hradu je od východu. Vstup do hradu bol strážený dvoma bastiliónmi vonkajšieho opevnenia. Oproti hlavnému vchodu je trištvrtekruhová delová bašta stredného hradu, chrániaca paľbou z diel a ručných zbraní priestor vchodu pred nepriateľom. Obvodové murivo dolného hradu je na štyroch miestach prerušené polkruhovými baštami.
Hrad je rozdelený na dve hlavné časti: dolný hrad a stredný hrad. Stredný hrad je od dolného hradu oddelený výrazne suchou hlbokou priekopou, ktorá zvyšovala prirodzenú výšku opevnenia stredného hradu. Vchod do stredného hradu bol pôvodne v rohu (oproti pomníku). Aj tam, kde je zem zarovnaná (kde nie je priekopa – bola, ale sa zem zasypala spadnutím horného a stredného hradu), útočníci museli prekonať 80 m nekrytého priestoru (priekopu) pod priamou paľbou obrancov hradu.
Stredný hrad sa funkčne delí na 2 časti: severné nádvorie stredného hradu a obytnú palácovú časť. Z nádvoria (pri pomníku) sa po schodisku vystupovalo do átriového dvora a do jednotlivých miestností. Bolo tu 40 izieb – 15 v prízemí, 20 na prvom poschodí a 5 na druhom poschodí. Na západnom nádvorí dolného hradu (neďaleko pomníka) bola hradná studňa. Staršia studňa bola i na nádvorí stredného hradu (blízko jedinej sprístupnenej miestnosti).
Hrad nechal postaviť magister Aba z Hlohovca medzi rokmi 1251 – 1297. Toto datovanie bolo určené podľa archeologického výskumu – podľa nálezu mincí s uvedenými rokmi 1251 – 1261. V ďalších rokoch sa na hrade vystriedalo 40 majiteľov. V roku 1309 hrad získal Matúš Čák Trenčiansky, krátku dobu hrad vlastnil i český kráľ Ján Luxemburský, v roku 1394 Žigmund Luxemburský. Po tomto roku sa datuje prestavba v rozsahu stredného hradu. Výsledkom bol typicky gotický skalný hrad s útočnou vežou, palácom, kaplnkou a v juhovýchodnom rohu stredného hradu s vysokým hradbovým obvodovým múrom.
V 16. storočí sa stal hrad vlastníctvom Františka Nyáryho, ktorý sa oženil s dcérou pána hradu Korlátko (Cerová) a s celou rodinou tu žili i poslední príslušníci rodu Nyáry, ktorí si postavili nový kaštieľ v Sobotišti (na námestí) a postupne sa tam presťahovali aj so zariadením. Bolo to pre nich pohodlnejšie sídlo. Hrad zostal opustený a chátral. V období tureckých vojen slúžil ako útočište okolitému obyvateľstvu, pričom v období rokov 1674 – 1675 bol prechodnou väznicou protestantských kňazov, ktorí boli odsúdení bratislavským súdom na galeje. Zomreli v jamách (väznica po obvode múru). Túto udalosť pripomína pamätník a každoročné bohoslužby na hrade.
Keďže bol hrad opustený, ľahko ho napadli a vypálili Turci a hrad tak zostal dodnes.
V roku 1968 Pamiatkostav Žilina prevádzal pamiatkovú obnovu hradu, ktorá nebola dokončená. Archeologický výskum sa robil od roku 1978. Počas piatich sezón sa v odkrytých zasypaných miestnostiach, v jednotlivých vrstvách našli články kamennej architektúry z okien, dverí; ďalej sa našli črepiny z majoliky, z hrncov a kachieľ. K zaujímavým nálezom patrila ozdobná kamenná renesančná rímsa so štítom s letopočtom ukončenia prestavby hradu 1539 a monogramom majiteľa hradu Františka Nyáryho. Ďalej sa našla sústava pilierov, drevené časti z pôvodného hradu, železný šíp, 2 guľky, starý nôž, bronzové ihlice, rôzne druhy gombíkov, kovaní, kľúčik od šperkovnice, medené cedidlo.
Zdroj: podbranc.sk
Kdesi na polceste medzi Senicou a Myjavou môžete naraziť na zaujímavý hrad s názvom Branč. Týči sa na malebnom brale Myjavskej pahorkatiny nad obcou Podbranč (časť Podzámok). Hradný kopec hradu tvorí najzápadnejšie návršie bradlového pásma na Slovensku. Hrad je veľmi pekne upravený a ponúka pekné kruhové výhľady na okolitú, mierne členitú krajinu.
Ruinu hradu Branč vidieť už z ďaleka. Cestou zo Senice k vodnej nádrži Kunov sa vám zjaví na pravej strane horizontu. Ešte výraznejšie však vystúpi z okolitej Myjavskej pahorkatiny tesne za obcou Sobotište. Nečudo, nachádza sa totiž v nadmorskej výške 475m. To je na tunajšie pomery vcelku vysoko. Pre porovnanie najvyšší bod tunajších kopaníc – Žalostiná má 621m. Výška hradného kopca by mohla evokovať zložitú dostupnosť. Opak je pravdou a preto sa ruiny hradu Branč vyplatí navštíviť aj vrámci rodinného výletu s deťmi. S minimom námahy si môžete vychutnať ďaleké výhľady a jeden z najkrajších hradov na slovenskom území.
Hrad vznikol v 13. storočí a ako to už býva zvykom pri hradoch v tejto oblasti, slúžil na ochranu uhorských hraníc a hlavne obchodných ciest. Zabezpečoval ochranu ciest smerujúcich z Moravy ku karpatským priesmykom. Bohužiaľ, dnes je z hradu už len ruina. Hrad totiž v 17. storočí vyhorel a od 18. storočia bol opustený a postupne začal chátrať.
Po prejdení brány sa nám konečne otvorili pohľady na rozľahlé priestory ruiny. Dominoval obvodový kamenný múr, zjavne zrekonštruovaný a zakonzervovaný. Nad ním po ľavici sa dvíhali múry hlavnej časti stavby. Priestor hradu vypĺňal trávnatý povrch. Hneď na začiatku narazíte aj na slušne zachovanú baštu, ktorá mala chrániť vstup hradu pred nepriateľmi.
Postupne sa odkrývali čoraz čarovnejšie výhľady, až takmer do nekonečna. Pekný bol pohľad i na sympatickú dedinku pod hradom. Ak ide o výhľady, patrí Branč istotne k lokálnym jednotkám na trhu. Hrad ponúka kruhové výhľady na šíre okolie, hlavne na severné a stredné Záhorie. Je tomu aj naopak – siluetu hradného kopca s ruinami hradu je vidieť takmer odvšadiaľ. V jednej časti hradu narazíte na tabuľu s popisom kopcov na ktoré sa pozeráte, čo je vítaný bonus.
V dolnej časti hradu smerom na centrálnu časť sa nachádza pomník venovaný väzneným kňazom. Tí boli od 30.5.1674 do 10.4.1675 na hrade väznení za svoju vieru a odsúdení na galeje. Od pomníka vedie ešte krátky výstup na jeho najvyšší bod. Tým je menšie trávnaté plató na okraji s čímsi ako zvyškom hradnej komnaty. Prístup do nej bol však uzatvorený mrežou. Vnútri sme si všimli zaujímavý stĺp. S komnatou na ľavej strane susedil objekt, ktorý bol zrejme delovou baštou. Vedú do neho drevené schody a má viacero strieľní. V týchto partiách hradu dávajte na svoje ratolesti pozor, pretože je tu istá miera možnosti pádu. Múry však pôsobili dostatočne zakonzervovane, takže nehrozil pád kamenia.
Zdroj: planetslovakia.sk
Historie Žarošic sahá hluboko do minulosti. Z náhodných nálezů je prokázáno prehistorické osídlení a velkomoravská doba je rovněž dobře doložena. První písemná zmínka o obci pochází ze 13. století a nejstarší zprávy vyprávějí o dávné kapli či kostele Narození Panny Marie ve viničné hoře.
Tato stavba měla zvláštní půdorys s poměrně velkým presbytářem a menší lodí. Snad to byla svatyně s řeholní komunitou, kde bylo později zbudováno obydlí pro poustevníka, který pečoval o tehdy již významné mariánské poutní místo. Původní předmět úcty, kterým byl zcela nepochybně obraz, se však nedochoval.
V první polovině 14. století přešly Žarošice do majetku české královny Elišky Rejčky a ta je později postoupila ženskému cisterciáckému klášteru na Starém Brně. Eliška Rejčka je – s největší pravděpodobností – dárkyní nádherné gotické mariánské sochy, která je dodnes dochována a nazývána „Stará Matka Boží“. Po husitských válkách prodala starobrněnská abatyše Žarošice světské vrchnosti. Posledními držiteli Žarošic byli Liechtensteinové až do pozemkové reformy roku 1923.
Dějiny tohoto kraje byly provázeny tatarskými, tureckými, kumánskými, bočkajovskými a jinými loupeživými nájezdy. Nebylo pohromy či války, která by se těmto místům vyhnula. Také „Bitva tří císařů“ u Slavkova přinesla mnoho utrpení, bídy a hladomor. V Žarošicích po bitvě přespali poražení mocnáři a na druhý den se sešel rakouský císař František I. s francouzským císařem Napoleonem u blízkého Spáleného mlýna, kde smluvili příměří, které bylo později nazváno Prešpurský neboli Bratislavský mír.
Zdroj: zarosice.cz
Mariánské poutní místo Žarošice nalezneme asi 10km východně od Kyjova. Známé Moravské poutní místo bylo pod správou starobrněnského ženského cisterciáckého kláštera, pro který koupila Žarošice královna Eliška Rejčka, která poutní místo obdarovala vzácnou sochou.
Empírový kostel Sv. Anny v Žarošicích byl postaven v roce 1801 po požáru původního dřevěného kostela. Historie místa je však mnohem starší. Už na začátku 14. století se na území současné osady Silničná nacházelo významné poutní místo. Poutníci přicházeli s prosbami a díky za Pannou Marií mezi vinicemi. Po josefínských reformách bylo poutní místo i místní cisterciácká komunita zrušeny. Milostná socha Staré Matky Boží byla přenesena do nedalekého žarošického farního kostela Sv. Anny. Tak byla zachována kontinuita poutí. Nevelká stavba kostela nestačila přílivu přicházejících poutníků, proto bylo v roce 1967 za kostelem zbudováno prostranství, aby poutní bohoslužby mohly bývat pod širým nebem. Na zdi k faře jsou na sgrafitech zachyceny významné události z dějin poutního místa. Mozaiky křížové cesty vytvořil Antonín Klouda z Prahy. Před kostelem stojí kříž a barokní sochy svatých – sv. Josefa, Pavla, Rocha a sousoší Sv. Anny a Jana Nepomuckého, které sem byly převezeny z Vídně. Duchovní význam poutního místa podtrhla papežská korunovace sochy Staré Matky Boží Žarošické papežem Janem Pavlem II. v roce 1995. Stalo se tak na Sv. Kopečku u Olomouce. Hlavní pouť Zlatá sobota se koná každoročně druhou sobotu v září. Její součástí je žehnání pramene vody ve Zdravé Vodě. Vyvrcholením pouti je večerní průvod s mariánskými sochami. Pouť se v této podobě odehrává od roku 1785.
Muzeum v Žarošicích vzniklo v roce 1960. Sbírkový základ vytvořili Václav Broukal (1894-1972) a Silvestr Snášel (1915-1996), oba rodáci ze Žarošic. V roce 2005 prošla budova muzea z počátku 19. století celkovou rekonstrukcí. Ve dvorním traktu bylo postaveno komunitní centrum, kde v prostorách galerie probíhají přednášky, tématické a autorské výstavy. Dílna vybavená kachlovým sporákem a pecí na pečení perníku, vybízí svou atmosférou nejen k přátelskému posezení, ale také umožňuje prakticky si vyzkoušet a hlavně ochutnat nejrůznější výrobky podle starých receptů. Vymodelovat si vlastní keramický hrnek, vyzkoušet malbu na textil, nabatikovat tričko, narýsovat kraslici, či sledovat při práci řezbáře.
Odkryté pozůstatky středověké vesnice ze 13. až 15. století. Výzkum vedený Dr. Dagmar Šaurovou, odbornou pracovnicí v Muzeu ve Slavkově, zde probíhal v letech 1960 až 1978. První pokus o konzervaci odkrytých pozůstatků proběhl již v 70. letech, nově byl proveden v letech 1999 až 2002. V současnosti jsou odkryty a konzervovány pozůstatky tvrze, chlebové pece, kostelíku, uměle navršeného pahorku tzv. motte a základy několika selských usedlostí. Je zde zřízeno odpočívadlo a upraven pramen vody (nainstalovaná pumpa je v současnosti nefunkční). V areálu je instalováno 5 panelů s vysvětlujícím textem a obrázky. V roce 2002 vydalo Moravské zemské muzeum publikaci Zaniklá středověká ves Konůvky ve Ždánickém lese, autorka Zdeňka Měchurová, rozsah 52 stran. Konůvky se nachází při žluté turistické značce 1 km severně od rozcestí U Andělíčka.
Osada Silničná byla založená kolem roku 1770. U křižovatky silnic stojí kříž nad bývalým hrobem mladého pobočníka ruského cara Ferdinanda hraběte Tiesenhausena, který zde podlehl svým zraněním z bitvy u Slavkova. Osud zesnulého hraběte popisuje ve svém světoznámém románu Vojna a mír Lev Nikolajevič Tolstoj. Jeho literární hrdina kníže Andrej Bolkonskij však na rozdíl od skutečného hrdiny svá zranění přežil. Hrob posledního odpočinku třiadvacetiletého šlechtice bylo jen dočasné. Rodiče si po exhumaci tělo svého syna odvezli do vlasti.
Vydatný, pěkně upravený a často využívaný je pramen u posledního domu na horním konci osady. Další pramen se nachází ve vodní kapli ve střední části osady. Býval v minulosti lázeňsky využíván. V jeho sousedství dodnes stojí bývalá lázeňská budova, na jejíž zdi se zachoval erb abatyše starobrněnského kláštera, která zdejší lázně v 1. polovině 18. století založila. Léčivý, údajně radioaktivní pramen však byl využíván již mnohem dříve. Původní lázeňská budova svému účelu sloužila až do konce 50. let 20. století, pak byla přeměněna na sklad, nyní je zbořena.
Zdroj: www.vychodni-morava.cz
Křtiny se nachází přibližně 14 km severovýchodně od Brna a jsou známé především mariánskými poutěmi ke kamenné gotické skulptuře Madony, která vznikla okolo roku 1340. Nicméně hromadné poutě do Křtin jsou doloženy až v 17. a 18. století, kdy zdejší poutě patřily k nejnavštěvovanějším. Již na počátku 17. století přicházelo tolik poutníků, že o velkých poutích museli vypomáhat i kněží z Brna. Například roku 1720 zde bylo zaznamenáno 41 tisíc poutníků.
První písemná zmínka o Křtinách se nachází v textu imunitní listiny, vydané papežem Řehořem IX. v září 1237, kde se obec vyskytuje mezi dalšími vesnicemi v majetku zábrdovických premonstrátů, kteří snad mohli být i jejich zakladateli. Již na konci 13. století se zde nacházel kostel, což dokazuje listina z Moravského diplomatáře, v níž cenedský pomocný biskup Antonín udělil odpustky návštěvníkům křtinského a zábrdovického kostela.[2] Dodnes nedořešená je otázka existence dvou středověkých kostelů v obci. Menší kostel tzv. český, ležel přibližně na místě dnešního barokního chrámu. Severně od něj, v místech dnešní kaple sv. Anny, se nacházela větší kostelní stavba, snad patřící ženskému klášteru premonstrátek, které barokní literatura uvádí ve spojitosti se zničením kláštera husity 1423 (popř. 1424). Tento větší kostel nebyl od husitských válek až do 17. století obnovován a socha Panny Marie byla přesunuta do menšího, původně farního, kostela. V prvním desetiletí 18. století došlo k nákladným opravám starých kostelů, což dokazuje, že za opata Hájka (1695–1712) se s novou výstavbou v obci nepočítalo. Avšak jeho nástupce, opat Hugo Bartlicius (1712–1738), se rozhodl vystavět nové poutní místo a pro tento úkol získal Jana Blažeje Santiniho-Aichela. Vzhledem k tomu, že po zrušení zábrdovického kláštera císařem Josefem II. v roce 1784 zanikly zřejmě všechny písemné i plánové dokumenty týkající se Santiniho účasti na novostavbě ve Křtinách, zůstává základním pramenem stavba samotná.
Výstavba podle Santiniho projektu začala roku 1718 budováním kaple sv. Anny. Provádějícím architektem byl brněnský František Benedikt Klíčník. Dokončena a vyzdobena byla roku 1733, kdy sem byla přenesena rovněž socha Panny Marie z poutního kostela, který byl v tomto roce zbořen, aby udělal místo barokní novostavbě chrámu. Ta byla započata již roku 1728, tedy pět let po smrti Santiniho, v těsné blízkosti starého kostela, takže jej z počátku částečně obestavěla a teprve po zbořený staré svatyně se mohly práce rozběhnout rychlejším tempem. Stavitelem byl František Antonín Ritz (1697–1767). Do roku 1738 byla obvodová zeď kostela dovedena pouze do výše velkých oken, za což může zřejmě technicky velmi náročné provedení základů a terasovité podnože na členitém položí. Stavba byla dokončena roku 1750. Původní projekt byl v průběhu výstavby částečně pozměněn, především byla nově připojena osová věž v průčelí a Santiniho tvarosloví štukové výzdoby bylo obměněno v duchu dekorativního cítění pozdního baroka. Autor těchto změn není znám, uvažuje se o Christianu Alexandrovi Oedtlovi (1654–1731), avšak argumenty nejsou příliš přesvědčivé. V květnu 1750 byla do chrámu přenesena socha Panny Marie a kostel byl požehnán opatem Matuškou. V následujících dvou desetiletích byl kostel nákladně zdoben za účasti předních umělců, například Jana Jiřího Etgense (1697–1757), který je autorem freskové výzdoby, mezi sochaři se objevili Antonín a Ondřej Schweigl. Kompletně dokončen a slavnostně vysvěcen byl 21. dubna 1771 prvním brněnským biskupem Matyášem Františkem Chorinským z Ledské.
Roku 1884 při požáru shořely střechy kostela i dalších budov poutního areálu a původní členité vysoké mansardové střechy byly nahrazeny ve zjednodušené formě. V letech 1864–1865 byla část prelatury přestavěna na novorenesanční zámek. Menší část, dochovaná dodnes v barokní podobě, slouží jako fara. Na konci druhé světové války byl ambit poškozen leteckou pumou a kostel střelbou, tyto škody byly brzy opraveny. Mezi lety 1975 až 2009 probíhala velkorysá rekonstrukce.
Zdroj: cs.wikipedia.org
Významná památka barokní architektury, poutní místo s chrámem Jména Panny Marie podle projektu Jana Blažeje Santiniho. Jde o největší Santiniho stavbu na půdorysu řeckého kříže. Areál je mistrně zasazen do krajiny. Jedno z nejnavštěvovanějších poutních míst na Moravě.
Poutní areál, mistrně zasazený do krajiny, vznikl podle projektu J. B. Santiniho (1718-1750). U počátku poutní tradice ve středověku stála gotická socha Madony, dnes umístěná na hlavním oltáři.
Celý areál je tvořen chrámem, ambity a kaplí sv. Anny. Tento komplex spolu s farními budovami a zámkem se nachází uprostřed malé vesnice Křtiny, která leží cca 20 km severovýchodně od Brna. Tato oblast bývá také nazývána Branou do Moravského krasu, který se rozprostírá severně odtud. Poutní období začíná vždy po slavnosti Nanebevstoupení Páně (většinou v květnu) a končí třetí nedělí v říjnu.
Zajímavá je také zdejší zvonkohra na nádvoří kostela, která dovede zahrát stovky melodií. Skládá se z 27 zvonů a patří k největším ve střední Evropě. Většina zvonů ve Křtinách nese jméno některého ze světců – nejmenší váží devět kilogramů, největší 364 kilogramů. Netradiční hudební nástroj je řízen počítačem. Zvonkohra hraje v sobotu v 18 hod 6 minut a v neděli ve 12 hodin 6 minut.
Křtiny, zvané Perla Moravy, mají vedle krás, které nás zaujmou na první pohled, plno dalších zajímavostí a záhad. Například rozlehlou kostnici v podzemí kostela. Krypta lichoběžníkového půdorysu o šířce 1,4 m – 2,9 m a délce v hlavní ose 9,5 m. Do krypty ústilo čtyři až pět chodeb směřujících většinou do dosud neznámých zazděných prostor pod terasou schodiště. Výška krypty 2,8 m až 4 m. V této prostoře byla objevena 1 až 2,2 m vysoká vrstva volně promíchaných lidských kostí, zcela zakrývající dno. Největší pozoruhodností křtinské kostnice (ossaria) se stal nález dvanácti lidských lebek, které jsou označeny černou kresbou ve tvaru vavřínového věnce a symbolu v podobě písmene T na čele.
Odkud tolik kosterních pozůstatků? Kolem bývalého malého českého kostela, který stával na místě středu dnešního chrámu, byl hřbitov, který pro stavbu nového kostela musel být zrušen. Křtinská kostnice obsahuje kosti snad od 13. století do 1. čtvrtiny 18. století. Do kostnice byly uloženy ostatky z hrobek, případně krypt původních kostelů. Nachází se zde proto pozůstatky téměř tisícovky lidí. Kosti jsou roztříděny podle druhu a seskládány do výklenků, které vznikly na počátku tohoto tisíciletí. Kostnice je přístupná o hlavních poutích a na vyžádání po předchozí domluvě. Konají se zde také bohoslužby a to zejména na dušičky. K tomuto účelu je kostnice vybavena oltářem a několika dřevěnými lavicemi.
Zdroj: www.kudyznudy.cz
Archeologický výzkum dokládá pravěké osídlení Hostýna sahající až do doby bronzové; Keltové, první bezpečně známé etnikum na našem území, měli zde rozsáhlé opevněné sídliště – oppidum v rozsahu cca 20 ha s obranným částečně zachovalým valem o výšce 5-8 m (původně 15-18 m), délky 1 800 m.
Ve svém námětu ojedinělý je známý hostýnský obraz Panny Marie s Ježíškem metajícím blesky. Připomíná dobu vpádu Mongolů (lidově Tatarů) na Moravu v r. 1241, vznikl na základě barokní pověsti zaznamenané vlasteneckým knězem jezuitou Bohuslavem Balbínem. První kapli na Hostýně s obrazem Panny Marie Ochranitelky pořídili asi havíři dolující v hostýnských horách železo a stříbro; ve své původní podobě se dochovala do r. 1658, poté byla pro zvyšující se počet poutníků rozšířena.
Nynější velkolepý poutní chrám byl vybudován v barokním slohu majitelem bystřického panství Františkem Antonínem z Rottálu v letech 1721 – 1748, patrně podle projektu kroměřížského architekta italského původu Ignáce Cirani von Bolleshause jako centrální orientovaná stavba. Předmětem úcty byl obraz Matky Boží Ochranitelky. Byl uctíván až do r. 1620, kdy jej Václav Bítovský, pán na Holešově, spálil. Je to tentýž rok, kdy byl v Olomouci umučen Jan Sarkandr, kterého uvedený Václav Bítovský vyslýchal. Bohužel za 39 roků po slavnostním vysvěcení byl svatohostýnský chrám nařízením císaře Josefa II. zrušen, odsvěcen, zbaven svého vnitřního zařízení i střechy a nechán na pospas drsné povětrnosti, až se z něho stala ruina.
Přes přísný zákaz konání poutí nebyla jejich kontinuita přerušena. Hluboce zakořeněná poutní tradice a pozdější změna nazírání na nejvyšších místech umožnila obnovu poutního místa v letech 1841 – 1845. Činnost od 80. let 19. stol. znamená zásadní obrat ve vývoji; je spojen se jménem P Antonína Stojana, pozdějšího olomouckého arcibiskupa, který zakládá spolek Družstvo svatohostýnské (1881), jež je předchůdcem Matice svatohostýnské (1895) existující dosud. Od barona Laudona je zakoupena vrcholová oblast hostýnské hory v rozsahu keltských valů, zřízena trvalá duchovní správa obsazená řádem Tovaryšstva Ježíšova, budují se komunikace, křížové cesty (1901, 1905), ta novější podle návrhu Dušana Jurkoviče v provedení Jano Kohlera (ve stylu lidové architektury), monumentální přístupové schodiště k chrámu (250 stupňů), poutní noclehárna, hostinec aj.
Významnou událostí té doby byla korunovace Panny Marie svatohostýnské v r. 1912, kterou provedl podle starého církevního zvyku v zastoupení papeže olomoucký arcibiskup František Bauer. V době mezi válkami pokračovalo budování – přístupová komunikace z Bystřice pod Hostýnem, moderní poutní dům aj. Poutní místo Hostýn se stal moderním centrem náboženského života (celoroční pořádání duchovních cvičení – exercicií aj.) přesahující rámec olomoucké arcidiecéze.
Období komunistického panství “diktatury proletariátu” se nevyhnulo ani Hostýnu. Řádový dům byl vydrancován, poutní dům byl předán ústavu sociální péče. Poutníci však i v těchto dobách zůstali Hostýnu věrni. K 70. výročí korunovace Panny Marie svatohostýnské získal poutní chrám vysoké vyznamenání – byl mu udělen papežem Janem Pavlem II. titul “Menší baziliky” (bazilica minor).
Kostel byl uveden do současného stavu ke přelomu 19. a 20. století. Střecha je vytvořena mohutnou helmicí, dvě věže postavené kose překrývají jednoduché jehlancové střechy se skosenými hranami. Dominantou průčelí je vertikálně členěná plocha s hladkými pilastry a konkávní plochou vyplněnou impozantním mozaikovým obrazem Panny Marie Svatohostýnské (25 m2) od malíře Viktora Foerstra (bratra hudebních skladatele J. B. Foerstra), nad ním je nápis: ZŮSTAŇ MATKOU LIDU SVÉMU. Masivní kostelní vrata jsou dílem brněnského sochaře Josefa Axmana, Myslbekova žáka. Před chrámem na schodišti nás vítají sochy sv. Cyrila a Metoděje.
Vlastní chrám má centrální, půdorysně orientovanou dispozici elipsovitého tvaru s osami 40,5 a 30,5 m. Vnitřek chrámu, tvořený elipsovitým válcem odděleným římsou, sedmi okny a prosvětlenou kopulí, je úchvatný. Oválný půdorys chrámové lodě je rozčleněn a rozšířen o prostory vchodů a oltářů. Hlavní oltář se sochou hostýnské Madony s Ježíškem a výjevem pokoření Tatarů, sochou sv. Cyrila držícího v ruce obraz Panny Marie tuřanské a sv. Metoděje s mušlí (atribut křtu). Před oltářem je menza odpovídající reformě podle II. vatikánského koncilu. Autor původního oltáře je sochař a řezbář Benedikt Edele (1844). Na evangelijní straně presbytáře je kopie původního obrazu Panny Marie Ochranitelky, na protější straně nástěnný obraz Panny Marie Vítězné, jehož originál z r. 1695 není v majetku Hostýna. Na evangelijní straně kaple sv. Josefa, oltář Božského srdce Páně s reliéfním obrazem a kaple sv. Jáchyma se sv. Annou. Na epištolní straně kaple sv. Valentina, za ní u vchodu je kaple Panny Marie lurdské s oltářem sv. Ignáce z Loyoly (zakladatele Tovaryšstva Ježíšova). Na protější straně je zobrazena vodní kaple s procesím, dále je kaple sv. Šebestiána, která je nyní proměněna v kapli “dušičkovou”. Interiér chrámu doplňují nástěnné malby ze života světců a Panny Marie. K architektuře kostela jako celku lze říci celkově, že exteriér chrámu je tvořen převážně barokně, interiér odpovídá zhruba době konce 19. stol.
Svatý Hostýn je nejvýše položeným mariánským poutním místem na Moravě a současně nejnavštěvovanějším poutním místem v České republice. Zdaleka viditelnou dominantou vrchu Hostýna je bazilika Nanebevzetí Panny Marie dostavěná v roce 1748. Už po tři století je hostýnská hora se svou mariánskou svatyní cílem tisíců poutníků. Nad vstupním portálem je typický motiv – mozaikový obraz Panny Marie Svatohostýnské a pod ním je zobrazena porážka Tatarů. Stejný motiv se sochou je i nad oltářem v bazilice. Pozoruhodná je Křížová cesta architekta D. Jurkoviče. Je to 13 kapliček, každá jiná a všechny jsou v duchu valašské lidové architektury a jsou rozmístěny severovýchodně od baziliky. Rozhledna císaře Františka Josefa I. na druhém vrcholu Hostýna nabízí úchvatný výhled na Hostýnské vrchy a okolní krajinu. V areálu poutních domů láká k prohlídce Jurkovičův sál se Svatohostýnským muzeum. Exponáty představují historický vývoj Hostýna od prehistorie až po současnost a je zde vystavena i místní fauna. Nesmíme taky vynechat prohlídku keltského valu, monumentálního schodiště a vodní kapli na jeho počátku.
Zdaleka viditelnou dominantou vrchu Hostýna je bazilika Nanebevzetí Panny Marie. Její základní kámen byl posvěcen r. 1721 a vytvořil ji podle plánů J. Ignáce Cyraniho stavitel Tomáš Šturm. Stavba byla dokončena v r. 1748. Za oltářem se skrývá reliéf hostýnské madony a pod ním je zobrazena porážka Tatarů.
Novobarokní kaple pochází z roku 1889. Vznikla přestavbou staré rottalovské kaple z roku 1658. Oltářní obraz i nástěnné malby zachycují život svatého Jana Sarkandra.
Základní kámen byl posvěcen v roce 1900, stavbu provedl Otto Zeman. Pašijové obrazy zhotovil bystřický malíř Žůrek.
Autorem křížové cesty je známý slovenský architekt Dušan Jurkovič, který při tvorbě zastavení vycházel z valašské tradice. Keramické obrazy vytvořili Joža Úprka a Jano Koehler. Křížová cesta byla postavena v letech 1903 – 1933.
Cesta světla připomíná velikonoční události Ježíšova zmrtvýchvstání. Základové kameny pro jednotlivá zastavení jsou dary různých kamenolomů. Základ každého zastavení tvoří jiná hornina. Cesta byla vybudována v roce 2010.
Kolem roku 1658 nechal postavit kapli s oltářem kolem upraveného vodního pramene Jan hrabě z Rottalu. Interiér dříve zdobily malby vodních zřídel. Během staletí však proběhla řada oprav. Při poslední opravě byla v kapli umístěna nová socha P. Marie Svatohostýnské.
Rozhledna stojící na vrcholku Hostýna pochází z roku 1897 a nabízí úchvatný výhled na Bystřici pod Hostýnem a vzdálenější rovinu Hané.
Od roku 1994 je na vrcholku Hostýna v provozu větrná elektrárna.
Hřbitov navazuje na Jurkovičovu křížovou cestu. Původně byl vytvořen pro 20 jednoduchých hrobů a postupně byl rozšiřován.
Muzeum je umístěno v prostorách jedinečného Jurkovičova sálu v areálu poutních domů. Ve svých expozicích představuje historický vývoj Hostýna od prehistorie až po současnost. Na galerii je expozice přírodnin, flóry a fauny Hostýnských vrchů.
Hora Radhošť je dnes neodmyslitelně spojována s kaplí, která zde byla vystavěna nákladem 20 000 zlatých roku 1898. Již v roce 1862 byla na hoře uspořádána slavnost a na stavbu kaple se vybralo 120 zlatých. Znovu ožila myšlenka roku 1881, kdy se vybralo 500 zlatých. Roku 1888 daroval hrabě Kinský na stavbu kaple potřebný pozemek a zdivo. Nová sbírka byla uspořádána mezi lety 1889–1895 a vynesla 8000 zlatých. Malíř Adolf Liebscher namaloval u této příležitosti triptych „Valašská madona“, který vystavil na Národopisné výstavě v Praze. Výbor pro stavbu kaple koupil od malíře obraz v hodnotě 4000 zlatých za 800 zlatých. Zbytek věnoval malíř na kapli. Obraz byl vystavován v Čechách i na Moravě a vynesl 6000 zlatých. Dnes je originál obrazu umístěn v kostele sv. Martina.
Ke stavbě kaple bylo přikročeno roku 1896, základní kámen byl položen 5. července. Dne 11. září 1898 kapli posvětil olomoucký arcibiskup Theodor Kohn a byla odevzdána veřejnosti do užívání. Roku 1905 byl založen spolek Matice Radhošťská s cílem udržovat kapli. Z jeho popudu byla původní kamenná kaple v roce 1926 obložena šindelem a přistavěna zvonice. Frenštátský rodák sochař Albín Polášek, žijící v USA, věnoval Matici Radhošťské v roce 1930 sousoší svatého Cyrila a Metoděje, které nyní stojí před kaplí na hřebenu hory Radhošť. Roku 1951 byla Matice Radhošťská komunisty zrušena a její činnost obnovena až v roce 1994. Roku 1995 byla v kapli provedena nová elektroinstalace a roku 2003 byla ukončena kompletní rekonstrukce zvonice. Matice Radhošťská nechala také zhotovit nový obětní stůl z carrarského mramoru a nyní financuje rekonstrukci vitrážových oken. Celkové náklady na opravu kaple činily v letech 1995 – 2009 téměř pět miliónů korun.
Sousoší věnoval v roce 1930 Albín Polášek spolku Matice Radhošťská. Sousoší sv. Cyrila a Metoděje je pravým opakem sochy pohanského boha Radegasta. Vyzařuje z něj bratrství a touha po sjednocení. Žilnaté ruce ukazují, že oba jsou muži práce. V rozevřené knize, kterou drží sv. Cyril, čteme hlaholským písmem počátek evangelia sv. Jana:
„Na počátku bylo Slovo“. Sv. Metoděj ukazuje na písmo a pozdvihuje mezi glorioly trojramenný byzantský kříž.
Duté sousoší, 2,60 m vysoké a vážící 800 kg, je ulito z bronzu, čímž (oproti kameni) je vyjádřena vyšší a pozdější kultura. Zdvíhá se na žulovém podstavci vysokém 1,60 m za kaplí na místě, kde stával kamenný kříž. Obráceno je k východu, pohlíží na Radegasta na protější vyvýšenině a vítá příchozí.
Na Radhošti byl postaven první kříž již v roce 1735. Tento byl dřevěný a nahrazen kamenným v roce 1805. Nechal jej postavit rožnovský měšťan Michal Janík. V roce 1808 byl kříž povalen v bouři a znovu postaven. Po přestavbě kaple byl v roce 1931 přemístěn před vchod do kaple a na jeho původní místo byla umístěna socha sv. Cyrila a Metoděje.
Zvony, zvláště zvony kostelní, se těší výjimečnému postavení mezi všemi ostatními výrobky lidských rukou. Jsou více než jen nástroje zvukové signalizace. Zrození nového zvonu se očekává s napětím a s radostí, zánik zvonu vzbuzuje smutek i pláč. Hlas zvonů provází v naší civilizaci člověka od křtu až po jeho smrt a pohřeb …..
Zvony, podobně jako lidé, dostávají jména. Pouze zvony mají své „křestní“ patrony, nesou jména světců, k jejich cti byly ulity a na jejich počest má znít každý úder jejich srdce. Zdá se být snadné uhádnout, jaké jméno nese nebo k čí poctě vznikl zvon pro zvonici kaple sv. Cyrila a Metoděje na Radhošti. Odpověď na tuto otázku je však přece jen trochu složitější, než bychom čekali. Na těle zvonu můžeme číst tento nápis:
Ke cti a chvále Boží, sv. apoštolů Cyrilla a Methoda, sv. Josefa Cal. věnovali manželé: Josef Cal. a Josefa Bumbala, majitelé továrny ve Frenštátě P/R L. P. 1986.
Zdroj: https://www.farnostfrenstat.cz/kaple-sv-cyrila-a-metodeje-na-radhosti/
Iniciativa k její výstavbě nevzešla od světské ani církevní vrchnosti, ale z lidu, jako projev vděku a úcty sv. Cyrilu a Metoději. Lidová zbožnost a tradice, podpořená i dobovým spisem historika J. J. Středovského z roku 1710 (Posvátné dějiny Moravy neboli Život sv. Cyrila a Metoděje), si spojovala tuto horu s údajnou návštěvou věrozvěstů, kteří zde měli osobně učinit přítrž pohanským obřadům.
Na historickém táboru lidu, v roce 1862 (kdy se na Radhošti navzdory nejistému deštivému počasí, zmatkům kolem data konání a přes nepřízeň úřadů sešlo na 15 000 lidí) zazněla poprvé výzva vztyčit na tomto místě sochy. sv. Cyrila a Metoděje. Později převážila myšlenka vybudovat zde rovnou kapli, ale konečné rozhodnutí bylo přijato až v roce 1881 na schůzi frenštátského spolku Občanská beseda. Stavba byla financována z darů a sbírek – stejně jako i všechny její pozdější opravy; proto právem přibyl v průběhu její poslední rekonstrukce v r. 2000 na jednom z mohutných stropních trámů ve zvonici kaple nápis „Valaši sobě“.
Kronikáři zaznamenali, že slavnostního vysvěcení kaple 11. září 1898 se účastnilo 50 kněží a na 30 tisíc věřících. K tak obrovské účasti lidí na tomto odlehlém a nesnadno dostupném místě jistě přispělo i to, že kapli osobně vysvětil tehdejší arcibiskup olomoucký Theodor Kohn, od jehož smrti letos uplyne 100 let. Tento neobyčejně schopný a pokrokový muž s pohnutým životním údělem nechal na vlastní náklady vybudovat už o rok dříve na vrcholu sousedního Velkého Javorníku turistickou chatu – útulnu. Pro naši kapli další vazba na počínající turistiku a obecně pozoruhodný počin, když si uvědomíme, že se tak stalo v době, kdy pro většinu obyvatel tohoto chudého horského kraje nebyla pěší chůze sváteční rekreací, ale každodenní nezbytností…
Také několik desítek metrů níže ve svahu pod kaplí stála útulna – obydlí, ve kterém nejdříve byli ubytováni stavební dělníci při budování kaple a později zde nacházeli zázemí, občerstvení i nocleh poutníci a turisté. Pro zájemce zde také byly k dispozici klíče od kaple. Tato historická útulna byla bohužel zničena v 70. letech minulého století při výstavbě vysílače, což je jistě škoda a ztráta a tehdy zřejmě i politicky motivovaný záměr, nicméně dnes si už na sebe kaple a nový vysílač do jisté míry „zvykly“ a v anténním stožáru tyčícím se spolu se siluetou kaple za sochami věrozvěstů můžeme vidět i výzvu aplikovanou do dnešní technické doby: „Jděte do celého světa a hlásejte evangelium“. Znovu jsem si tuto symboliku uvědomil letos 5. července (1915), kdy poutní mši sv. vysílala z Radhoště TV NOE…
Již 25 let po výstavbě kaple muselo být přikročeno k její zásadní rekonstrukci. Celá kamenná stavba byla oplášťována dřevěným šindelem a kolem jejího obvodu byl přistavěn nízký krytý dřevěný ochoz. Průčelí a vstup do kaple chrání dřevěná zvonice. Tak získala kaple svou dnešní nezaměnitelnou podobu a od té doby působí zvenčí dojmem celodřevěné stavby. Motiv a cíl těchto úprav však nebyl estetický, nýbrž technický – chránit porézní pískovcové zdivo a základy stavby před vodou z deště a sněhu.
Velehrad je jedním z nejvýznamnějších poutních míst Moravy. Historie tohoto místa se začala psát před více než 800 lety, kdy do údolí říčky Salašky přišlo prvních 12 cisterciáckých mnichů, aby nedaleko obce Veligrad (dnešní Staré Město) vybudovali svůj klášter. Právě na základě své polohy dostal klášter své jméno a stal se záhy nositelem mnohem starší duchovní tradice, která sahá až do 9. století, kdy na Moravu přišli slovanští věrozvěstové Konstantin a Metoděj. A tak již po staletí na Velehrad proudí tisíce poutníků, k nimž se připojil v roce 1990 také papež Jan Pavel II.
Zakladateli kláštera byli moravský markrabě Vladislav Jindřich s jeho bratrem Přemyslem Otakarem I. a olomoucký biskup Robert. Výstavba kostela byla zahájena patrně v letech 1210 – 1215. Jako většina cisterciáckých kostelů přijal patrocinium Nanebevzetí Panny Marie. (Spolupatronát Cyrila a Metoděje byl připojen až v roce 1932 dekretem papeže Pia XI. Titulem bazilika byl kostel vyznamenán v roce 1928 z rozhodnutí papeže Pia XI.).
Původní románsko-gotická bazilikální stavba byla budována podle stavebních tradic cisterciáků, které charakterizovala krása prostých linií a střídmá výzdoba. Devadesát devět metrů dlouhá stavba byla rozvržena na půdorysu latinského kříže. Východní stranu uzavírala pětice apsid. V této podobě se kostel do dnešních časů nedochoval v důsledku tragických událostí, jež v průběhu dějin cisterciácký klášter postihly. V roce 1421 vypálili velehradské opatství moravští husité. Klášter 150 let chátral. Nesnadného úkolu obnovy se ujal až opat Ekard ze Schwoben ve druhé polovině 16. století. Středověkou podobu však kostel ztratil až v důsledku obrovského požáru, který v klášteře vypukl v roce 1681. V důsledku této pohromy byl kostel radikálně přestavěn. Stavba byla zkrácena o chrámové průčelí s románským ústupkovitým portálem a nahrazena novým, jemuž dominují dvě věže. Boční lodě baziliky byly přezděny příčkami s pilastry, a tak vzniklo 14 samostatných postranních kaplí, z nichž 10 má oltáře a pod podlahou krypty. Z křížení lodí byla snesena 100 metrů vysoká renesanční věž a byla nahrazena kupolí s nízkou věží zvanou lucerna. Nyní je tedy bazilika dlouhá 86 m. Přes radikální zásahy si kostel uchoval ve svých proporcích a půdorysném schématu charakter románsko – gotické stavby.
V roce 1784 byl velehradský klášter zrušen Josefem II. Klášterní majetek byl rozchvácen, areál kláštera střídal majitele a klášterní kostel se stal kostelem farním. Stavba velmi chátrala a chyběly finanční prostředky na její údržbu. Obnovy se dočkal kostel v souvislosti se sílícím cyrilometodějským kultem . V rámci cyrilometodějských milénií v letech 1863 a 1885 se jej podařilo obnovit. Další rozvoj byl zabezpečen příchodem jezuitů na Velehrad v roce 1890. Za jejich správy byla stavba ve 20. letech a 30. letech 20. století zabezpečena proti vzlínání vlhkosti. SS tím souvisel objev velehradského podzemí, které bylo ještě před vypuknutím druhé světové války zpřístupněno veřejnosti. V letech 1935 – 1938 proběhlo restaurování interiéru kostela. Nástup totalitních režimů k moci celá desetiletí bránil rozvoji poutního místa, ačkoliv nejnutnější opravy (např. statické zajištění klenby a výměnu krovu a krytiny) se podařilo realizovat.
V roce 1990 se na Velehrad vrátili Jezuité a na Velehrad přicestoval papež Jan Pavel II. Od té doby probíhá pozvolná hmotná i duchovní obnova Velehradu, přičemž projekt Velehrad – centrum kulturního dialogu západní a východní Evropy představuje její vyústění.
Zdroj: http://www.velehrad-iop.cz/dokument/Historie-baziliky-164/
Velehrad je jedním z nejvýznamnějších poutních míst Moravy. Jeho historie se začala psát před více než 800 lety, kdy do údolí říčky Salašky přišlo prvních 12 cisterciáckých mnichů, aby nedaleko obce Veligrad (dnešní Staré Město) vybudovali svůj klášter. Právě na základě své polohy dostal klášter své jméno a stal se záhy nositelem mnohem starší duchovní tradice, která sahá až do 9. století, kdy na Moravu přišli slovanští věrozvěstové Konstantin a Metoděj. Význam poutního místa Velehrad tedy nespočívá v místním, nýbrž myšlenkovém vztahu k středisku apoštolské působnosti slovanských věrozvěstů. Proto býval v minulosti nazýván „moravským Betlémem.“ A tak již po staletí na Velehrad proudí tisíce poutníků, k nimž se v roce 1990 připojil také blahoslavený papež Jan Pavel II. Přicházíme sem, abychom se dotkli svých kořenů a to nejen duchovních, nýbrž zvnitřněným způsobem i národních. Velehrad je vnímán také jako prostor k dialogu mezi kulturami Východu a Západu.
Srdcem poutního místa Velehrad je bazilika Nanebevzetí Panny Marie a sv. Cyrila a Metoděje. Původně pozdně románská stavba z první třetiny 13. století získala v důsledku válečných pohrom a zejména požáru v roce 1681 barokní podobu. V bohatě zdobené bazilice nacházíme několik spirituálních ohnisek, která by neměl žádný návštěvník tohoto posvátného prostoru minout: oltář, kolem kterého se setkávají křesťané při slavení liturgie, kaple Panny Marie Matky jednoty křesťanů s velehradským palladiem, hrob arcibiskupa Antonína Stojana v Královské kapli a nejnověji také nádhernými mozaikami zdobený sarkofág kardinála Tomáše Špidlíka SJ v presbytáři baziliky. Dále lze akcentovat sousoší sv. Cyrila a Metoděje na pravé straně od oltáře, které kanonizovalo vnímání podoby soluňských bratří v očích našich předků a obraz věrozvěstů od polského malíře Matejky darovaný pro baziliku v roce 1885.
V komplexu klášterních budov sídlí Stojanovo gymnázium a Ústav sociální péče Vincentinum. Na informačním centru je možné si předem domluvit prohlídku Saly terreny s barokními freskami a Slovanského sálu, které se v prostorách bývalého kláštera nachází.
Sala terrena velehradského kláštera byla vybudována v letech 1724 -1728 v rámci stavby nové prelatury kláštera. Sál je vyzdoben freskami zachycující čtvero ročních období formou alegorických postav a mytologických výjevů. Ty jsou doplněny o souvztažné biblické motivy.
“Cyrilka” je malý kostel postavený ve 13. století při klášterní bráně pro obyvatele předklášteří. V 19. století zpustl a k jeho obnově v neogotickém slohu došlo u příležitosti cyrilometodějského jubilea v roce 1863. V roce 1929 zde byl instalován ikonostas pro možnost sloužení východní liturgie. V současné době je kaple po generální rekonstrukci a jsou zde instalovány sezónní výstavy.
Bývalé hospodářské objekty velehradského kláštera. Jeho prostory jsou přístupné v rámci služeb, které tento objekt poskytuje (stálé expozice Velehradského muzea, cukrárna, knihkupectví).
Ambit, kapitulní síň, barokní krypty. Prostor je součástí nové expozice Velehrad na křižovatkách evropských dějin.
Kaple sv. Vendelína se sochou světce od F. Hirnla, barokní mariánský sloup, sousoší sv. Bernarda a sv. Luitgardy od O. Schveigla, kaple sv. Jana Nepomuckého z roku 1715 u barokního mostu přes potok Salaška, sochy sv. Jana Nepomuckého při cestě ke hřbitovu a na obecním náměstí, socha Božího Syna u rozcestí mezi Velehradem a Modrou (možnost volné, individuální prohlídky). Velehradský hřbitov s hrobem Mons. Šrámka, velehradských cisterciáků, slavisty J. Vašici, řeholních sester, jezuitů a dalších osobnost.
Poutní cesta růžence vysoké výtvarné hodnoty s dvaceti náboženskými výjevy.
Zdroj: http://www.velehradinfo.cz/
Bazilika Nanebevzetí Panny Marie a sv. Cyrila a Metoděje, Velehrad, Česká republika
Velehradskou bazilikou budou znít v nedělním podvečeru vánoční písně v podání cimbálové muziky Cifra a pěveckého sboru Viva la musica z hradišťského gymnázia. Zazní nejen vánoční koledy, ale také duchovní skladby s tématikou narození Ježíše Krista v netradičním spojení cimbálové muziky a smíšeného pěveckého sboru.
Hrad Devín, Bratislava-Devín, Slovenská republika
Spomienkové podujatie s osobitným dôrazom na život a dielo Konštantína – Cyrila.
The archaeological research, which has been carried out here since 1958 by the Institute of Archaeology and Museology of the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University in Brno, has contributed to its knowledge.The archaeological research has revealed scattered findings from various periods of prehistory, but above all it has proved a continuous settlement from the time of Slavic expansion (6th century) until the first half of the 10th century AD. The hillfort was built only at the beginning of the 9th century. It is a lowland type of oval shape with an area of 28 hectares. It is one of the largest early medieval fortifications in Central Europe. The well visible rampart is a remnant of a shell wall originally 5.7-6.5 m wide, consisting of a front stone wall, an earthen embankment and an inner wooden wall made of timbers supported by pairs of stakes 1.5-2 m apart. The embankment was 4 m high; with the wooden breastwork, the fortification reached a height of 6 m.
The most important discovery in Pohansko is considered to be the grand manor, which was explored in the northwestern part of the fortress. It was a rectangular settlement of almost 1 ha surrounded by a wooden palisade, built in two phases in the 9th century. There was a sacral precinct with a church and a burial ground, a residential part of the great man with single and multi-room houses on stone and mortar foundations, an economic part with cattle pens, stables, barns, granaries, etc. (over 50 buildings) inside the courtyard.
According to the preserved foundations, the church, built in a special enclosure by the courtyard, belonged to the type of single-nave buildings (length 18.65 m, width 7.2 m) with an offset semicircular apse and an almost square nartex; on the southeast side a square annex adjoined the nave. The temple was built of imported rubble stone bonded with lime mortar. The walls were plastered and whitewashed, and there were also coloured frescoes inside. The foundation of the church can be associated with the earlier phase of the court, i.e. before the middle of the 9th century. It disappeared around the mid-10th century at the latest, and it may have lost its sacral function earlier. It was probably a so-called proprietary church. There was a rich cemetery around the church. It was the burial place of the community residing in the manor from the beginning of the 9th century to the middle of the 10th century. 4 swords, 8 axes, 32 spurs and 46 gold and silver jewels of Byzantine-Oriental character were found in 407 graves. The fact that among the adult graves there is a much higher percentage of male graves indicates an unusual composition of the court’s population, probably due to the presence of a military retinue. Extensive Great Moravian settlement complexes, and smaller burial sites have been excavated at various locations within the hillfort and on the forecourt, in addition to the court.
An artisan settlement in the northeastern part of the hillfort (in the former forest nursery about 100 m east of the research of the great man’s court) was investigated over an area of more than 2 ha without capturing its edges (260 Great Moravian buildings). The origins of the whole settlement can be placed in the first half of the 9th century. The northeastern forebay occupied a kidney-shaped area (2.5 ha) rising about 1.5 m above the inundation (103 Great Moravian settlement objects were excavated). A trough and stone destruction at the edge of the earthwork indicate that it was originally enclosed by a palisade. The Great Moravian settlement area of the southern forebay was investigated in the route of the canal under construction in a salvage manner over an area of 9 hectares with a 100 m wide probe. The edge of the settlement was only captured on the eastern side, elsewhere only a section of the settlement area was explored with the probe.
A total of 436 settlement buildings were saved, almost a quarter of which were residential earthworks with a stone oven in the corner. Other buildings were of an economic and production character. Apart from the rich church cemetery, isolated graves and small burial sites with 10-30 graves were located directly among the settlement buildings in all the above-mentioned Great Moravian settlement complexes. There were a total of 184 graves on the hillfort and on the northeastern foreland There were over 200 graves on the southern foreland. An Early Slavic and Old Burgundian urn burial site was also excavated in the hillfort area. Early Slavic and Old Burgundian settlement (6th-8th centuries) was recorded at two sites in the northern part of the hillfort (79 settlement buildings). It was probably a cluster-type agricultural settlement divided into individual courts. The protected area of the site is 790237 m2.
Source: pamatkovykatalog.cz
Pobedim is a well-known archaeological site. The most significant discovery was the unearthing of a Slavic hillfort from the period of Pribina’s principality. The archaeological research at the Hradištia site was led by PhDr. Darina Bialeková CSc, who became an honorary citizen of the village.
The oldest settlement of Pobedim dates back to the Early and Late Stone Age, when the first peasants settled in the village. Evidence of the settlement are ceramic sherds and parts of stone tools at the Hillfort site. Other evidence of settlement dating back to the Bronze Age was also uncovered during the research. However, the most significant of the Bronze Age settlements are from the Early and Late Bronze Age. During ten years of research, a settlement belonging to the Lusatian culture was investigated. A number of settlements were uncovered, as well as a cult site of worshippers of the sun god. Among the finds, bronze casting moulds, pottery, worked bones and, above all, a rich collection of bronze objects /needles, sickles, knives, darts, jewellery and more/ are noteworthy. Vessels of various types have been reconstructed from the many ceramic fragments, and small animal sculptures have also been found. The Late Bronze Age settlement was an important production, trade and cult site in the Central Povazie region.
The settlement of Pobedim was also significant at the time when our territory was in the neighbourhood of the Roman Empire. A settlement with significant findings from the Roman period has been investigated at the Lower Field site. Settlement buildings have been uncovered and ceramic vessels have been found, and fragments of Roman pottery, the so-called terra sigillata, are particularly valuable. The dating of the finds was facilitated by Roman coins. These were found both at the Lower Field site and at the Upper Field site. An important and often published find from the Roman period is a bronze Silenus head inlaid with silver. Objects of a manufacturing nature were found and documented during the construction of the motorway between Piešt’any and Horná Streda. The continuity of the settlement of Pobedim can also be traced in the period of the migration of peoples.
The first Slavs appeared in the area of the municipality in the 6th century, when the early Slavic settlements on the Lower Field and Upper Field were located here. From there, in the 8th century, the settlement moved from the Dudváh and Dubová basins. However, the most intensive Slavic settlement was at the end of the 8th and the beginning of the 9th century. At that time, several locations in the village area were inhabited, but the most significant was the Zapupovec location, where almost 30 objects have been excavated, including two wells. Based on the findings, the inhabitants of the settlement were engaged in blacksmithing. This is evidenced by the finds of nozzles, iron slag and unfinished products. In addition to these finds, the discovery of a wooden ladle from Well 1 and the finds of two artistic sheet metal forgings are noteworthy.
Undoubtedly the most important Slavic archaeological site was the fortified centre, which had its acropolis and sub-castle. It was situated on the position of Hradištia and Podhradištia. The hillfort is one of the oldest fortified sites of the Danube Slavs. It was fortified with a rampart built by a chamber system. On the outside, an earthen rampart reinforced with wood protected the stone wall and on the inside the rampart was supported by sloping supports. A wooden palisade was set into the crown of the rampart. There were watchtowers in certain parts of the rampart. The fortified centre was the residence of the Grand Duke with his retinue and servants. The fortified centre was inhabited by the Grand Duke, who had his retinue and servants. Near the rampart there were workshops, the centre of the rampart was a place to concentrate the inhabitants of the surrounding settlements in times of danger. Pobedim hillfort was also the centre of trade in the Váh basin. This statement is supported by archaeological findings and especially by the discovery of axe-heads of the then semi-finished and primitive currency.
The demise of the hillfort dates back to the turn of the first and second third of the 9th century, to the period when the territory of Pribina’s principality became a part of Great Moravia. In the second half of the 9th and 10th centuries, Slavic settlements of agricultural character were spread out in the wider surroundings of the already extinct hillfort. In the 11th-12th centuries, the settlement of Pobedim was transferred to the area of today’s village.
Elaborated by: I. I. Pastorek
BIALEKOVÁ, D.: Pobedim in prehistoric times, Pobedim in Roman times and in the time of migration of peoples, Pobedim in Slavic times. Collective of authors, Pobedim, Bratislava 1992.
The earliest settlement of the rock promontory on which the hillfort was located is dated to the Late Neolithic to Early Eneolithic period (5th to 4th millennium BC) on the basis of isolated finds belonging to the Moravian painted pottery culture[1]. During the Eneolithic, the people of the funnel-shaped cup culture settled here and later the people of the canelled pottery culture. The foundations of a densely built-up settlement surrounded by a defensive rampart and ditch, as well as finds of copper objects, marble beads or bone belt buckles, testify to the intensive settlement at this time. There were several more reoccupations in the Bronze Age (Podolia phase of the Central Danube ashfield culture), the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Migration of Peoples.
Staré Zámky flourished most during the Slavic settlement in the Middle and Younger Fortress Period during the Great Moravian period. As early as the 8th century, an earthen mound with a wooden palisade was built around the settlement. A massive fortification was built at the beginning of the 9th century, a great manor with a wooden watchtower about 10 m high, log buildings and probably a church. The area in front of the castle was used for burial purposes at this time. The castle became one of the important centres of the empire at this time and retained its importance for decades after its fall.
A devastating fire struck the fortress at the end of the Great Moravian period, significantly damaging the fortifications and the grand court. Arrowheads dating from this period testify to the violent invasion of enemy troops. However, the fortifications were rebuilt to a lesser extent and the fortress continued to function until the end of the 10th century.
Source: cs.wikipedia.org
ROME – Less than a year after the extraordinary success when the Cyril and Methodius Route became a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, the Association reach another significant success.
On Monday, February 14, the Director of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius Mrs. Zuzana Vojtová signed memorandum on joint process in the development of the Cyril and Methodius Route and cooperation with two important basilicas in Rome, which have historical ties to the Cyril and Methodius mission – Basilica of Saint Clement, where Saint Cyril was buried, and the Basilica of Saint Praxedes, where Saints Cyril and Methodius sojourned during their stay in Rome. An important meeting also took place in the papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where a Slavic liturgy was approved in 822.
The working trip to Rome, which was prepared by the Embassy of the Czech Republic at the Holy See and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Italy, was led by the Governor of the Zlín Region Mr. Radim Holiš.
“Over the course of two days, we completed a very demanding program in Rome. In addition to signing memoranda on cooperation and development of our Route in Rome, there were also negotiations with representatives of the Italian Romea Strata Route, of which our Association is a founding member, “said Governor of the Zlín Region Mr. Radim Holiš.
In this context, the discussion focused mainly on the exploitation of mutual potential in the areas where the two Routes meet. Thanks to the cooperation with the Romea Strata Route, a direct trail to Rome has opened up for the Cyril and Methodius Route, where the final stage of the journey is the Basilica of Saint Clement.
“By connecting our Route with the Romea Strata Route, we do not have to start tracing and marking in Italy. We make full use of Romea Strata’s trails in order to enter Rome. In cooperation with the representatives of the basilicas and the city of Rome the inner circuit in Rome will be marked, which will culminate at the tomb of Saint Cyril under the sign of the Cyril and Methodius Route, “said Zuzana Vojtová, the Director of the Association. Following the same principle, our trails help Romea Strata to trace through the territory of the Czech Republic, when, on the contrary, the trails of Cyril and Methodius Route and St. Jacob’s Route are used.
In addition to these negotiations on the development of the Cyril and Methodius Route in Italy, there was also a meeting between the Governor of the Zlín Region and the Deputy Mayor of Rome Mr. Pierluigi Sanna.
The topic was not only tourism, but again cooperation in the development of the Cyril and Methodius Route in the city of Rome. “We were very pleased with the approach of the city representative. We are especially pleased with the helpfulness of the Deputy Mayor for cooperation between the Zlín Region and the City of Rome in the field of cultural tourism, “added Governor Mr. Holiš.
Outside these negotiations a meeting with Mons . Maurizio Bravi carried out, a representative of the Holy See at the World Tourism Organization.
The exceptionally positive results of the trip are mainly due to the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Holy See, H.E. Václav Kolaja, who negotiated the acceptance and subsequent signing of memoranda of cooperation for the Cyril and Methodius Route. The contribution of the Czech Embassy in Rome, the Ambassador H.E. Hana Hubáčková, who initiated negotiations with the Deputy Mayor of Rome, is also significant.
Feb 18, 2022
More information:
Mgr. Zuzana Vojtová
European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, AILE
J.A. Bati 5520, Zlin, CZ
Mob: +420 733 161 673
www.cyril-methodius.cz
www.putujmebezhranic.cz
The Cyril and Methodius Route – the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe won the special prize of the COT group in the new category of the Best Sustainable Tourism Project at the 15th Grand Prix of Tourism of the Czech Republic. It was one of the 15 awarded out of the total of 52 submitted projects in the field of Czech tourism. The jury appreciated an excellent idea to present Slavic culture and history. According to the jury, it is a successful sustainable tourism project, and its international overlap and origin in the Czech Republic are also positive. The award was received on 18 March 2022 during the Holiday World and Region World trade fair in Prague by representatives of the European Cultural Route of Saint Cyril and Methodius Association – Director Zuzana Vojtová and Chairman Lubomír Traub, Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region for Subsidy Programmes and Tourism. In addition to the diploma, they also received a glass trophy. According to Deputy Minister Traub, the award is proof that the Zlín Region is on the right track. It has been developed for more than ten years. Over the last year, the whole team has done a great deal of work on it and has managed to establish a number of international partnerships.” Last year, the Route was awarded the prestigious Council of Europe Cultural Route certificate as the only route based in the Czech Republic and the only one dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Slavs. This certificate is comparable in importance to the UNESCO inscription. The competition is organised by the COT group agency.
Mar 18, 2022
More information:
Mgr. Zuzana Vojtová
European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, AILE
J.A. Bati 5520, Zlin, CZ
Mob: +420 733 161 673
www.cyril-methodius.cz
www.putujmebezhranic.cz
The event presented the guide “Who, when where in the extensive life of St. Constantine-Cyril”, published in 2021 as part of the series of KMNC Library “Legend”. The book was published with the financial support of the National Scientific Program “Cultural and Historical Heritage, National Memory and Social Development”, and its authors are Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maya Ivanova and Ch. Assistant Professor Dr. Tsvetomira Danova. The guide is addressed to teachers of history and Bulgarian language and literature, to students and pupils. The reference section covers 177 personal and national names, church terms and concepts, rare and obsolete words and realities from the text of the biographical work. In addition, a new Bulgarian translation of the biography, a complete chronological list of publications are included, reprints and revisions of existing translations and a rich bibliographic list of used literature. The guide is distributed free of charge. The book was presented as a gift to Bulgarian teachers on the occasion of the beginning of the school year 2021/2022 and enjoys great interest among the colleges of Bulgarians and historians. Many teachers who use the handbook in their work was included in the presentation with their feedback. The solemn celebration of the Assumption of St. Cyril will end with a public lecture by the specialist of KMNC Master Alberto Pontiroli on “The three prologue lives of St. Cyril: features and attitudes to other Cyril and Methodius sources.”
Feb 14, 2022
More information:
Mgr. Zuzana Vojtová
European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, AILE
J.A. Bati 5520, Zlin, CZ
Mob: +420 733 161 673
www.cyril-methodius.cz
www.putujmebezhranic.cz
Cyril and Methodius Route took part in Training Academy on Cultural Routes in Fontainebleau (France) started at 31st May with a visit and a welcoming cocktail at the Fontainebleau Castle. The Opening Ceremony took place on 1st June, followed by a session and round tables that discussed how to better value the brand of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. Over 60 Cultural Routes representatives came from 17 different countries are attending the event including the Cyril and Methodius Route. The Training Academy was organised by the European Institute of Cultural Routes and “Impressionisms Routes”, certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2018, in cooperation with the District of Seine-et-Marne and the Ministry of Culture of France. The programme included a visit of the medieval city and dinner at Moret-Loing et Orvanne. The name Moret-sur-Loing is inseparable from the English impressionist painter Alfred Sisley. More than 400 paintings of Seine et Loing were produced by Sisley. The training seminars exploring innovative emerging trends and strategies of Cultural Tourism.
Morning session on the 2nd June explored strategies for the enhancement of Cultural Routes visibility and their presence in the territories crossed, including the promotion of operational, collective and innovative synergies, and alternatives to provide leverage to the wide territorial network of Cultural Routes members. The afternoon’s seminar focused on the involvement of certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in major European projects as well as its relations with international organisations such as the European Union, the European Commission, UNESCO and UNWTO. Good practices presentations from various cultural routes also was showcased.
On 6 June 2022 at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Rome, representatives of the European Association Via Francigena ways and the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the two Routes.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the Ambassador H. E. Hana Hubáčková; the Councillor for Mobility Policies of the Municipality of Rome Eugenio Patanè and the representatives of the two associations, the Municipality of Rome, the Region of Zlín and Silvio Marino for the Region of Lazio.
Both Routes are part of the 48 cultural routes certified by the Council of Europe, whose program currently involves 36 European countries.
“I am pleased that we have managed to agree on cooperation in the area of creating a joint cultural tourism offer along the Cyril and Methodius Route and Via Francigena, by taking advantage of joint opportunities for development projects and marketing. We are also preparing signage on parallel sections of both trails, for example in Italy between Tuscany and Rome, where St Cyril’s tomb is located,” said Lubomír Traub, chairman of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius.
“The Via Francigena serves to develop dialogue between Anglo-Saxon and Mediterranean Europe. With this act we integrate Western Europe with Eastern Europe. Thus we can develop a dialogue throughout Europe, which is why this signature is so important“, said EAVF’s President Massimo Tedeschi.
“Rome is approaching a very important appointment because in 2025 we will celebrate the jubilee. Therefore, the paths of faith will have an even greater significance that year than they do now“, added Councillor Patané. “That is why we are betting a lot on this asset because it is a cultural, religious, historical and also economic asset. Therefore, we are very happy to work with you over the next few years to make this agreement we have found concrete, to make what was signed today a reality“.
The Cyril and Methodius Route is based on a millenary cultural tradition, linked in particular to the culture of the Slavic countries. The route links the places where Saints Cyril and Methodius, co-patrons of Europe, worked and where their legacy was spread by their followers. More than 1,000 km of marked paths have already been created in the Czech Republic and Slovakia using the routes of Czech and Slovak hiking clubs.
Resource: www.viefrancigene.org
ZLÍN, NITRA – After the successful pilgrimage in honour of St. Ludmila last year, when more than 100 pilgrims joined the stage pilgrimage from Velehrad to Tetín, a new challenge is opening this year. The pilgrimage in honour of Sts. Cyril and Methodius on the trail from Velehrad to Nitra, where pilgrims will cover over 200 km in 8 days. The pilgrimage will take place from Monday 27 June to Tuesday 5 July.
“Trails of The Cyril and Methodius Routes usually lead us to Velehrad. But from the beginning they were conceived as two-way. The advantage was evident last year during the pilgrimage to Tetín, and this year we are glad that pilgrims will be able to follow the already marked route to Trenčín and then, we hope, lay the foundation stones for a new trail to Nitra, which has been a long-time partner of the Cyril and Methodius Route and where the Cyril and Methodius legacy is tangible at every step,” said Zuzana Vojtová, director of the European Cultural Route of St. Cyril and Methodius. This is behind the growing network of signposted trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route In 2021, it was certified as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. The Cyril and Methodius Route is thus one of 48 certified cultural routes with a transnational reach.
“It is a great honour for ancient Nitra to be one of the important points on the international Cyril and Methodius Route. We will gladly welcome the pilgrims from Velehrad to our town under Zobor and thus connect the centres preserving the Great Moravian and Cyril and Methodius traditions with a symbolic living bridge. I believe that this year’s pilgrimage will enrich the mosaic of long-standing cooperation with the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, which deserves thanks for the successful certification process and inclusion among the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. The programme of the Nitra, lovely Nitra festival once again offers a spiritual, historical and social line in the form of a pilgrimage, the Cyril and Methodius National Pilgrimage, the historical festival Pribinova Nitrawa, a concert by the Slovak Philharmonic and SĽUK on Svätopluk Square, exhibitions, tours and a preview of the film documentary Chernobyl on Wheels. All are warmly welcome in Nitra,” said the Mayor of Nitra Marek Hattas.
Pilgrims will be accompanied by pilgrim Petr Hirsch, who has extensive experience from various pilgrimage trails in the Czech Republic and abroad. At the turn of 2019 and 2020, he was involved in the production and organization of the documentary Walking without Borders, which was funded by the aforementioned association.
“Thanks to the accompanying vehicle, the pilgrimage is open to everyone, as it is not necessary to carry all the equipment on your back. We will be sleeping in a pilgrimage style, as is typical on our pilgrimages, i.e. we will have common halls, but sometimes we will also indulge in a little comfort in the form of beds. I am looking forward to the pilgrimage house at Skalka near Trenčín and to visiting one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in Slovakia. Part of the trail is familiar to me, so I know we will have some wonderful encounters with people along the way. And I am also looking forward to the new section between Trencin and Nitra. Travelling through Slovakia always brings wonderful experiences and memories,” says the main organizer and guide Petr Hirsch.
The second stage is over 200 km long and the pilgrims plan to cover it in 8 days. Along the route they will enjoy a rich cultural and historical programme and stops at more and less important places connected with the Cyril and Methodius tradition and history. The pilgrims will also visit archaeological sites associated with the Great Moravia period (e.g. in Staré Město, Uherské Hradiště, Bojná and Nitra) or other important historical and sacral monuments – the pilgrimage site Skalka near Trenčín, Castle of Trenčín, the pre-Romanesque church in Kostoľany pod Tribečom, Zobor Monastery, etc. In addition, they will walk along most of the trail through a beautiful and preserved natural landscape.
Detailed information about the event, including the application form, is published on www.pout.eu and on the websites of the participating organisations,” said Petr Hirsch, a well-known promoter of hiking pilgrimage.
A rich programme will be prepared for pilgrims in Nitra. The pilgrimage will end on Tuesday, July 5, with participation in the national Cyril and Methodius pilgrimage mass in Svatopluk Square.
The marked trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route use the trails of the KČT (KST in Slovakia). There are more than a thousand kilometres already signposted trails of Cyril and Methodius Route, detailed information about them can be found on the website www.putujmebezhranic.cz.
Date: 3rd – 5th July 2022
In the memorable year of 1990, many idealists fully indulged in the euphoria of the acquired political and religious freedom. The amazing eruption of unleashed energy, creativity and ideas in Terchova was also translated into an all-round approach to and, above all, the actualization of the timeless legacy of the mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius – the patrons of the local church, which is the largest church on the territory of Slovakia dedicated to the co-patrons of Europe. The very first edition of the Cyril and Methodius Days (CMD) brought something extraordinary and unique. The Terchov people were the first in Slovakia and in the then federation to organise an event that openly, confidently, cultivated and attractive at the same time declared itself to the spiritual values of the European cultural heritage. Those involved may not have realised it at the time, but further developments have confirmed that their initiative contributed significantly not only to deepening faith, national awareness and patriotism, but also to European identity. Thanks to the tireless dedication and generosity of dedicated individuals, Terchová resisted the onslaught of all kinds of pseudo-trends and centrifugal tendencies and was naturally able to maintain its own high Cyril and Methodius credit. It is certainly no coincidence that once again it is the only one in Slovakia!
An integral part of the programme of the XXXIII edition of the CMD will be, in addition to Holy Masses and other spiritual events, classical music concerts, church singing and folklore performances, the opening of the exhibition of the versatile visual artist Jozef Vydrnák and the launch of the publication by Jožek Mič, The Passion Called Film. This remarkable book title was published as part of the Terchovec edition.
The CMD organizers have always kept in mind that the co-patrons of Europe, Saints Cyril and Methodius, are a clear proof and confirmation that a not insignificant part of the masonry of the monumental building of European spirituality is also ours – the Slovak one!
On the occasion of the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, we are preparing to extend the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius with a cycling route that will lead from Nitra Castle – the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Nitra to the seat of the Archdiocese of Trnava. The trail will follow the annual walking pilgrimages and cyclo pilgrimages of the faithful from the parish of Mocenok to Nitra and also the cyclo pilgrimage to Trnava. The new sections will lead along landscaped avenues that have been impassable for several decades. Other sections will be on asphalt cycle paths and only a small part on state roads.
The event is supported by Nitra’s resident bishop Mons. Viliam Judák and the co-chairman of the Council for Migrants, Refugees/ and Pilgrims at the KBS, the Archbishop of Trnava Mons. Ján Orosch.
Cyclists will make short stops at several churches along the route. During the break, they will learn some information about the church and the parish.
The bicycle pilgrimage is divided into two parts.
The first part will begin on Sunday, July 3, at 9 a.m. with Mass at St. Emeram Cathedral in Nitra Castle and will end at approximately 7 p.m. at the Archbishop’s Office in Trnava. Afterwards, transport of cyclists to Nitra will be arranged.
The second part will begin on Monday, July 4, at 3 p.m. with Mass at the Archbishop’s Office in Trnava and will end on Tuesday, July 5, at approximately 12 p.m. after the Cyril and Methodius National Pilgrimage in Nitra at Svätopluk Square. The overnight stay from 4 to 5 July will be provided for the cyclists in the village of Mocenok.
The route will lead through the parishes of Nitra, Cabaj-Čápor, Močenok, Šaľa-Veča, Šaľa, Kráľová nad Váhom, Váhovce, Dolná Streda, Sereď, Vlčkovce, Modranka and Trnava.
You can see the route map here:
More experienced cyclists can complete the entire route, which measures 73 km. Recreational cyclists can ride only some of its sections.
However, they need to register by June 29 at one of the following e-mail addresses: sykora@videoplus.sk, mocenok.farnost@gmail.com. Contact person: Mgr. Peter Sýkora, tel.: 0915 712 591
The concert “Youth – Hope for the Future” is prepared in cooperation between two regions – Zlín and Trenčín, in honour of the European Year of Youth in 2022. Through culture and art, the festival wants to support the current generation of young people, who have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic and war in Ukraine, with young artists (children and youth).
It is a generation that needs to find its way in a complicated, fractured world, to find balance, strength, faith, new hope and confidence in the future.
Both the pandemic and the war conflict have brought uncertainty and fear into their lives, unexpected changes, affecting their education, work, social life and mental and physical health.
The project is a follow-up to the extraordinary Musica cordis/music to the heart concerts, realised in 2019 and 2020 within the framework of cross-border cooperation between the Zlín, Trenčín and Nitra regions, in cooperation with the general directorate of Považská Cement Factory, a.s. Ladce, the European Cultural Route of Saits Cyril and Methodius, the Roman Catholic parish of Velehrad, the Foundation of Svatý Hostýn, the municipalities of Velehrad, Modrá, Bystřice pod Hostýnem and Chvalčov.
This international project aims to connect important pilgrimage sites on both sides of the Czechoslovak border through music and singing based on the legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius – Velehrad, Svatý Hostýn, Nitra and the Rock Sanctuary of Divine Mercy on Butkov Mountain above the village of Ladce, and to open a discussion on contemporary issues through music, that do not communicate with the inner image of the message of Saints Cyril and Methodius, to offer a concrete direction for the protection of the zone of Christian values in our Central European region.
The European Year of Youth 2022 takes on a completely new and much deeper meaning this year. The concerts “Youth – Hope for the Future” (realized on 29 June 2022 in the Basilica in Velehrad and on 2 July 2022 in the area of the pilgrimage rock sanctuary of Divine Mercy on Mount Butkov) in cooperation with the Zlín and Trenčín Regions are a clear declaration that music, singing and deep thoughts contribute to the strengthening and healing of the sick soul…
Performers: Choir of Stojan’s Gymnasium Velehrad, RB:ORCH & Radek Blahuš, Katarína and Jan Všeteček from ZUŠ Kral Svatopluk Nitra, School Choir of Piarist Gymnasium Jozef Branecký Trenčín “PIARISSIMO”
Accompanying words by Romana Habartová and Ján Konstanty Všetečka
Moderation: Tereza Habartová
VELEHRAD, NITRA – The Slovak national Cyrillo-Methodian celebrations “Nitra, Lovely Nitra” marked the culmination of a week-long pilgrimage from Velehrad to Nitra along the 210-kilometre-long Cyrillo-Methodian trail held since June 26 to July 5. Pilgrims from Velehrad brought to the main organizers of the celebrations in Nitra – the Mayor of Nitra Marek Hattas, the President of the Nitra Self-Governing Region Milan Belica and Bishop Mons. Viliam Judák – gingerbread hearts from Velehrad. Thanks to the wish of the Bishop of Nitra, the heart was even handed over from the hands of pilgrims at the Slovak National Mass to the main celebrant – Archbishop of Košice, Mons. Bober. From the Archeopark Modrá they brought a replica of a Great Moravian ceramic vessel – a canteen, which was presented to the costumed Pribina, the former Great Moravian prince, by the main organizer of the walking pilgrimage – Petr Hirsch. In return, he received from Pribina mead from the Nitra Region, Pribina’s medal, a decorative knife for opening correspondence with a handle in the shape of a Slavic-Avar belt and a rosary from the Archbishop of Košice.
“Symbolically, the pilgrimage confirmed the friendly relations along the ever-expanding Cyril and Methodius Route and also commemorated the 1,200th anniversary of the first written mention of the Moravians in the old Frankish chronicle. At Nitra Castle, a living logo of the Cyril and Methodius Route was created with the help of the participants of the historical procession around the Proglas monument – a sculptural work depicting the oldest Slavic literary monument written in Glagolitic,” said Zuzana Vojtová, Director of the association European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius.
The reception of the pilgrims, who travelled from Velehrad, at the private residence of Bishop Judák was beautiful. He not only prepared refreshments for them, but also allowed them to see the unique places of Nitra Castle. He also presented the pilgrims and our association with the book Cradle of Christianity in Slovakia – Nitra Castle and the Cathedral of St. Emaram in the Changes of Time, which he co-authored.
A part of the varied cultural, spiritual, historical and social programme of the Nitra festivities was also a wandering along other Cyrillo-Methodian trails. About 30 people went on an experiential wandering from the Church of St. Michael in Dražovce through the Zobor Monastery and Martin Hill to Nitra Castle (12 km) and 40 cyclists took part in the two-day cycling tour Nitra – Močenok – Trnava and back.
This year, the municipality of Terchová, which has been a member of the international association European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius since 2019, also presented itself in Nitra. Representatives of the Municipality of Terchová opened an exhibition in the Nitra Synagogue accompanied by Terchová‘s música, created in 2019 on the occasion of the 30th annual Cyrillo-Methodiuan Days held in Terchová and invited to the traditional celebrations in their municipality. The Archaeological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Nitra opened the exhibition “Returns to Roots”, which recalls a number of finds in the local area, such as the bell and plaques from the Bojná hillfort, which symbolise the beginnings of Christian culture in the area of today’s Slovakia. The Nitra, Lovely Nitra festivities ended in Bojná with the Cyril and Methodius Festival on 9 July with a varied programme including living history performances and a mass in the natural setting of the hillfort.
In total, the Nitra, Lovely Nitra festival was attended by about 18,000 visitors who enjoyed many friendly encounters in the beautiful surroundings of the historic town and its surroundings. Alongside the Days of People of Good Will at Velehrad (in Czech Republic), the Cyrillo-Methodian and Pribina festivities of Nitra, Lovely Nitra are the main celebrations of the legacy of the Slavic apostles in Central Europe. This year, too, they offered an attractive programme and attracted not only locals and pilgrims, but also tourists. They also contributed significantly to the visibility of the international Cyril and Methodius Route, which popularises the cultural heritage associated with the Great Moravian period.
Originally, Pliska was a military camp protected by ramparts and moats. More than 200 years it remained the main administrative, political and cultural centre of the first Bulgarian State. The oldest buildings are built of brick on stone foundations. The newer ones, after the fire in 811, are built of huge, monumental stone blocks. The discoveries in the vicinity of Pliska, carved in stone, bear proto-Bulgarian inscriptions along with a lot of information about the everyday life in the city. Nearby are the famous devtashlari stones (pobiti kamyni) – commemorating the pagan heroes of the Proto-Bulgarians.
There was a great palace in the inner city, along with a small palace, pagan worship places (kanuua), later palace churches, public buildings, residential buildings, water cisterns, swimming pools, and baths with heating systems. Noteworthy is the preserved dense water supply network, secret passages, etc. In the outer town, foundations of several residential buildings, dugouts and craft workshops are discovered. The most famous is the Great basilica with a monastery and a patriarch’s palace, erected at the end of the 9th century, not long after the adoption of Christianity as official religion of the Bulgarian state. Probably, it was here that in 886 Prince Boris I welcomed the disciples of St. Cyril and Methodius – Climent, Naum and Angelary, who brought the liturgical books in Slavic language to Pliska and gave rise to the Golden age of Bulgarian literature. The adoption of the Slavonic language as the official language of the state and the church has a significant impact on Bulgarian culture.
Pliska remained the capital until 893, when by the will of King Simeon I the capital was moved to Preslav. Since then, the city has gradually lost its importance, remaining for a long time a craft and military base.
STRASBOURG – The Cyril and Methodius Route – the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe is being presented these days at the European Parliament, where it is currently holding a plenary session. On the evening of Tuesday, 18 October, the opening of the project exhibition took place, attended by the Governor of the Zlín Region, Radim Holiš, and his deputy, Lubomír Traub, Chairman of the European Cultural Route of Saits Cyril and Methodius Association.
“We are proud of the diversity of the region in which we live and where the Byzantine scholars – Saints Cyril and Methodius – were active in the ninth century. Thanks to more than a thousand years of Christian culture in our region, we also place emphasis on honouring our cultural roots and preserving traditions. We wanted to present the Cyril and Methodius Route project on the floor of the European Parliament and to attract other partners who will help us with its further development and promotion. This was possible thanks to the cooperation with the MEP Martina Dlabajová and the professional approach of our team. I wish that the Cyril and Methodius Route will become a cultural bridge that will connect people of good will throughout Europe,” said the Governor Radim Holiš at the opening ceremony.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the attention the exhibition attracted in the European Parliament. This confirms that we are on the right track. The Cyril and Methodius Route builds on the broad legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius, co-patrons of Europe, and is aimed at promoting sustainable cultural tourism and the increasingly popular pilgrimage tourism. The exhibition provides information about the cultural heritage, tourist destinations and trails, as well as plans for further development of the Route. It was on display in Strasbourg until Thursday 20 October 2022,” said Deputy Minister Lubomír Traub.
On the same day, a meeting was also held with the Greek representative to the Council of Europe’s Enlarge Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes, Margarita Lioulia from the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sport. She is one of the decision-makers on the certification and re-certification of cultural routes according to the criteria of the Council of Europe. The discussion was mainly about the interest in a wider involvement of Greek partners in the project.
The event in Strasbourg is organised thanks to the cooperation of MEP Martina Dlabajová, the Zlín Region and the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius Association. “The idea of the Cyril and Methodius Route dates back to 2011 and is linked to the idea of inspiring and promoting European values. These certainly include understanding, cultural dialogue and unity. This is what we all need in these uncertain times,” said Martina Dlabajová, who has been supporting and promoting the Cyril and Methodius Route for a long time. She organised an exhibition on the topic at the European Parliament in 2014.
LJUBLJANA, ZLIN– The international jury of the BIG SEE Awards awarded the Cyril and Methodius Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe the Grand Prix in the category Creative Story as Experience and the Design in Tourism Award in the category Creative Story and Identity as Experience in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The award ceremony took place during the Big Design Festival at Ljubljana Castle on Thursday 27 October, with the participation of representatives of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius and two important pilgrimage sites – Velehrad and Brezje in Slovenia.
“I am delighted that we have achieved another international award, this time in the field of design, following the certification we received from the Council of Europe last year. It is a confirmation that building a route inspired by the story and legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius as a sustainable cultural tourism product makes sense today,” said Lubomír Traub, Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region and Chairman of the European Cultural Route of Cyril and Methodius Association.
The Tourism Design Award is given in the category: Architecture as Experience, Interior Design as Experience and Creative Story and Identity as Experience, with the judging criteria being:
– Innovation, Intelligent design and originality.
– environmental sensitivity and sustainability
– cultural and social awareness
– functionality and ergonomics
– aesthetics and emotion
The BIG SEE Awards were established as regional awards that systematically explore and promote the creative and entrepreneurial potential of South East Europe. With the ambition to connect creativity beyond the region’s borders, they have grown beyond the regional framework to become international. Today, the BIG SEE Awards contribute to the promotion of unique and original creative achievements in architecture, interior, wood, tourism, product and fashion design worldwide.
Link to the Cyril and Methodius Route on the competition page: Cyril and Methodius Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe (bigsee.eu)
Representatives of the Zlín Region and the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius on the one hand and representatives of the Italian pilgrimage site of Aquileia on the other hand signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Saturday 5th November 2022 in the village of Modrá. This was done in the presence of Martina Dlabajová, MEP, Radim Holiš, Governor of the Zlín Region, Miroslav Kovářík, Mayor of Modrá and other personalities.
As the memorandum states, the territory of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and more specifically the city of Aquileia, are historically linked to the evangelizing work of Saints Cyril and Methodius. They preserve numerous points of interest and distinct traces that are linked to the heritage and the historical and cultural legacy of the saints.
Martina Dlabajová, Member of the European Parliament, assesses the significance of the event in the following words: “The Cyril and Methodius Route, which is dedicated to the legacy of the two oldest patrons of Europe, Saints Cyril and Methodius, is a huge opportunity to take advantage of the cultural and historical richness of Moravia. I was involved in its establishment and I am very proud of its development. From the very beginning, it has promoted the European values that Saints Cyril and Methodius created in the 9th century and, as co-patrons of Europe, continue to create. Cooperation with other European countries is all the more important. I am convinced that today’s signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is the beginning of a long and successful cooperation that will be a source of pleasure and joy for pilgrims and tourists from all over Europe.”
“The visibility of the Cyril and Methodius Route in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region is possible through some of the trails that already exist in the territory, such as the Cammino Celeste and Romea Strata, which pass through Aquileia. The establishment of this cooperation provides further opportunities for mutual promotion at international level and the development of a common tourist product,” said Zuzana Vojtová, Director of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius.
The joint day of representatives of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius and guests from Aquileia, with the participation of Martina Dlabajová MEP and representatives of the Zlín Region, included a visit to several pilgrimage sites along the pilgrimage trail. For example, the under-appreciated Baroque jewel – the pilgrimage church in Zlín-Štípa, Svatý Hostýn, the basilica at Velehrad, and also the Archaeoskanzen Modrá or the Monument of Great Moravia with the new Cyril and Methodius Centre in the Staré Město.
In front of Building 14, the panel exhibition Cyril and Methodius Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe presents the legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius and their followers in an engaging way through texts and photographs. It also introduces passers-by to the trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route directly in the Zlín Region. Maps for these trails are available to visitors at the Zlín Regional Tourist Information Centre in 14|15 BATA INSTITUTE.
The exhibition presents the broad European legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius and their followers through texts and photographs on eight outdoor panels. It also informs about the ever-expanding network of long-distance trails of the Cyril and Methodius Routes that have been marked in the Czech and Slovak Republics in cooperation with Tourist Hiking Clubs. The potential of the Route as a network of monuments linked to the Cyril and Methodius legacy in other European countries is also presented. Two panels introduce the trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route directly in the Zlín Region, where the whole idea of linking on the basis of a common cultural heritage originated ten years ago. Maps of these walking trails are available directly next to the exhibition at the Regional Tourist and Information Centre in 14|15 BAŤ INSTITUTE. One panel illuminates the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes Programme, in which 48 cultural routes with transnational themes and activities have been certified, the Cyril and Methodius Route being one of them.
“The exhibition invites visitors to visit the memorable places associated with the development of Slavic culture not only in the Zlín Region and the Czech Republic, but also elsewhere abroad. At the same time, it reminds us of the European values that the brothers of Thessaloniki co-created and, as co-patrons of Europe, are still creating. This is especially needed today. I am pleased that the inhabitants of the region can see the exhibition in Zlín in connection with the recent presentation of the Cyril and Methodius Route in the European Parliament in Strasbourg,” said Lubomír Traub, Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region and Chairman of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius Association.
“On the Cyril and Methodius Route in the Zlín Region, especially in the Slovácko region, we can find several national cultural monuments – for example, archaeological sites in Staré Město, Uherské Hradiště, Modrá or Osvětimany. Most of them have been revitalised and a new Cyril and Methodius Centre with interactive multimedia exhibitions has even been built in the Staré Město. All these are not only reminders of our history, but also attractive tourist destinations for residents and visitors to the region,” said Zuzana Fišerová, the Regional Councillor for Culture and Education.
The exhibition was financed by the Zlín Region and was created on the occasion of the award of the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe certificate and the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2022. It is one of four outdoor exhibitions within the project of joint promotion of four Moravian regions – Zlín, South Moravia, Olomouc and Moravia-Silesia.
“The space in front of the 14|15 BAŤ INSTITUTE will be enlivened in the coming days by another interesting exhibition, which will present a number of interesting things. The location of the exhibition in the vicinity of the Regional Tourist Information Centre in the 14th building of the factory complex allows visitors to get more information in this place,” said Petra Kubíková, director of the 14|15 Bata Institute.
More information at www.putujmebezhranic.cz and www.14-15.cz.
In the second half of November, representatives of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, representatives of the Žilina Region and officials of the Terchová municipality, together with artists and lecturers, held an international working meeting in the Slovak municipality of Terchová and its surroundings to prepare creative activities for primary school pupils from both sides of the Czech-Slovak border. The activities will be aimed at bringing the legacy of Great Moravia closer to and the Slavic saints, in particular the meaning of the Glagolitic script. The preparation of creative workshops with the participation of leading artists from both sides of the border, as well as the creation of worksheets for use in schools, leisure facilities or thematic monuments is the aim of the one-year cross-border cooperation project “Cyril and Methodius Route – Culture and Education without Borders”.
“With this project we aim to make school and after-school education about the legacy of Great Moravia more attractive and to intensify cooperation with contemporary artists who are consistently devoted to the Cyril and Methodius legacy in their work. This is also the mission of the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe,” said Martina Janochová, project coordinator of the European Cultural Route of St. Cyril and Methodius.
Several artists are involved in the project – ac. sculp. Daniel Ignác Trubač from Polešovice, ac. sculptor. The participants of the study trip visited the pilgrimage site Skalka near Trenčín, where the 15th International Art and Literature Symposium ORA ET ARS initiated by Jozef Vydrnák took place. The participants also visited the Cyril and Methodius sculpture with representatives of the Diocese of Žilina and the Žilina Tourist Region, as well as the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the historical centre of Žilina. All participants also discussed the development of the Cyril and Methodius Trail in the Žilina region, for example the extension of the Cyril and Methodius walking route from Bílá to Terchová. At the end, representatives of all the involved subjects climbed together to the Oravcové hill above Terchová along the Way of the Cross, whose tour was commented by the author Milan Opalka himself. The final evening included a tour of the Church of St. Cyril and Methodius and the Terchov Art Gallery and a reception of the Czech representatives at the local municipal office. The working meeting was also attended by the mayor of Terchová Jozef Dávidík, the deputy mayor Marián Zajac, the director of the local cultural centre Rudolf Patrnčiak, the parish priest P. Pavol Hudák and representatives of the local primary art school, primary school and kindergarten.
This visit followed a similar study trip held within the project in Moravia at the end of September, when the partners from Terchová with artists and lecturers travelled in the footsteps of the Glagolitic Slovácko. They visited the Monument of Great Moravia and the Cyril and Methodius Centre in Stary Město, the Archeoskanzen in Modrá, the Bible exhibition for young and old in Velehrad and the St. Methodius cycle path in Zlechov and Boršice. On that occasion, they found out what materials and educational programmes for primary school pupils and the public existed to bring the Cyril and Methodius heritage closer.
The project is co-financed by the Zlín Region and the Small Projects Fund of the INTERREG V-A Slovakia-Czech Republic cross-border cooperation programme. The main cross-border partner is the Local Cultural Centre Terchová. The one-year project will culminate in the presentation of the outputs – worksheets and methodological sheets and a travelling exhibition in March 2023. at a conference in the Zlín Region in 2023.
The marking of the long-distance hiking trail Svatý Kopeček u Olomouce – Velehrad, which is 109 km long, has been completed. Pavel Přílepek, head of the markers of the Czech Hiking Club, informed the secretariat of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Zlín on 11 November 2022. It is another of a set of Cyril and Methodius Route centred on Velehrad, namely the so-called Archbishop’s Route, which leads through the flat Haná River and around the Morava River and through Chřiby. In 2023, this marked trail is to be extended from Svatý Kopeček through Šternberk to Opava (in the direction of Częstochowa in Poland), again using existing KČT walking trails. The marking of the Cyril and Methodius Route in cooperation with the KČT has been carried out since 2018 on the basis of a framework agreement on marking the maintenance of pilgrimage trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route.
The trail of the Cyril and Methodius Route from Svatý Kopeček to Velehrad represents an ideological connection between the beginnings of the church structure in the Great Moravian period and the present-day centre of the Moravian Church. The marked trail begins at the Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary at Svatý Kopeček near Olomouc, a popular destination for admirers of Baroque beauty, many pilgrims and also the heart of the parish where the most precious mysteries of faith take place. Your steps will then take you to Olomouc, which is the seat of the Archbishop – Metropolitan of Moravia, the successor of Archbishop Methodius. Olomouc boasts a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Holy Trinity Column, as well as the Archbishop’s Palace and St. Wenceslas Cathedral. In the period of Great Moravia, Olomouc was a strategic place at the crossroads of trade ways. The pilgrimage church in Dub nad Moravou can be visited near the trail. It is a beautiful Baroque temple with two 59-metre high towers, which is one of the largest temple buildings in Moravia. The trail continues through Tovačov, which is dominated by the castle of the same name with a 96-metre high tower. It passes the famous and popular Tovačov lakes and ponds. Another interesting stop is the town of Kroměříž, which was declared the most beautiful historical town in the Czech Republic in 1997 and a year later the local archbishop’s castle, together with the Flower and Podzámecká gardens, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The walk ends at Velehrad, where trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route converge from several directions.
A description of the trail through the Olomouc Region can also be found at the outdoor exhibition of the Cyril and Methodius Route located in front of the Olomouc Region headquarters just opposite the main railway station. It is part of a set of 4 exhibitions supported by the Zlín Region, Olomouc Region, Moravian-Silesian Region and South Moravian Region thanks to a joint promotion project. The content of the exhibitions is adapted to each region.
The Cyril and Methodius Centre in the Staré Město, Czech Republic, which opened its doors to the public on Thursday, 1 September, attracts visitors to exhibitions presenting the time of the Slavic heroes Cyril and Methodius, Great Moravia and prehistoric times in an attractive way.
ZLÍNSKÝ KRAJ – Modern facilities for archaeologists, depositories, a specialist library, a presentation hall, but above all brand new exhibitions are offered by the Cyril and Methodius Centre in Staré Město, Czech Republic. The new three-storey building was built in close proximity to the current Monument of Great Moravia. The initiator and implementer of the project of the Cyril and Methodius Centre was the Museum of Moravian Slovakia in Uherské Hradiště, the investor was the Zlín Region, which establishes the museum.
“I am very happy that this beautiful building has been successfully completed. I believe that the new exhibitions, which offer entertainment and education in an attractive and modern way, will be enjoyed by the visitors. I would like to thank all those who have contributed to this major investment and wish good strength to those who will be responsible for the whole running of the Cyril and Methodius Centre, including the care of the collections. This is one of the four major cultural investment projects that the Zlín Region has been successful in applying for European subsidies and for which it has received a total of CZK 380 million. This puts us at the top of the list of those who truly honour and support culture,” said Zuzana Fišerová, Zlín Region Councillor for Culture.
“The Cyril and Methodius Centre offers a comprehensive and at the same time unique view not only of the period of Great Moravia, but also the traces and legacies of our ancestors who inhabited these places tens of thousands of years before the present. It is also becoming an important part of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius and its showcase,” added Ivo Frolec, director of the Museum of Moravian Slovakia in Uherské Hradiště.
Visitors can visit the new extension with two new exhibition halls and facilities, as well as the existing exhibition Great Moravia, which opens a view not only of the foundations of the cemetery church from the 9th century, but also of graves and archaeological findings.
The exhibition entitled Roots of Slavic Culture – The Story of Constantine and Methodius, located on the second floor connected to the existing monument building by a glass neck, will guide visitors through the life and legacy of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. During the realisation of the exhibition, the team of the Museum of Moravian Slovakia travelled, among others, to Northern Macedonia. On the shore of Lake Ohrid is the Chapel of St. Naum, which visitors to the Staré Město will now find themselves in thanks to an interactive visualisation. In the exhibition they can also see unique reproductions of frescoes from Rome, North Macedonia and Albania.
However, the region of Uherské Hradiště is not only linked to the period of Great Moravia. On the first floor, in the exhibition Archaeology – Prehistory of Uherské Hradiště, visitors will discover some of the unique collection items that the museum has collected over more than 100 years of its existence. It also includes a unique haptic (tactile) trail that will take you against the flow of time. In the form of replicas and enlarged reconstructions of archaeological finds, mostly from the territory of the Uherské Hradiště region, they can discover ancient cultures by touch, but also by hearing, getting acquainted with the vessels they used, the weapons they fought with, the jewellery they adorned themselves with, but also with stone tools and engravings or statuettes of the earliest hunters and gatherers.
Around the middle of the 9th century, a brick church was built in Vale. The acropolis of the Old Town “Na Valách” reached its peak in the second half of the 9th century.4 The establishment of other settlements in close proximity created a large fortified urban-type formation, nowadays referred to as an “agglomeration”, with an extraordinary concentration of population by the standards of the time. The site of Na Valách gradually became the central burial site of the whole agglomeration, which meant that the original hillfort disappeared. As a result, some of the inhabitants probably moved to other parts of the agglomeration.
The development of the agglomeration was divided into purpose-built complexes, including production districts of specialised craft production, subject to a certain urban concept (the power complex Na Dědině, the production complexes Na kostelíku and Na kostelík, respectively). U Víta, Na Špitálkách and Nad Haltýři, the market area Salaška, the central necropolis Na Valách, the settlement districts Za Zahradou, Na Špitálkách and Rybárny, the island of St. George with its power and production component, the central church area on the Derfla islet in Sádské Ostrožně). Inside, on the border and outside the agglomeration, there is evidence of several types of fortifications ranging from fortifications of so-called lighter construction (e.g. the so-called Christin’s Wall of ancient construction and shape) to the strongest fortification so far found within our Great Moravian fortifications, namely in the eastern part of the Uherské Hradiště district of Rybárny in the Bumbalov position. The wall of shell construction with a massive stone rampart, over 2 metres thick, was almost 10 metres wide.
The Association ECRCM is implementing a one-year (4/2022-3/2022) cross-border project “Cyril and Methodius Route – Culture and Education without Borders” supported by the Small Projects Fund of the Programme Interreg V-A Slovakia-Czech Republic aimed at making school and after-school education about the legacy of Great Moravia more attractive and intensifying cooperation with the younger generation and contemporary artists who consistently focus on the Cyril and Methodius legacy in their work. The theme of the activities is to promote knowledge and creative work with the Glagolitic alphabet, the first script created by Constantine-Cyril to record the Slavic language. Thanks to the project, two study trips (in September to Moravian-Slovakia Region and in November to Slovakia) for project partners and two creative workshops with primary school pupils in 4th grade with the participation of contemporary artists have already taken place. In the František Horenský Primary School in Boršice (Czech Republic), schoolchildren with the help of sculptor Daniel I. Trubač and ceramics artist Karel Žíla made metal stands and paper boxes, ceramic pots, plaster reliefs or their names in Glagolitic on 13 December. At the Adam František Kollár Primary School in Terchová (Slovakia), schoolchildren made a stained glass window with the artist Jozef Vydrnák and the sculptor and glass artist Milan Opalka, using the initials of their names in Glagolitic and engraved glass objects on 16 December. The project will be concluded in March 2023 with a joint conference, where the project activities, a travelling exhibition and worksheets for school children will be presented. The main project partner is the Local Cultural Centre Terchová, Slovakia.
The Mounds at Mikulčice are one of the most important fortified settlements with signs of an urban layout, rather military in character, with evidence of settlement in the pre-Great Moravian and Great Moravian horizons, with many churches (about 12) and artefacts testifying to the presence of Great Moravian nobility.
There is speculation that it may have been a tribal centre with higher power aspirations, perhaps even the seat of the first Mojmirs. The turn in the development of the hillfort suggests that in the next phase it became an important element integrated into the system of defence of the empire and its centre.
Lubomír Emil Havlík believed that it was grad Moravia, but several scholars are inclined to the name grad Slavnica or Slivnica.
Already in 1888, the Moravian archaeologist Karel Jaroslav Maška described the site of Mounds. He recorded the report of the superintendent František Kropáč about a large fortification with a distinct moat about 3.5 km east of Mikulčice and a slightly more easterly unforested place “where nothing grows”, surrounded by a moat, with findings of pottery shards decorated with waves. The year 1954 was a milestone for the start of the fieldwork. The systematic excavations, which lasted continuously for 38 seasons, provided, thanks to their relative intactness, the most accessible material for the search for the history of Great Moravia to date and are associated with the names of academics Josef Poulik and Zdeněk Klanica.
The agglomeration lies in the Morava River floodplain in a landscape of floodplain forests. Its core consists of the main castle with two large adjacent outposts, one of which has the distinct character of a permanent military camp and the other appears more like a walled settlement. The somewhat elevated acropolis of the Great Moravian castle and the military outpost were protected by an almost identical wall of shell construction with a frontal stone rampart and moats formed by a set of arms of the Morava River.
On the highest point of the acropolis were two buildings representing the princely environment – the princely palace with a cast mortar floor and a stone fireplace and the basilica. Both buildings formed a separate precinct on the area of the so-called castle. A moat fortification was found around the palace and the basilica and the cemetery were separated by a palisade fence. The extensive three-aisled basilica with an atrium and a nartex – a chancel is the largest excavated Great Moravian religious building to date. In the area of the basilica and in the surroundings several tombs belonging to important representatives of the ruling class of Great Moravia, probably also to some of the Mojmir family, have been uncovered. Around the church, a burial ground of approximately 550 graves was uncovered, the density and overlapping of which indicate a considerable intensity of burials and therefore a relatively high population density. The burial site is distinguished by the abundance of rich graves with swords, gold and silver jewellery and lavish sets of belt fittings and silver and cast bronze terminals and gold buttons. These and many other finds represent masterful works of local craftsmanship. The arms have become a kind of unofficial symbol of the Mounds near Mikulčice, but the most valuable finds include a silver hanging cross with the figure of Christ and a gold solidus of the Byzantine emperor Michael III. A certain proof of education are also the findings of iron pens – styli.
The traces of metalworking and jewellery workshops in the castle are dated to the period before the middle of the 9th century.
Marked foundations of the third church in Mikulčice – a three-aisled basilica
The agglomeration also includes numerous hinterlands (settlement areas with burial mounds):
Northern and north-western substructure of Stepnice I (a proprietary church with unusual external aisles with 6 graves around, a church with a rectangular presbytery and 26 graves, southern sub-castle of Kostelisko (rotunda with 4 conchos and a cast mortar floor and simplified ancient mosaic with fragments of Roman bricks), eastern sub-castle, Těšický les – Klášterisko (two-apse rotunda, 200 graves, bronze gilded plaque, razor), Štěpnice II closer to Trapíkov (simple wooden rotunda on stone base, fragment of smoothed porphyritic slab, 16 graves, silver buttons, iron spurs), Frog (44 graves, glass beads, knives, pottery), 9th to 11th century Panské burial site, 9th century Trapíkov settlement,Kopčany with the preserved church of St. Margaret of Antioch, which has been preserved almost entirely in its original mass. The dating of the previously escaped church was made possible by the discovery of three Great Moravian graves with gilded buttons and silver drum earrings.
Other interesting finds from the agglomeration include the remains of a bridge, paved boats – monoxyles, fish catching pots, a spear, iron fish hooks, a wooden bucket, a bucket with decorative fittings, iron buckets inlaid with wood, three different types of war axes, wooden spoons and ladles, rope, iron smokers, sheep shears, iron scythe, sickle, scythe, iron whetstone, iron daggers, lead dagger, arrowheads, iron keys and lock fittings, bone skates, awls, crosspieces, antler needles, burnt clay horsetail, bone whistle. A small silver gilded reliquary in the shape of a miniature service book attracted special attention. Interestingly, there are abundant traces of food consumption of all kinds, especially in the Štěpnice forecourt, fortified with a wall of the same quality as the castle, but with no traces of crafts and other creative work, i.e. more of a barracks character.
Graves often overlap, sometimes the foundations of buildings. The finds date mainly from the 7th to 12th centuries.
Also worthy of attention is the major reconstruction of an older stone wall without signs of mere routine maintenance or some sudden catastrophe (fire, conquest, etc.) at Mikulčice Vale sometime in the mid-9th century. The rebuilt wall had a face stone wall significantly less massive. It seems as if the political importance of the original fortress declined here and only after the new public order did the new power representatives take care of the restoration of the ruined one, but not in its original meaning and with the former power aspirations. Prof. Poulik’s reflection on the centrality of the state may well have been valid for the first half of the 9th century.
Josef Poulik at the time thought of the Mikulčice agglomeration as the headquarters of the entire Great Moravian Empire, arguing that it was the strongest fortification yet found on the Great Moravian fortifications. However, this was true only until the fortifications in the Uherské Hradiště site of Rybárny were explored.
From the second half of the 1930s, the municipality felt an acute need for a larger and more spacious church. A young priest, Stefan Bitter, finally came up with a concrete idea. After raising funds and digging the foundations, the cornerstone of the new church building was laid in 1942. By the fall of 1944, the church building was already built, plastered and covered with shingles. Early the next spring, however, the cruel whirlwind of war raged. 155 dwelling houses, including the parish building, lay in ashes (April 8-9, 1945). The rough church building offered shelter to the victims.
After the completion of the construction, the main altar was built. The altar is surmounted by a massive cross with the Crucified as a part of it. There are two rows of 23 symmetrically arranged pews in the main nave . The three aisles are separated from each other by massive round columns. The ceiling of the main nave is coffered, the side aisles have flat ceilings. All three bells have been transferred from the old church of St. Martin. The oldest and largest, George, is original, dating back to the first half of the 18th century. The other two are of younger date.
The solemn consecration of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius took place on 8 October 1949 in the presence of the Archbishop of Nitra, Dr. Eduard Néczey. The father of the idea of the new church, vdp. Štefan Bitter.
The interior of the church has undergone significant changes in recent years. The Stations of the Cross have become part of it. The front of the sanctuary was filled with wooden sculptures of the Thessalonian saints. In 1976, Terchova´s stonemasons carved a sacrificial altar. In addition to the artistic imagery, the impressive windows evoke the Cyril and Methodius theme in the interior. They depict motifs from the Cyril and Methodius period of our history through etchings. Like the interior, the exterior of the church has changed beyond recognition over the years. From the last period we should mention especially the inventive flower pots, the epoxy statues of the faithful above the main entrance, or the sculpture of the Taking down of the Cross, located in front of the entrance to the sacristy. Since 1990, the main tower has been decorated with a gilded two-armed cross.
An indispensable part of Christmas in Terchova in recent years is the Nativity scene, which on the eve of the most beautiful holiday of the year is installed in the local Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Cyril and Methodius. It is the work of local men, carvers, designers, electro-mechanics, who have put a piece of their own moulding and free time into this now widely – known project.
The idea to create a symbolic nativity scene was born before Christmas in 1976. Its author was a well-known village carver Štefan Hanuliak, who together with his friends Jozef Holúbek and Štefan Krištofík prepared a nice surprise for the local believers at Christmas of that year. They conceived their joint work in three parts. The first one presents the “old” Terchová with its crafts and characteristic colouring, the second one the “modest” Betlehem, the place of Jesus’ birth, and the third one the “sumptuous” Jerusalem. Over time, the plastic figures have been replaced by figures made of lime wood. It was the idea of the local clergyman, Vdp. Jozef Šabu. Since about the end of the 1970s, the designers have focused exclusively on lime wood. After the death of Štefan Hanuliak, his sons Jozef, Ján, František and their namesake Ján Hanuliak, followed up on the noble idea with the aforementioned masters.
Every year you can admire something new at the Nativity scene in Terchová. Religious scenes from Bethlehem and Jerusalem are added, the atmosphere of historical Terchova is evoked by other folk crafts and workshops of masters. And only the folk artists of Terchová know what the final form of the work will be. All three parts will continue to be tastefully supplemented with new bizarre scenes and figures.
Source: terchova.uteczmesta.eu
Cyril-Methodius celebration for Slovak natives in Nová Belá on the Spiš region in Poland
This year we commemorate the 1160th anniversary of the arrival of St. Cyril and St. Methodius to our ancestors. On February 14th, this year is the 1154 anniversary of the death of St. Cyril. The nongovernmental organisation CYRILOMETODIADA, the Association of Slovaks in Poland, and the PRO PATRIA Foundation cordially invite you to the Cyril-Methodius celebration for Slovak natives in Nová Belá on the Spiš region in Poland.
Our programme starts on Saturday, February 11th at 16.00 with the opening of the philatelic exhibition Living Cyrillo-Methodius Heritage, the author of which is the philatelist Mr. Jozef Kútny from Močenok, Slovakia. The exhibition will take place in the Centre of Slovak Culture in Nová Belá (Nowa Biala). On the occasion of the exhibition, an occasional stamp and ticket will be introduced, which will be put into postal circulation in Slovakia by the Club of Philatelists 52 – 46 Močenok on Friday, February 10th, 2023. The author of the graphic rendering of the special stamp is Mr. Adrián Ferda from Slovenská pošta, a.s., POFIS Bratislava.
Festive St. mass in honour of Saints Cyril and Methodius, co-patrons of Europe, will be celebrated on Sunday, February 12th, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. by Father Ján Košiar in the local church of St. Catherine of Alexandria.
The Old Slavonic language as the fourth liturgical language, God’s blessing, and the genius of St. Cyril and St. Methodius, co-patrons of Europe, laid the foundations of Slovak, Slavic, and Central European education. Thanks to the wise decision of princes Rastislav, Svätopluk, and Koceľ, who turned to the Byzantine emperor Michael III to send them missionaries, announcers of God’s word in an understandable language, our ancestors received the gift of true faith and culture.
Approval of liturgical books in the Old Slavonic language by pope Hadrian II was not only a liturgical-legal act, but also a cultural landmark because the language of our ancestors became the fourth liturgical, but also the cultural and diplomatic language of the Christian West.
Thus, St. Cyril and St. Methodius brought the Old Slavonic language and script not only to the churches of Rastislav and Svätopluk in the Great Moravian Empire, but from that time it was possible to celebrate the liturgy in this language and write sacred religious and legal works, novels and poetry, and even professional texts in the entire Latin and Byzantine world. The Old Slavonic writing and God blessing in the native Slavonic languages gradually spread throughout the whole Slavic world and became the basis of modern Slavonic culture.
Secesní vila byla budována jako městské sídlo bankéřské rodiny Otto a Eugenie Primavesi v letech 1905-1906. Jedná se o národní kulturní památku.
Architekti dokázali mistrně kombinovat tehdejší secesní styl s moderním proudem a výsledkem byla bohatě členitá jednopatrová stavba rodinného domu s vysokou mansardovou střechou. Na výzdobě interiérů se podíleli tehdejší přední umělci. Patřil k nim rodinný přítel Anton Hanak, který pro ně navrhl obložení jídelny s měděnou kašnou “Živá voda”, sochou ponocného a spoustu dalších děl. Dalším významným umělcem, podílejícím se na výzdobě vily, byl výtvarník a architekt Josef Hoffman a malíř Gustav Klimt.
Vilu Primavesi si můžete prohlédnout během nepravidelně konaných prohlídkách interiérů. Ve vile je také otevřena stylová kavárna s příjemným posezením jak uvnitř, tak i na zahradě.
Klášterní Hradisko
Klášter vznikl v 11. století jako sídlo benediktinů. Hradisko zažilo řadu katastrofických událostí a několikrát bylo pobořeno. Dnes má barokní podobu a je přes 200 let sídlem vojenské nemocnice. V jedné z jeho věží je expozice dějin kláštera.
Chrám Panny Marie Sněžné
Typický kostel jezuitského řádu vznikl na začátku 18. století a vyniká překrásnou a velmi bohatou výzdobou interiérů.
Kaple Sv. Jana Sarkandera
Na místě dnešní kaple stávalo městské vězení, ve kterém byl roku1620 podroben útrpnému právu katolický kněz Jan Sarkander, jemuž je kaple zasvěcena. Na následky mučení zde Sarkander také zemřel. Současná podoba kaple pochází z počátku 20. století, kdy byla provedena radikální novobarokní rekonstrukce.
V suterénu kaple se nachází originál mučícího skřipce a studna zbudovaná nad “zázračným léčivým pramenem”, z něhož ve vězení pil Jan Sarkander.
Kostel sv. Michala
Trojice barokních kopulí michalského kostela, první kopulové stavby na Moravě, dotváří charakteristické panoráma města. Kostel vznikl ve 13. století a po švédské okupaci města v 17. století prošel výraznou přestavbou. Sochy na jeho hlavním průčelí patří k nejhodnotnějším dílům olomouckého barokního sochařství.
Zvláštností kostela je i poustevna – pod kostelem je podzemní jezírko. Prostory jezírka slouží k tichému rozjímání, pramen nikdy nevysychá.
Kostel sv. Mořice
Kostel sv. Mořice patří k nejvzácnějším stavbám období pozdní gotiky na Moravě. Roku 1412 byla vystavěna 46 m vysoká věž, jejímž původním účelem zřejmě bylo varovat obyvatele města před požáry. Věž je vybavena architektonicky zajímavým dvojitým točitým schodištěm, dnes slouží jako rozhledna. S kostelem sv. Mořice je neodmyslitelně spjat každoročně konaný Mezinárodní varhanní festival (září), najdete tam varhany, které se řadí k těm největším ve Střední Evropě.
Kostel sv. Cyrila a Metoděje
Kostel sv. Cyrila a Metoděje se nachází v olomoucké části Hejčín. Jedná se o kostel ve stylu neoklasicistního modernizmu. Jednoduchý exteriér kostela kontrastuje s bohatou výzdobou. 5. července 1932 byla stavba slavnostně vysvěcena. Kostelní věž je vysoká 65 m, na průčelí věže je umístěno bronzové sousoší sv. Cyrila a Metoděje.
Monumentální původně románská katedrála z 12. století je nejvýznamnějším olomouckým chrámem. Prošla řadou přestaveb a dnes se nad Olomoucí tyčí v novogotické podobě.
Katedrála sv. Václava patří neodmyslitelně k panoramatu města. Jižní věž, vysoká přesně 100,65 m, je nejvyšší kostelní věží na Moravě (a druhou nejvyšší v České republice). Na novogotickém oltáři je umístěn relikviář s ostatky sv. Jana Sarkandera. Dómské varhany patří k nejlepším romantickým nástrojům u nás. Ve sklepení se nachází krypta, která je zpřístupněna.
Arcidiecézní muzeum sídlí v budovách kapitulního děkanství a v areálu národní kulturní památky Přemyslovský palác. Součástí prohlídkové trasy je i románský biskupský palác Jindřicha Zdíka (Přemyslovský palác) a kaple sv. Barbory. Stálá expozice muzea seznamuje návštěvníky s duchovní kulturou olomoucké arcidiecéze. V obrazárně jsou zastoupena špičková malířská díla shromažďovaná olomouckými biskupy od 16.století. Součástí objektu je i koncertní sál “Mozarteum”, pojmenovaný na památku zdejšího pobytu slavného hudebního skladatele W. A. Mozarta. Muzeum nabízí také 25 sluchátek audioprůvodce v češtině, angličtině, němčině a polštině.
STÁLÉ EXPOZICE
Románský biskupský palác
Jedná se o nejvýznamnější stavební památku palácového typu v českých zemích. Podle průzkumů palác vznikl těsně před polovinou 12. století.
Ke slávě a chvále – 1000 let duchovní kultury na Moravě II
Stálá expozice Arcidiecézního muzea je sestavena do dvou základnách okruhů, z nichž první nazvaný Umění olomoucké diecéze je koncipován chronologicky a zahrnuje všechny umělecké obory (architektonické fragmenty, malířství, sochařství, umělecké řemeslo – zlatnické práce i textilie aj.).
V dalším expozičním okruhu nazvaném Sběratelství olomouckých biskupů je představena obrazová kolekce zahrnující významná díla italské, nizozemské i středoevropské provenience. Původ sbírky sahá do 17. století a tvoří jednu z nejkvalitnějších středoevropských kolekcí starého malířství.
Muzeum prošlo rekonstrukcí a v dubnu 2023 se opět otevírá. Představuje nejen rozšíření stávajících expozic, ale především novou stálou expozici – Zde se nacházíte. Svatováclavské návrší v proměnách staletí. Její velká část bude patřit novým médiím a digitálnímu obsahu – např. virtuální vizualizace prostoru svatováclavského návrší – v pravěku, středověku a novověku, nebo např. edukační místnost s virtuální herní konzolí, kde si budou moci zájemci vyzkoušet stavbu katedrály.
Arcibiskupský palác je od svého vzniku a do současnosti sídelní rezidencí olomouckých biskupů a od roku 1777 také arcibiskupů. Arcibiskupská rezidence je významným příkladem barokní palácové architektury na Moravě.
V průběhu své historie byl svědkem řady významných událostí, z nichž je možno zmínit např. návštěvu Marie Terezie, intronizaci císaře Františka Josefa I., uzavření mírové smlouvy známé jako tzv. “Olomoucké punktace” či návštěvu papeže Jana Pavla II.
V současné době je veřejnosti zpřístupněn jeden prohlídkový okruh, který zahrnuje reprezentační sály Arcibiskupského paláce situované v prvním patře. Interiéry mají dochovanou bohatou rokokovou, empírovou a neobarokní výzdobu a jsou vybaveny dobovým mobiliářem. Právě tyto místnosti jsou spjaty s nejvýznamnějšími událostmi, které se v budově odehrály.
Snad nejznámější památkou Olomouce je, po zapsání v r.2000 na Seznam světového kulturního a přírodního dědictví UNESCO, monumentální barokní sloup Nejsvětější Trojice na Horním náměstí.
Sloup byl postaven v letech 1716-1754 jako okázalá oslava katolické církve a víry, částečně vyvolaná pocitem vděčnosti za ukončení moru. Sloup je vysoký 35 m a představuje nejvyšší sousoší ČR.
Sloup je ozdoben více než čtyřiceti sochami, dominují mu pozlacené měděné sochy Nejsvětější Trojice (Otec, Syn a Duch svatý) doprovázené archandělem Gabrielem na vrcholu a socha Nanebevzetí Panny Marie na dříku pod nimi.
Sloup uvnitř ukrývá také malou kapli s reliéfy znázorňujícími oběti bohu Kaina, Ábela, Noema a Abraháma. Je zde vyobrazena také Ježíšova smrt na kříži v pozadí s městy Olomouc a Jeruzalém. Kaple je v sezoně otevřená, máte i možnost prohlídky s průvodcem.
Budova radnice, jako jedna z mála v ČR, slouží svým účelům – tedy jako sídlo úředníků magistrátu – dodnes. Nachází se tam i expozice k historii města, orloje a radnice. Všechny expozice jsou volně přístupné během úředních hodin magistrátu a v rámci prohlídek “Olomouc v kostce s průvodcem” spojených s výstupem na radniční věž. V podloubí radnice najdete turistické informační centrum.
Olomoucký orloj je zasazen do severní fasády radnice. Dnešní podoba orloje je z 50. let 20. století, byl totiž značně poškozen za druhé světové války. Je určitě zajímavým dokladem propagandistické role tehdejšího oficiálního umění – socialistického realizmu. Mozaiková výzdoba sestává z medailonů na bočních stranách výklenku, znázorňujících práce charakteristické pro jednotlivé měsíce v roce, a kalendáře, který uvádí data událostí považovaných tehdejší komunistickou propagandou za významné. Ve vrcholu výklenku uplatnil Karel Svolinský, autor návrhu, folklorní motiv jízdy králů.
První písemná zmínka o původním orloji pochází z roku 1519. Orloj byl během své historie několikrát přebudováván a vybavován různými druhy pohyblivých loutek. Umělecky nejhodnotnější zřejmě byla jeho barokní úprava podle návrhu malíře Jana Kryštofa Handkeho.
Nabídka:
Pivovar navazuje na historii produkce tvarůžků a piva ve Velké Bystřici, kde se v minulosti Olomoucké tvarůžky běžně vyráběly.
Je to dobrá zpráva pro všechny milovníky Olomouckých tvarůžků – ty se nově (2021) vyrábějí také ve Velké Bystřici a to pod léty prověřeným a zlidovělým názvem Tvargle. Tvarůžky se samozřejmě vyrábějí podle původních receptur a z místních surovin.
Minipivovar Tvarg vyrábí nejen klasický ležák, ale i svrchně kvašená piva, jako je IPA a ALE.
Pivovar a sýrárnu s restauraci a letním posezením najdete v opravených památkově chráněných pivovarských sklepích v sousedství Bystřického zámku. Obě provozovny můžete také navštívit během pravidelně pořádaných exkurzí s ochutnávkou.
Fortová pevnost z let 1871-1876 byla vybudována jako součást “Císařsko-královské olomoucké pevnosti”. Konstrukčně se jedná o jednovalový dělostřelecký fort, je to architektonicky a historicky unikátní pevnostní objekt.
V současné době fort spravuje občanské sdružení Fort Radíkov o.s., nabízí mimo historii i další volnočasové aktivity. Jsou to nejen komentované prohlídky, ale také řada zážitkových aktivit. Můžete si tady zastřílet ze vzduchovek, vyzkoušet házení vrhacími noži, geocaching, hledání „pokladů“ pomocí detektoru kovů, kanadské dřevorubecké hry nebo třeba jen opéct buřty na ohni.
Za několik desetiletí své existence dosáhla zoologická zahrada výrazných úspěchů v chovu a rozmnožování exotických živočichů. V atraktivních a zvířatům přizpůsobených prostorech probíhá chov antilop, žiraf, opic i šelem, unikátem je také obří ptačí voliéra či společný výběh medvědů baribalů a vlků polárních.
Dominantu zoologické zahrady tvoří vyhlídková věž vysoká 32 metrů. Z horní vyhlídkové plošiny lze pozorovat zvířata v zoo, obdivovat baziliku Navštívení Panny Marie či sledovat panorama Olomouce a jeho okolí.
Olomoucká zoologická zahrada se pyšní řadou rarit. Například potemnělý pavilon netopýrů, osvětlen pouze hvězdnou oblohou a několika málo bodovými barevnými světly, poskytuje zázemí zvířatům s noční aktivitou, především pak velmi vzácným kalonům zlatým. Od návštěvníků je odděluje pouze 120 cm vysoké sklo, ostatní prostor není ničím krytý. Kaloni tak zde mohou volně prolétávat přímo nad hlavami návštěvníků.
Dobrodružství zažijete i ve velkém přírodním výběhu makaků červenolících. Jde o jednu z nejatraktivnějších expozic doplněnou o dřevěnou lávku zavěšenou 7 m nad údolím. Výběhem mohou návštěvníci projít nejdříve přes most a pak volně po stezce přímo mezi zvířaty.
Dalším zpestřením olomoucké zoo je velký výběh gepardů s prosklenou vyhlídkou s posezením a velký přírodní výběh rysů, jejichž chov zde má již dlouhou tradici. Přes výběh probíhá lávka pro návštěvníky, jež nabízí netradiční pohled na tato elegantní zvířata. Zoo se rovněž pyšní úspěšným chovem levhartů mandžuských, kteří jsou jedněmi z nejvzácnějších kočkovitých šelem na světě. Výběh levhartů je koncipován do podoby jeskyně.
Darwinova 29
779 00 Olomouc – Sv. Kopeček
www.zoo-olomouc.cz
Bazilika na Svatém Kopečku je nepřehlédnutelnou dominantou celého okolí Olomouce. K chrámu Navštívení Panny Marie na Svatém Kopečku po staletí směřovaly kroky tisíců poutníků a i dnes patří k nejznámějším a nejnavštěvovanějším poutním místům v České republice.
Podle pověsti poutní místo založil olomoucký měšťan a obchodník s vínem Jan Andrýsek postavením kaple, kterou si na něm ve snu vyžádala Panna Marie.
Hlavní pouť probíhá na svátek Navštívení Panny Marie (31. 5.), v neděli po svátku Nanebevzetí Panny Marie (15. 8.) a následující pondělí a úterý a také poslední neděli v říjnu.
Chrám vybudovali premonstráti v 17. a 18. století na místě kapličky, kterou zničili Švédové. Unikátní je orientace chrámu, kdy hlavní osa nesměřuje od východu k západu, ale chrám je pootočen průčelím k mateřskému klášteru Hradisko. Kněz, který žehnal od oltáře věřícím, díky tomu prý při otevřených dveřích žehnal i klášteru. V roce 1995 povýšil papež Jan Pavel II. chrám na baziliku minor.
Toto významné poutní místo prošlo dlouhodobou rekonstrukcí, jejíž druhá etapa byla dokončena v roce 2021. Díky rekonstrukci je nyní tento barokní skvost v perfektním stavu a návštěvníků se nově otevírají dosud uzavřené prostory.
Novinkou je tak např. prohlídkový okruh, který zavede návštěvníky na kůr, odkud je jedinečný pohled do chrámu, provede je také dosud nepřístupnými reprezentačními sály.
Návštěvníci mohou navštívit také Svatokupecké muzeum, v němž jsou vystaveny monstrance, relikviáře, mešní roucha a nebude chybět ani expozice poutnictví. Prohlídkový okruh muzeem má dvacet zastavení s popisky a QR kódy, přičemž první zastavení se nachází už venku před bazilikou.
Sadové náměstí 1
779 00 Olomouc – Svatý Kopeček
www.svatykopecek.cz
How to arouse the interest of today’s schoolchildren in the Glagolitic alphabet, the script that Constantine and Methodius brought to Great Moravia 1160 years ago? This will be the theme of the conference “THE WAY TO WRITING”, which will be organised by the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius in the Jesuit cellar in Staré Město near Uherské Hradiště on 23 March 2023.
Representatives of the association will present the activities of the Cyril and Methodius Route and the results of a cross-border project aimed at cooperation between artists and primary school pupils. Several artists are involved in the project – ac. sculp. Daniel Ignác Trubač from Polešovice, ac. sculptor. Milan Opalka from Terchová and artist Jozef Vydrnák from Dubnice nad Váhom. They made study trips on both sides of the border, conducted pilot creative workshops at primary schools in Boršice and Terchová, and prepared worksheets and methodological sheets for use in schools, leisure facilities and thematic monuments. Together with the teachers, they will come to share their experience with the conference participants.
“The pilot activities will lead to an open debate on making the Cyril and Methodius heritage accessible to the younger generation. I believe that the materials created, which will be available in electronic form for download, will find their interested parties in schools, cultural institutions, monuments, leisure centres or homes,” said Lubomír Traub, chairman of the organising association and Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region.
“With this project, we have also begun intensified cooperation with contemporary artists who are consistently devoted to the Cyril and Methodius legacy in their work. This is also the mission of the Cyril and Methodius Route – the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe,” said the director Zuzana Vojtová.
The project “Cyril and Methodius Route – Culture and Education without Borders” is co-financed by the Small Projects Fund of the INTERREG V-A Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Slovakia – Czech Republic and the Zlín Region. The main cross-border partner of the project is the Local Cultural Centre Terchová, the conference partner is the Slovak Museum in Uherské Hradiště.
The European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius is holding a General Assembly of its members in the Greek port city of Thessaloniki on 4 May 2023, with the participation of its members, partners and supporters. The City of Thessaloniki has been a member of the international association ECRSCM since 2015 and is hosting a meeting of its members for the first time. Thessaloniki will welcome representatives of members from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria. On the Greek side, the meeting will be attended by Maria Karagianni, Deputy Mayor of Thessaloniki, and Margarita Lioulia, representative of the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sport, who also represents Greece in the Programme Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.
“In the jubilee year, when we commemorate the 1160th anniversary of the arrival of Constantine-Cyril and Methodius in Great Moravia in 9th century, we decided to take advantage of the invitation of the city to organize a regular meeting here, in the birthplace of Slavic apostles. Although the city of Thessaloniki has long supported the Cyril and Methodius Route project, the cultural route is not well known among the inhabitants of the agglomeration or marked in any way. We would like to change this. So far, cooperation has been mainly on a professional basis, namely with Aristotle University. That is why we very much appreciate the helpfulness of the City of Thessaloniki to intensify the cooperation,” said Lubomír Traub, Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region (Czechia) and Chairman of the Association.
In addition to the General Assembly meeting, the agenda also includes a welcome for motorcycle pilgrims from Slovakia, who on Friday, 28 April, will set off on a ten-day ride against the current of the pilgrimage of the brothers of Thessaloniki through eight countries. In total, they will cover 3000 km on their machines. The pilgrimage began symbolically at Nitra Castle, the residence of Bishop Viliam Judak of Nitra (Slovakia), who blessed them for their journey.
The next Cyril and Methodius pilgrimage associated with the second largest Greek city will be the Thessaloniki-Velehrad cyclo pilgrimage organized by Orel Uherský Brod (Czechia) from 16 June to 4 July.
“These pilgrimages are proof that the Cyril and Methodius Route is open to all who want to explore the roots of Slavic culture linked to the living legacy of Constantine-Cyril and Methodius. Some people prefer motorcycling, others prefer nature-friendly travel by train, bicycle or on foot. This year we are also preparing two walking pilgrimages, from Levý Hradec through Prague to Kácov in Czechia in late July and from Zašová across the Czech-Slovak border to Terchová in early September. We wish all those who embark on the Cyril and Methodius routes, whether marked or new, a happy journey,” said Zuzana Vojtová, the association’s director.
The Cyril and Methodius Route, which focuses on Slavic cultural heritage, is one of the 48 cultural routes certified by the Council of Europe (in 2021). The association developing the route, which was founded 10 years ago, has currently 24 members from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Italy. Its activities promote the living Cyrillo-Methodian heritage and values based on respect and dialogue between people of different cultures and faiths.
The development of the Cyril and Methodius Route was the subject of a meeting of representatives of the Zlín Region and the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius Association in the Greek city of Thessaloniki on 3-4 May. A meeting of members, partners and supporters of the Cyril and Methodius Route was held for the first time at the city hall. Participants came from the Czechia, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Greece, with others joining online. On the Greek side, the meeting was attended by Ms Maria Karagianni, Deputy Mayor of Thessaloniki, Ms Maria Tatagia, Director of the Thessaloniki History Centre, and Ms Margarita Lioulia, representative of the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sport, Vice-Chair of the Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement for the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.
“This year marks the 1160th anniversary of the arrival of Constantine and Methodius to Great Moravia. We therefore welcomed the city’s invitation to organise a regular meeting of members here, in the birthplace of the Slavic apostles. We discussed the possibilities of cooperation in the field of route marking in the city with the Deputy Mayor Karagianni, who warmly welcomed us. The city was founded in the 4th century BC and there are many important monuments related to the Byzantine era, in which Constantine and Methodius lived. But there are also many modern monuments, such as the Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius near the coastal promenade. We discussed not only the promotion of tourism, but also other topics for possible future cooperation. The city is also planning a student conference this November, inviting students from the area of the Cyril and Methodius Route,” said the Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region and Chair of the association Lubomír Traub.
“Personal meetings are very helpful in deepening mutual contacts and cooperation. At this time it is especially important to remember the Cyril and Methodius heritage. Rediscovering and spreading their message is the task of all of us in the association,” said Maria Tatagia, Director of the Thessaloniki History Centre.
In addition to the General Assembly, the agenda included a welcome to the motorcycle pilgrims from Slovakia. They rode their machines from 28 April to 9 May, covering a total of 3,500 km in the footsteps of Sts. Cyril and Methodius through nine European countries. Through their expedition, they want to inspire other motorcyclists to discover the Cyrillo-Methodian heritage, which they believe unites people of various nations and faiths.
The next Cyrillo-Methodian pilgrimage linked to the second largest Greek city will be the Thessaloniki-Velehrad cyclo pilgrimage organised in cooperation with “Orel Uherský Brod”.
“The representatives of the town hall warmly welcomed and treated the motorcyclists from the Nitra region in Slovakia. They are also going to greet Moravian cyclists from Czechia. They will be setting off from Thessaloniki on their cycling tour towards Velehrad on 18 June. As was said in Thessaloniki, the Cyril and Methodius Route is not only an opportunity for tourism, but also a reminder of our common cultural roots and the foundations of European civilization, which is why it is important for the city,” said Zuzana Vojtová, Director of the ECRSCM Association.
The city also prepared for the participants a tour of the main Roman and Byzantine monuments in the city centre, such as the Roman Forum (Roman Agora), Arch of Galerius or the main churches of St. Demetrius (Agios Dimitrios) and St. Sophia (Agia Sofia).
The Cyril and Methodius Route, which brings together places, heritage sites, cultural institutions and tourist attractions across countries of Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, is one of the 48 cultural routes certified by the Council of Europe (since 2021). The association developing the route, which was founded 10 years ago, has currently 24 members from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Italy. Its activities promote the living Cyrillo-Methodian heritage and values based on respect and dialogue between people of different cultures and faiths.
The Kingdom Nature Reserve is located about 8 km southeast of Olomouc between the villages of Dub nad Moravou, Majetín, Grygov and Charváty. The whole area is interwoven with a network of paths that directly encourages long walks. It is a very species diverse floodplain forest in the vast floodplain of the Morava River. The whole area is characterised by rich flora and fauna. In the spring season, you will find an anemone, hollow-leaved wood anemone, yellow woodruff or primrose in the herbaceous floor. Later on, bear garlic dominates. Among the critically endangered amphibians, there are, for example, the common mockingbird, the mountain mockingbird and the green sundew. Over 63 species of birds nest here. An interesting sight is the monumental tree “Oak King”, which grows near the railway line and is 460 years old.
In 1921 a large stone cairn was built above Velký Týnec – the Liberation Monument. It is located in the area where once there was a fortified settlement. The building, conceived as the Liberation Monument, was designed by a local native, architect František Kolář. Even the President of the Czechoslovak Republic, T. G. Masaryk, attended the unveiling ceremony on 18 September 1921. This event is commemorated by a nearby memorial stone. On the front side of the cairn is the inscription 1620-VSTALŤ JEST-NÁROD OSVOBOZENÝ-1918. A memorial plaque commemorating the death of 31 men from Tyniec who died at the front during World War I, including one of the twenty citizens who joined the Czechoslovak foreign legions, was placed in the cairn. Later, a memorial plaque to the victims of World War II was added. The imposing cairn stands on Hradisko Hill 299 m above sea level, a wooden cross stands a short distance away, there is a fireplace with seating and benches are placed around it. It is a beautiful viewpoint, in good weather you can enjoy a beautiful view not only of the village itself, but also of Olomouc.
Parks in Olomouc are the proverbial “lungs” of the city in the heart of Haná, which surround the historic core on all sides.
Bezruč Park
They are situated under medieval and Theresian walls and thanks to the unique scenery created by the rocks, walls and the flowing Mlýnský Brook, a walk through these orchards is an exceptional experience. An architectural part of Bezruč Park is the South Slavic Mausoleum, a common tomb with the remains of South Slavic soldiers who died in Moravia and Silesia during World War I. The park is also decorated with a monument to Petr Bezruč, whose name the park bear. From the Bezruč Park you can climb the staircase of Jakubský výpad up the walls to the Parkán Gardens of Palacký University.
It is the largest park in Olomouc and consists of tall stands of chestnut and lime trees. There is also a magnolia garden, which is designed as a relaxation area. In spring, it provides a view of a flood of white and pink flowers, some of which reach a size of up to 20 cm. In autumn and winter, the wondrous East Asian and American elm bushes bloom in yellow and red.
Čech Park were established in the 1930s. Čech Park is a park intended primarily for relaxation. The park includes the Memorial to the Liberation of Olomouc by the Soviet Army unveiled in 1945, a statue of Božena Němcová, Professor V. Navrátil and a monument dedicated to the important Olomouc graphic artist Karel. The architectural attractions of the park include the fortress so-called Litovelská Gate, which was moved to the entrance of the orchards in 1896.
Last week, representatives of the European Cultural Route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius established cooperation with the association developing the St. Olav Ways in Norway and other Nordic countries. A delegation headed by the association’s Chair and Deputy Governor Lubomír Traub, including staff from the association and representatives of the Moravian and Slovak regions, headed to its centre in Trondheim, formerly Nidaros.
“During the visit, we signed a memorandum of cooperation with the international association, which have been coordinating the crossborder development of the St. Olav Ways since 2018. Together we would like to implement development projects and strengthen cooperation in Europe. The St. Olav Pilgrimage Route is a great inspiration for the Cyril and Methodius Route in terms of the sophistication of route management, signage, infrastructure being built, services offered, events organised or promotion. Both routes are attractive not only for pilgrims but also for other tourists with various motivations. Our Norwegian colleagues welcomed us very warmly and prepared a varied programme full of information and experiences. They shall visit us next year,” said Lubomír Traub, Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region and Chair of the Association.
“We are following the current trend of meeting and cooperation of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. We are all working to develop pilgrimage trails for contemporary Europeans, so we are doing similar work, just in different regions. I believe we have a lot to learn from each other. Both of our associations are quite young and we can do many things together,” said Hans Morten Løvrød, the Route manager of the Cultural Route of St. Olav Ways and Head of the National Pilgrim Centre of Norway in Trondheim.
The expedition visited the main pilgrimage site in Scandinavia – Nidaros Cathedral, which was built over the tomb of the Norwegian king Olav Haraldson, later St. Olav. He reigned from 1015-1028, fell at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 and his remains were transferred to the church at Nidaros the following year. Today it is the second largest and northernmost Gothic church in Scandinavia. Along the St. Olav path, the delegation also went to Sundet Farm, where pilgrims are accommodated before the last leg of their pilgrimage. We also visited the Sverresborg Trøndelag Folk Museum, situated along the route.
“Like our Norwegian colleagues, we are betting on the development of sustainable tourism along the trails, supporting local services, culture and traditional production. We found the visit to Sundet Farm and the Nidaros Pilgrim Centre extremely inspiring. Everywhere they take care to use local ingredients, create a friendly atmosphere and support pilgrims physically and mentally. The Norwegians have a well-developed system of not only quality services, but also a system of marking and visitor tracking along the paths. The regional destination company Explore Trøndelag is helping to promote the route and we also had the opportunity to exchange experiences with its Director with Czech roots, Petra Sestak-Flagestad,” said the Director of the European Cultural Route of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Zuzana Vojtová.
About 1 500 pilgrims registered their arrival in the official pilgrim reception at Nidaros Pilgrim Centre in Trondheim last year, walking at least 100 km or cycling at least 200 km, and received a St. Olav certificate. But the St. Olav Ways in Norway, which have been marked and developed since 1997, are used by a wide range of target groups and in much larger numbers, from the elderly and families with children to people with various disabilities. Many people use the paths locally and regionally.
In addition to presentations of the two Routes certified by the Council of Europe, the programme also included presentations of cultural and spiritual festivals, such as the Cyrillo-Methodian celebrations in Nitra (32nd edition to be held 3 – 5 July) and the St. Olav Festival in Trondheim (61st edition to be held 28 July – 3 August).
The study trip was made possible thanks to the project “International Cooperation in the Field of Sustainable Development of Cultural Routes” implemented by the ECRSCM association within the initiative “Support for bilateral cooperation under the EEA and Norway Grants”.
This jubilee year, commemorating 1160 years since the arrival of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Great Moravia, can be celebrated, for example, by performing a cycling tour. Forty Moravian pilgrims set off from distant Thessaloniki to Velehrad on 18 June 2023 and will end their 1800 km long pilgrimage at the Days of People of Good Will at Velehrad on 4 July, the day before the national pilgrimage.
“Our group travels to important pilgrimage sites every year. In this way, we have already covered more than 17,000 km on bicycles and visited 18 countries in Europe. Since most of us live near Velehrad and, like Pope John Paul II, we consider Velehrad to be the spiritual centre of Europe, we always start or finish our cycling tours here,” said Jan Turko, one of the organisers of the cycling tour.
The opening of the pilgrimage took place on Friday 16 June 2023 at Velehrad with a Mass in the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saints Cyril and Methodius at 10 am. Afterwards, the bus with the pilgrims left towards Thessaloniki, from where they continued on their own on bicycles, with an accompanying vehicle. During their bicycle ride, the brave pilgrims will also visit other important sites in terms of the Cyril and Methodius cultural tradition, such as Ohrid, Skopje, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Pecs, Zalavár, Nitra and Kopčany. A similar cycle tour took place 10 years ago.
Timeframe: 16 June – 4 July 2023
Daily stages of cycling:
16.6. Fri Departure from the Czech Republic (by bus)
17.6. Sat Thessaloniki, day off
18.6. Sun Thessaloniki – Edessa
19.6. Mon Edessa – Bitola
20.6 Tue Bitola – Ohrid
21.6 Wed Ohrid – Tetovo
22.6 Thu Tetovo – Vranje
23.6 Fri Vranje – Nis
24.6. Sat Niš – Lapovo
25.6. Sun Lapovo – Belgrade
26.6. Mon Belgrade, day off
27.6 Tue Belgrade – Novi Sad
28.6. Wed Novi Sad – Sombor
29.6 Thu Sombor – Pécs
30.6 Fri Pécs – Zalavár
Sat 1.7. Zalavár – Gyor
2.7. Sun Gyor – Nitra
3.7. Mon Nitra – Kopčany – Tvarožná Lhota
4.7 Tue Tvarožná Lhota – Velehrad
On 12 June, the Cyril and Methodius Route, together with the Italy-based cultural routes Via Francigena and Romea Strata, held a presentation on the paths of culture and faith in front of journalists at the City Hall of Viterbo in the Lazio Region. Among the speakers present were Alessandra Croci, City Councillor responsible for Via Francigena and Jubilee 2025, Silvio Franco, Councillor for Local Economic Development and Tourism, Massimo Tedeschi, President of the European Association of Via Francigene, Ilaria Bartoletti, responsible for Romea Strata, Dana Danova, Chair of the Steering Committee of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, and Martin Peterka, Project Manager of the Association.
“Cooperation has been planned with the two associations to jointly promote all the routes in view of the forthcoming 2025 Jubilee. We are all interested in spreading unity and cultural togetherness. In the future, we are interested in placing the signposts of the Cyril and Methodius Route in Viterbo and other important places in Italy,” said Dana Daňová, also the mayor of Jasenná in the Zlín region, after returning from her trip.
“We have been cooperating with both routes for a long time, either on the basis of membership or a signed memorandum. Together, we also submitted a project focused on digitalisation and sustainable tourism to the Central Europe programme this year,” added project manager Martin Peterka.
“We are talking about cultural routes that are essential to us and we believe that, in addition to their religious significance and cultural, traditional and sporting value, they have a very deep meaning for us and also an important tourist value for our city. Indeed, getting to Viterbo on foot means approaching its history and culture in a slow way, while appreciating the territory that surrounds it. We want the routes to become part of our identity, to make Viterbo an important stop before the Eternal City itself,” said Councillor Silvio Franco.
At the end of the conference, the mayor of Viterbo, Chiara Frontini, joined the greetings and signing of the ceramic plaque “Your step is already history” within the framework of the project organized by the ceramic artist Cinzia Chiulli. It is with this Italian town, located about 80 km north of Rome, that the cultural routes cross. For the Cyril and Methodius Route, this is an important stop on the trail to Rome to the tomb of St Cyril. In the Middle Ages, Viterbo was even a papal seat.
Monumental Baroque building with the second highest vault in Moravia. It is a traditional place of pilgrimage.
The two lofty towers of the temple are witnesses of pilgrimages held here for over 250 years. On their occasion, a solemn pilgrimage mass is celebrated in the church every year in the presence of the Archbishop of Olomouc, accompanied by the local church choir. In the surroundings of the church you can admire several large statues, such as the statue of St. Florian, St. John of Nepomuk and St. Joseph.
The church was built by the architect Klíčník in 1734-1756. In 1731, the so-called Marian Residence was built next to the church, which was mainly used to house assistant priests. Later this building was connected with the church by a wall and today it serves as a rectory.
Like many places in Moravia, this traditional place of pilgrimage is shrouded in legend – people are said to have come to the Baroque Church of the Purification of the Virgin Mary to admire the wooden image of the Virgin Mary that glowed at night.
The castle was built in 1765 by the Dominican convent in Olomouc and served as a summer residence for the convent’s members.
After the dissolution of the monastery in 1782, Citov was given to the religious fund and the royal chamber sold it to the Pauspertl brothers from Drachenthal in 1827. Tobias Pauspertl had the existing castle building, which stood by the manor yard, demolished and replaced by an Empire-style castle. The construction was carried out by the builder Rosa from Kroměříž and was completed in 1845. The Knights de Navarre inherited the castle from the Pauspertl family in 1908 and owned it until 1945. A natural landscape park was established around the castle.
Today the castle serves the needs of the municipality and is not open to the public. The park is accessible, there are several beautiful corners, fountains and play elements for children.
A brick mill with a wooden gable from 1739, one of the oldest of its kind in Moravia. However, the mill has already changed its location three times due to floods caused by the Morava River.
It is protected as an immovable cultural monument of the Czech Republic; the subject of protection is the mill, the residential part, the engine room, the water dam and the farm building.
The mill can be found on the Citov nature trail, which leads from the local castle to the water mill. It is an easy short walk through the village.
The bell-making workshop in Brodek u Přerova was founded in 1950 by Josef and Laetitia Dytrych. Bells from this workshop ring all over the world: In Japan, in Ukraine, in Texas, USA, in Yakutia, Russia, in South Africa, Australia, Poland, Austria, Italy, Sweden, England, Ireland, Germany, etc. Annual production is around 150-300 bells of all sizes. The largest bells made in the Tomášková-Dytrychová bell workshop weigh around 2 to 5 tons. Bell chimes are the pinnacle of bell-making art. The chimes of 22 bells also decorate the village of Brodek u Přerova.
A representative sample of the work of the bell workshop can also be seen in the Komenský Museum in Přerov.
The unique feature of Brodek is the chimes. Its 22 bells come from the Dytrych family’s bell-making workshop and the architectural design is the work of the artist Jiří Studenský. The bells are suspended in a circle on a bell-shaped metal structure, which is built over a circular area and surrounded by water. This area symbolizes the plain of Haná and the water (water tanks) symbolizes the watercourses that surround it.
The largest bell weighs 220 kg, the smallest weighs 5 kg. The chimes rang for the first time on 1 January 2000 at 00.00. Up to 100 melodies can be stored in its programme with the possibility of further expansion.
The chimes are started daily at 18.00, on Sundays and holidays also at 12.00. At the same time, it can be started manually at any time or, when connected to an electronic keyboard, played directly as a classical instrument.
11th July 2023, Stare Město, Czech Republic
The signing of the cooperation agreement was confirmed at the Cyril and Methodius Centre in the Memorial of Great Moravia in Staré Město near Uherské Hradiště by the Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Rome Pierluigi Sanna and the Governor of the Zlín Region Radim Holiš. One of the areas of deepening contacts, creating joint projects and exchanging experiences is tourism. Specifically, representatives of the Metropolitan City of Rome are to jointly develop and promote the Cyril and Methodius Route certified in 2021 by the Council of Europe. They have high expectations for the Christian Jubilee Year 2025, when millions of pilgrims will be heading to Rome and other pilgrimage sites, and for 2030, when they want to succeed in their bid to host the World Expo.
“I bring greetings from the Eternal City from Mayor Robert Gualtieri, whom I represent here. The history that unites us is the driving force behind our friendship. The Romans said that history is the teacher of life. The Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci said that history teaches but has no pupils. This is not the case with us or with you. We know that those who know their own past are able to create the future. This is the basic concept to start our cooperation,” said Deputy Mayor Pierluigi Sanna at the signing of the agreement. The ceremony took place in a new and award-winning exhibition in a symbolic place – in front of a copy of the fresco depicting the transfer of the relics of Pope St. Clement by Saints Cyril and Methodius to Rome. The original fresco, like the tomb of St. Cyril, is located in the Basilica of St. Clement in Rome near the famous Colosseum.
“Our regions are connected not only by the steps of the Slavic heroes, but also by tourism and the possibility of cooperation in other areas that can strengthen the economic development of our region and the city of Rome. With today’s meeting, we have followed up on previous meetings and made it clear that we are interested in further deepening our good relations,” said Radim Holiš, Governor of the Zlín Region.
Lubomír Traub, deputy of the Zlín Region and chairman of the European Cultural Routes of Saints Cyril and Methodius Association, added: “Having the Council of Europe certification for the Cyril and Methodius Route is a great commitment for the Zlín Region, which is why we continue to work on its development and are looking for partners who will help us spread its fame and legacy. Today’s signing of the agreement opens up further opportunities for cooperation in interesting areas such as tourism in general, innovation and SMART technologies, or aviation and astronautics.”
Representatives of Rome also visited other important sites of the Cyril and Methodius Route in the Zlín Region – Svatý Hostýn, Zlín, Modra and Velehrad.
On Wednesday, 26 July 2023, at 15.00, Father Bishop František Rábek, the military Ordinary of the Slovak Armed Forces, blessed the Saint Gorazd Nature Trail. It starts at the Church of St. Clement in Močenok and continues mostly along forest roads to the Millennium Cross in front of Nitra. Father Bishop, together with 45 pilgrims, walked the 13.5 km long section of the trail and then proceeded to the pastoral centre at the Parish Church of Saint Gorazd in Nitra and further on to Nitra Castle. He walked the entire 19 km long trail and then celebrated Holy Mass together with the Auxiliary Bishop of Nitra, Peter Beno, in the Basilica of St. Emeram.
Father Bishop had very good impressions of the pilgrimage: “When I was 12 years old, my father took me and my brothers on foot for the first time on a pilgrimage from Močenko to the Nitra Calvary. I was surprised how the trail is now nicely groomed and cleaned. We can assume that this trail was also walked by our heralds of the faith, Saints Cyril and Methodius, and also by Saint Gorazd. It is also a precious section for the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius.”
The most probable birthplace of St. Gorazd is the settlement of Gorazdov, which is part of the village of Mocenok.
The pilgrims were made more pleasant by the faithful from Cabaj-Cápor, a hunter from Mladý Háj Anton Ďurech and his family, the parish priest of the Nitra – Klokočina parish Jozef Tomica and the civic association Creative People, who prepared refreshments for the pilgrims.
The trail will be gradually improved.
A group of 25 pilgrims celebrated the 1160th anniversary of the arrival of Constantine and Methodius in Great Moravia by walking the 100 km long trail of Cyril and Methodius Route from Levý Hradec to Kácov in the region of Posázaví. It is the first stage of a three-year pilgrimage from Central Bohemia to Velehrad in Moravia, which will continue with two more stages in 2024 and 2025. It is a pilot pilgrimage along the 420 km long marked Cyril and Methodius Route in the direction from Levý Hradec to Velehrad.
“Every year we organise, in cooperation with pilgrim personalities, a pilgrimage along one of the selected trail of Cyril and Methodius Route. In the Czech Republic alone, these trails cover about 900 km and converge at Velehrad. This year it was the turn to introduce a very attractive trail in Central Bohemia and Prague, where there are a number of important monuments commemorating the Cyril and Methodius tradition. This draws attention to our cultural roots and the values promoted by the Slavic heroes,” said Zuzana Vojtová, director of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius.
“25 of us took the long stage from Levý Hradec near Prague to Kácov. Of these, 8 pilgrims made it to the finish line despite the final storms. On average, they walked about 25 km per day. The participants were attracted by the walking, sightseeing with interpretation, good company and the desire to overcome a little and get out of their comfort zone. This was doubly true for the blind pilgrim Hanky. For the record, the oldest pilgrim was 77 years old, the youngest pilgrim 34,” added Martina Janochová from the European Cultural Trail of St. Cyril and Methodius.
The trail led from the Church of St. Clement, where Slavic culture and education was brought by the first Přemyslids from Great Moravia. It continued past Prague monuments such as the Cyril and Methodius sculpture on the Charles Bridge, the Emmaus Monastery, which was founded by Charles IV himself for the development of Slavic culture, the Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Resslova Street, associated with the hiding place of paratroopers during World War II during Operation Anthropoid, and then the trail led through the UNESCO monument Průhonický Park to the Sázava Monastery, the centre of Old Slavonic liturgy in the 11th century.
The pilgrimage was led by an experienced pilgrim Tomáš Jindřich: “I conceived the pilgrimage as a multi-year journey because of the length of the trail. I have a particularly personal relationship to this leg – I live in Prague and we have a cottage in Posázaví. I myself have already walked the route to Velehrad once, still partially unmarked during heavy rains in 2020. The tradition of walking pilgrimages from Levý Hradec to Velehrad dates back to 1982, when participation in them was actually conceived as a protest against the totalitarian regime.”
In the village of Modrá near Velehrad, the foundation stone of the construction of the Treasury of Great Moravia was blessed by the Velehrad chaplain Jiří Hebron. The stone with the legacy of the inhabitants of Modrá will be set into its masonry. The new, underground attraction will be built this year and opened to the public on 20 June 2024. It will offer visitors the most precious thing – finds of precious Great Moravian jewellery. This is symbolically 20 years after the construction of the local Archaeoskanzen began on the green meadow, which reminds us of the way of life in Great Moravia, including the time of Constantine-Cyril and Methodius.
“The Cyril and Methodius Route will gain another attractive exposition on its territory in the vicinity of Velehrad with the opening of the Treasury in Modrá. It is here that all the signposted walking trails of Cyril and Methodius Route, which lead here from five directions and cover about 900 km in the Czech Republic,” said Lubomír Traub, chairman of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius and Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region. The site is already one of the most visited places in the Zlín Region, with a quarter of a million visitors a year visiting the Archaeological Open Air Museum together with the Living Water exhibition.
The Moravian Museum in Brno, where most of the finds from the territory of present-day Moravia are stored, has become an important partner and expert guarantor of the project. It will lend a collection of the most valuable jewels to the exhibition and will also enable the production of so-called scientific copies, which will be registered in the Central Register of Collections of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
“Currently, there is no exhibition building in the whole of Moravia that would meet the security measures for displaying very valuable historical exhibits, which our “vault” will make possible. It is an underground monolithic building in the shape of a pantheon with all the security against theft and damage, of course, there is also barrier-free access,” said the mayor of the village of Modrá Miroslav Kovářík.
“The new exhibition will offer not only Great Moravian jewellery, spurs or swords, but also reconstructed faces of people who lived in this area and whose skeletal remains were discovered here,” added Luděk Galuška, head of the Centre of Slavic Archaeology of the Moravian Museum and a long-time collaborator of Archeoskanzen.
9th September 2023, Terchová, Slovakia
The Great Cyril and Methodius Pilgrimage from Zašová through the Beskydy Mountains to Terchová on the Little Fatra Mountain was finished with a climb to the Big Rozsutec. The group of 30 pilgrims was led along the 150 km long Cyril and Methodius Route by Petr Hirsch, a well-known promoter of the hiking along pilgrimage trail. It’s a very special experience for the hiker, and it’s a very special experience for me.”
Pilgrims gathered in Zašová on September 3, where they viewed the grounds of the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary and the former monastery. From Zašová, they continued to the Wallachian Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, where they were greeted by the Director General Jindřich Ondruš, who was one of the initiators of the Cyril and Methodius Route when he was a Councillor of the Zlín Region.
“Since this August was the 10th anniversary of the founding of our Association, which is dedicated, among other things, to signposting trails the Cyril and Methodius Route in the field in cooperation with the Czech Hiking Club, we decided to welcome the pilgrims to the Wallachian Museum of Nature in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm and celebrate with them for helping to spread what we have always wanted. So that, following the example of other great trails, people could also walk along our Cyril and Methodius Route and be enriched internally by wandering through the beautiful landscape and meeting wonderful people,” said Dana Daňová, Chair of the Managing Committee of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, who was also responsible for its founding in 2013.
The group then continued along the marked Cyril and Methodius Route to Radhošt’ (1129 m above sea level), where an evening tour of the Chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius awaited them, and on to Bílá. In Slovakia, they tried a new trail through the Živčáková pilgrimage site near Turzovka and Velka Raca (1236 m above sea level) on the Slovak-Polish border in the Kysuce Protected Landscape Area.
They ended their hiking in the Cyril and Methodius Church in Terchová at the foot of the Little Fatra National Park. On Saturday, 9 September, the pilgrims attended Mass there and found strength for the traditional climb to the Big Rozsutec (1610 m above sea level), which took place in the company of Slovak and Polish participants for the 11th time on the occasion of the commemoration of Pope St. John Paul II.
“I enjoyed the beautiful natural scenery and a good group. We also had beautiful weather throughout. I was surprised by the Marian pilgrimage site of Živčáková – I had been going there for a long time. This wandering enriched me again with new knowledge and friends. The local people always welcomed us kindly and warmly. I am glad that we all made it to Terchová and enjoyed our time together on this trip.”
Petr Hirsch added: “23 pilgrims from our group went to the Big Rozsutec. I have to say that there was a big contrast between the week-long wandering along the trail, almost empty wilderness, and the climb to Rozsutec, where a lot of people streamed in on the weekend. I have to commend all the participants for how well they managed the difficult trail.”
This interesting place, which few people know about, is located on the right bank of the Morava River in the village of Uhřičice near Kojetín. The Uhřičice Siphon is a unique technical device called a shybka. This remarkable water work is probably the only one of its kind in the Czech Republic and there is supposedly only one “competitor” in the whole of Europe.
The siphon solves the crossing of the Valová River with the mill embankment. It is remarkable that in this case the larger and higher stream (Boleloucký Mill weir) flows under the bottom of the smaller and lower stream (Valová River). The siphon was built more than a hundred years ago, in 1908.
Why and how Siphon was built
The mill embankment was artificially built in the past and flowed out of the Morava River near Bolelouc. It powered several mills downstream and flowed back into the Morava below Lobodice. In 1583, the millrace was extended to supply water to the Kojetín mill. The crossing of the Valová River was solved by the builders of the time by bridging the Valová River with a wooden channel (the so-called vantrokes) 10.5 metres wide. In the 1880s the wooden channel was replaced by an iron one. However, a major drawback was that there was only a 1.3 m gap between the bottom of the Valová River and the riverbed, which was a problem in the event of a higher water flow.
For these reasons, a modification of the Valová River was proposed to prevent flooding even at high water levels. Therefore, the mill weir with the same flow rate was diverted through two concrete tunnels under the new Valová riverbed. The construction was carried out by the construction company Pittel Brausewetter, took more than a year and cost 50,000 crowns at the time.
The ponds have a long history, the tradition of fish farming in the Tovačov region dates back to 1464. Today there are four ponds: the Hradecký, Křenovský, Kolečko and Náklo ponds.
The largest of them is the Hradecký Pond, located north of Tovačov. The Hradecký Pond is divided into four parts by internal dykes, which you can walk along and enjoy the view of the water surface. Every year, in mid-October, the very popular ceremonial catches are held here.
By the Kolečko pond and along the road to the Hradecky pond you will find old oak alleys, some oaks are more than 100 years old. The ponds are also an important ornithological site. They are a refuge for many water birds, which either nest here or use them as a refreshment stop.
Currently, the Tovačov lakes consist of four separate areas of water: Lake Annina, Lake Troubetskoye, Lake Skašovskoye and Lake Donbas.
The natural conditions of the area create favourable conditions for many plants and animals. The presence of several specially protected species of animals, seventy species of birds and over 30 species of fish have been recorded here. The lakes began to form in the 1950s as a flooded area after gravel extraction. Sport fishing is allowed on all the lakes.On the shores of Lake Annín, you will find a well-maintained beach, which the locals refer to as the Tovačov Riviera.
The castle with the Leaning Tower is an unmissable dominant feature of Tovačov. It attracts with its richly furnished interiors, the greatest pride of which is the replica of the staircase of the Vienna Opera. The Spanila Tower offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding lakes and ponds.
According to legend, the castle was founded in the 2nd half of the 11th century as a refuge for hunters, later it served as a well-protected water fortress. The most important ruling families were the Tovačovský of Cimburk and the Pernštejn family. The complex of buildings of the forecourt, defensive ramparts and the castle park belong to the complex.
The castle is shrouded in the mysterious legend of the Black Lady, who appears from time to time and looks for her children in the Black Garden. The place is a former castle cemetery and there is a crypt at a depth of about 8 m that has not been explored yet.
The biocentre, located in the “Pod oborou” area, covers about 10 hectares. It is made up of a system of flow-through and non-flow-through pools (seven large pools and dozens of pools), water ditches and handling facilities. The whole complex of sensitively designed elements will allow the natural ecosystem to exist permanently.
The biocentre, which has been built on the site of a wetland and waterlogged areas, serves primarily to retain water in the landscape, for vegetation and reproduction of many endangered and rare species of animals and plants and, among other things, as a polder to protect against floods.
Part of the biocentre is also accessible to tourists, who can learn about the local natural values, legends, history and present of our town on a roughly two-kilometre walk along the nature trail.
The trail’s information boards are designed to provide tourists with information in an active way – they incorporate games and moving elements that allow them to test their existing knowledge or discover new things about the world of nature and life on earth.
Visitors will also find rest areas along the trail, encouraging them not only to quietly observe the fascinating order of nature, but also to calm down, relax their minds and unwind.
In the museum you can see an exhibition focused on life in Haná at the end of the 19th century, an exhibition dedicated to old technology or you can look into the “Horrible cellar”. You can learn about the history of the Jewish minority of Kojetín in the former synagogue.
Visitors to the museum will see artefacts that were part of the everyday life of the Haná people in the past, such as pictures painted on glass, Haná costumes, ceramics, porcelain, clock collections or original Haná furniture. The exhibition also presents agricultural tools, original paintings by Marie Gardavská and objects related to folk crafts.
You will also find an exhibition called “Horrible cellar”, which is not historically based or connected with Kojetín, but only serves as an attraction. As the name suggests, it is an attraction designed to inspire fear in you, the visitor. However, not fear in the true sense of the word, but fear associated with pleasant tingling, fun and the certainty that everything is just like.
An exhibition dedicated to technical gems from the times of our great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers. The first part of the exposition is dedicated to unique technical curiosities, you will see for example the original omega massage machine, old typewriters or historical cameras from different time periods. The first part is also dominated by a corner dedicated to old gramophones, music boxes and radios. In the second part, visitors will encounter everyday household technology as our grandmothers knew it. In addition to a beautiful collection of irons and grinders, we can admire old stoves, sewing machines, cookers, ovens and robots, which used to be essential equipment for every household. Visitors can try some of the exhibits for themselves.
For those interested in the history of the Jewish minority in Kojetin, the Jewish Corner is open in the former Jewish synagogue. Those interested in this subject can visit this small exhibition and learn about the brief history of the Jewish community in Kojetín from its arrival until its forced mass exodus in the 1940s, when Jews were systematically and inhumanely liquidated by the Nazis and their helpers.
A folk tale about King Ječminek is connected with the town in the plains of Haná. The local castle houses exhibitions of the Chropyň-born painter Emil Filla (1882-1953), one of the most important representatives of European Cubism.
The Chropyně Castle, built in the spirit of Mannerism at the beginning of the 17th century, boasts interiors and a museum exhibition dedicated to local history, culture and fish farming. The castle also displays weapons from the Thirty Years’ War and subsequent Turkish Wars, and a memorial to the composer and director of the National Theatre, Emil Axman.
On the first floor you will find the Knights’ and Barber’s Hall, in the adjacent rooms the history of Chropyně starting from prehistoric times, the history of local agriculture, fish farming, folk culture are outlined. There is a memorial to the famous Chropyně native, painter, sculptor and graphic artist Emil Filla (1882 – 1953), a leading representative of expressionism and cubism in Czech art, on the second floor of the chateau. In addition to detailed bibliographic data, there are examples of Filla’s graphic work, such as the cycle of ten original etchings Herakles from 1946. The adjacent rooms, the so-called Fireplace Room and the Bedroom, are furnished with period furniture from the collections of the Kroměříž Museum.
Since 1985, the castle complex has hosted the popular Hanácké festivities every other year, an event aimed at preserving and renewing the region’s folklore traditions. The festivities are always accompanied by a fair with demonstrations of traditional crafts and fairground attractions, and there are also performances by renowned musical groups such as Hradistan. Hanácké festivities are held in Chropyně every odd year at the end of May.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Of the medieval pond system in the surroundings of Chropyně, only the Chropyně pond has survived. It has an area of about 22 hectares, there are two islands, it is partly located in the castle park and is home to many rare species of fauna and flora. The nature trail Around Chropyně leads through the floodplain forest in its surroundings.
Of the system of ponds that used to be located in the vicinity of Chropyně, the “Chateau Pond” has been preserved and since 1925 it has been a national nature reserve with the presence of the rare floating anchorfish. It is also the largest breeding site of the Common Gull in Central Europe. Its surface mirrors the dominant feature of the town – the Chropyně castle.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The lowland fortified settlement of Hradisko near Kroměříž from the Bronze Age is one of the most important archaeological sites not only in the Czech Republic but also in the whole of Central Europe.
At the time of its greatest boom in the 2nd millennium BC, this settlement was one of the main centres of power, trade and production in Moravia. It covered an area of 14 hectares and was fortified by a massive wall. The remains of this prehistoric fortification were still visible in the fields at the beginning of the 20th century. Today’s 400 m long mound is a torso of the original wall and is a protected cultural monument.
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The first church and parish in the village of Hradisko was founded by the Premonstratensian monastery of Hradisko near Olomouc, probably sometime in the 13th century, when the activity of the monks in the local parish is first documented. At that time, Hradisko and Bezmerov were still one village (the division took place in 1698). On the site of today’s church there was originally a wooden church, which was built over the graves of important noblemen.
In the 16th century, during the decline of the Catholic Church, the church was almost destroyed. In 1560 the parish was non-Catholic and the priests celebrated mass in the abandoned church. A report from 1582 has been preserved in which Bishop Stanislav Pavlovský admonishes the owner of Hradisko, Jan Purchart Černický, to have the ruined church repaired. In 1591, a priest, the monk Simon, was introduced to the newly built parish. At that time the church had two altars, four bells, a silver gilded chalice with a paten, a monstrance, ciborium, cross, six chasubles and 40 paintings. The last independent parish priest in Hradisko was parish priest Pavel Svitavský (1610-1616). Since then Hradisko belonged to the parish of Our Lady of Kroměříž and the church began to decay. In 1625 it no longer had a sacristy, baptistery or bell.
In 1760, the construction of a new church in the late Baroque style was started and completed in 1776. The church was then consecrated by Archbishop Theodore of Colloredo. Around 1782, an altar was made by František Vavřinec Korompay, but in 1876 a new wooden main altar, imitating the late Baroque style, was purchased. After a burglary in 1928, the church was restored to its present form.
The Šlajza water area is located on the outskirts of Kroměříž near the motorway. The town has created an attractive recreational and jogging circuit around it. In addition to signposts and information boards, tourists will find games and educational elements here – a knotted one, puzzles and two pegboards in the form of interactive boards, a trapeze and bars for exercising with one’s own weight, shelters and two fireplaces for roasting marshmallows, benches, bicycle racks and, of course, rubbish bins. Most of the elements are stylishly made of wood. There is also a 1.5 km long running track. Athletes can not only stretch their bodies on it, but also use the mobile app to race and compare their performance with other runners.
Originally a utility and flower garden, it was transformed in the 17th century into a beautiful Baroque garden, architecturally connected to the garden facade of the castle. Rare plants and trees are complemented by streams and ponds, romantic small buildings and original sculptural decoration.
The Chateau Garden is the largest of the “Archbishop’s Gardens” in Kroměříž. Together with the smaller Flower Garden and the Archbishop’s Castle, it is a UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site. The garden is located between the Archbishop’s Castle and the Morava River and covers an area of 47.1 ha. Its oldest part (between the north wall of the castle and the Morava River) is known to have existed in the 15th century.
You can see the under-castle garden during a train ride. This departs daily, weather permitting, from the platform under the castle steps (sala terrena). The train takes visitors to the most attractive places in the garden. The prepared audio recording will also provide them with a lot of information about the history of the Chateau Gardens, their buildings and also the planting. The train offers two basic routes (40 minutes and 20 minutes), and children can follow a nature trail. There is also an audio guide through the Chateau Garden.
Between 2018 and 2021, the Chateau Garden underwent a reconstruction of the water system, the banks of all the ponds and watercourses were de-watered and reinforced, the water system’s regulating elements were repaired, new elements (piers, etc.) were added, and waterfowl breeding facilities were restored.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Formerly the summer residence of the Archbishops of Olomouc with a picture gallery and extensive library, a UNESCO monument. The Assembly Hall is often described as one of the most beautiful rococo interiors in the Czech Republic, for example the film Amadeus by Miloš Forman was filmed here.
The Archbishop’s Chateau in Kroměříž is a dominant feature of the town. Its origins and development are linked to the history of the Olomouc bishopric and the archbishopric and subject community of the Olomouc bishops, which was elevated to a town in the 13th century. The original chateau and the later chateau were the residence of the bishops of Olomouc and the seat of their manorial organisation. The current appearance of the building dates from 1664-1695, when the Chateau was rebuilt under Bishop Karl Lichtenstein-Castelcorn after the Thirty Years’ War, according to the designs of architects Filiberto Luchese and Pietro Giovanni Tencalla.
The furnishings and interior decoration date back to the second half of the 18th century. The gallery is also of great importance, presenting works by European painters of the 15th-18th centuries (Veronese, van Dyck, Hans von Aachen, Cranach st.). You will be particularly captivated by the most important painting in the chateau gallery, Tiziano Vecelli’s Apollo and Marsyas. The chateau’s library, which contains 88,000 volumes, and the music archive with more than 6,000 Baroque compositions are very well known. The representative and living areas of Kromeriz Chateau are among the most valuable chateau interiors in Central Europe.
Currently, the gardens and the chateau complex are accessible via several sightseeing tours. The Archdiocesan Museum Kroměříž manages the so-called cabinets, which thematically represent individual areas of the archbishop’s collections. In addition to the professional management of the collections, the museum also prepares short-term exhibition projects.
The visitor tour will take you to the most beautiful and captivating halls and chambers of the castle with rare art collections. During the tour you will also see parts of the collections that are among the rarest and most valuable to be found in the Czech Republic.
The representation halls offer the archbishop’s and prince’s interiors of the first and second floor of the castle. The tour includes the Hunting and Throne Rooms, the Imperial and Rose Rooms, the magnificent Assembly Hall and the Summer Apartment – the private rooms of the Archbishop’s former summer apartment. You will also visit the Manx Hall with its extraordinary painted decorations, the famous historical library with nearly 90,000 volumes of rare books, and the Music Hall presenting rare manuscripts by many composers.
The picture collection of the Archbishopric of Olomouc, housed for the most part in the Chateau Picture Gallery of Kroměříž Chateau, represents, after the National Gallery in Prague, the second most important and largest collection of Central European paintings from the beginning of the 15th to the end of the 18th century in the Czech Republic.
In the chateau gallery itself you can see 85 selected original works by important European painters from the Gothic to the Rococo period, including Titian, van Dyck, L. Cranach st.
Sala terrena – a hall with an entrance to the gardens. An open, representatively decorated building with imitations of caves (grottoes) is characteristic of the more important Baroque and Rococo palaces. The Sala Terrena stands out for its paintings and sculptures depicting scenes from ancient mythology, including two smaller artificial caves.
The Sala Terrena served as a unique connection between the castle residence and the Chateau Garden. It retains its original appearance and beautiful stucco decoration with wall frescoes from the late 17th century. The three richly decorated halls, which represent the changing seasons, are linked by two artificial caves, the first of which charmingly tells the story of Ovid’s Metamorphoses and the second recalls the tradition of medieval mining of precious minerals in the vicinity, which were used to mint the archbishop’s coins in the castle mint.
Representation Halls + Castle Tower
You will get a comprehensive picture of the uniqueness of the Kromeriz residence of the Olomouc princely bishops and archbishops. You will visit the representative halls of the castle, including the Tsar’s Room and the Chamber of Deputies.
The castle tower offers a unique view of the historic centre of Kroměříž and the wider surroundings from the 84-metre-high dominating tower of the castle. Its floors hide the earliest stages of the development of the castle complex, and the tour is enriched with thematic exhibitions. Wonderful views of the whole town and the distant surroundings. The tower is accessible independently, without a guide, the ascent takes about 20 minutes (206 steps).
The Chateau Garden was founded after 1509 and has been rebuilt in successive historical styles over several centuries. In the Classical period, around 1850-1855, it grew in the fashionable English landscape tradition of the time to an impressive 64 hectares with many rare trees.
Resource: www.kudyznudy.cz
During the reconstruction of the town, destroyed by the Thirty Years’ War, the Italian architects F. Luchese and P. G. Tencalla built a charming late Renaissance garden on the barren and marshy land behind the walls. The garden is used for exhibitions, concerts, festivals, walks and leisure activities.
On 16 hectares in Kroměříž, an Italian garden was built with paths in high espaliers, with a 244 m long gallery of statues of ancient gods and figures from history and myth, with a central Rotunda in the geometric centre celebrating the water element with its decoration and the art of plasterers, sculptors and fresco artists. The new entrance, built in the first half of the 19th century, forms a Classical Court of Honour, enclosed on the sides by large greenhouses (the Rough and Tropical Greenhouses).
An octagonal centrally-oriented pavilion – the Rotunda – was built in the heart of the Maypole between 1666 and 1668 to a design by Giovanni Pietro Tencalla. Its interior is richly and ingeniously decorated not only with mythological scenes with themes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, but also with details creating a strong illusory and emotional atmosphere – windows with multicoloured glass, a mosaic floor made of small pebbles and, above all, a grotto decorated with tufa and shells. The central space of the pavilion is complemented by Foucault’s pendulum, which was installed in 1908 on the initiative of Kromeriz gymnasium professor František Nábělek, and whose movement demonstrates the earth’s rotation.
The entire complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998 for its preserved historical and stylistic authenticity of architecture, landscaping and gardens of exceptional stylistic quality and purity as an exemplary ensemble influencing the development of landscape architecture in Europe. The Garden of Flowers in Kroměříž can be reached from Náměstí Míru, along Generál Svoboda Street and after about 300 m you will reach the current main entrance.
The colonnade, or more precisely the arcade gallery, was completed in 1671 to a design by Giovanni Pietro Tencalla. With its length of 244 metres, it occupied one entire wall of the garden. The colonnade had several functions – it was an entrance building and at the same time it was conceived as a gallery of sculptures – 22 female and 22 male figures. Bishop Charles II of Lichtenstein – Castelkorn found inspiration in the gardens of distant Italy, when originals from ancient excavations were common. However, there were no such finds in our country, so a special set of statues was created for this garden. Michael Mandík worked on the sculptures together with Michael Zürn Jr. and they are copies of famous ancient works from Roman collections.
The inner side walls of the Colonnade were originally decorated with the Neptune and Venus fountains, of which only the rest of the stucco decoration has survived. The garden façade of the Colonnade is decorated with 46 busts depicting ancient gods and goddesses, mythological creatures and heroes as well as personalities from the history of ancient Greece and Rome. In the 1980s, a walkway was built on the roof of the Colonnade, which allows visitors to see the planting of flowers in the so-called Janák’s parterre from above. The Colonnade thus took over the function of the main vantage point of the garden. The Colonnade, including the viewing footbridge, was renovated in 2022 and reopened at the end of May 2023.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Church of St. Moritz in Kroměříž is one of the largest Gothic buildings in the Czech Republic. The church is the seat of the collegiate chapter of St. Moritz in Kroměříž. It is adjoined to the north by the Archbishop’s Gymnasium complex, which is connected to the Archbishop’s Chateau by the Mill Gate.
The bishop chose the unusual dedication to St. Moritz in the Czech lands after his former place of residence, the Church of St. Moritz in Magdeburg. The church in Kroměříž has undergone several modifications throughout its history and was given its present form during a pseudo-Gothic restoration after a fire in the 19th century. The church is adjacent to the Archbishop’s Gymnasium and the Archbishop’s Chateau.
Adjacent to the three-nave hall is the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the tombstones of Bishop Wolfgang H. Schrattenbach and Leopold Egkh. This Marian chapel is one of the most beautiful Baroque interiors in the Czech lands.
The main altar is dated 1582. It depicts the patron saint of the church, St. Moritz. The veneration of this saint was introduced by the founder of the church, Bishop Bruno of Schaumburg in Olomouc, whose relics are kept in the chancel in front of the main altar.
The canonry and the adjoining vicar’s sacristy are adjacent to the north wall of the chancel. Between it and the chapel is inserted a two-armed spiral staircase leading to the tower. The trussed towers are topped with neo-Gothic belfry extensions. Above the portal at the entrance is a cast-iron plaque commemorating the fire of the church in 1836.
Currently, at the opening of the school year and similarly important events, Masses are held for the students of the Archbishop’s Gymnasium or the Music in the Gardens and Chateau festival organised in cooperation with the UNESCO Club.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The parish church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built in the 13th century by Bishop Bruno of Schauenburg, Bishop of Olomouc, who was also the founder of the nearby St. Moritz Church in Kroměříž.
When Kroměříž was occupied by the Swedes and the Evangelical Wallachians in the summer of 1643, the church was looted and almost destroyed. Only a large part of the tower and the church wall have been preserved from the original medieval building. Then the sanctuary was orphaned for several years, because it could not hold services due to its poor condition. Since 1651, repairs have been carried out at a slow pace, after which the clock that originally hung in the Kromeriz town hall was placed on the 42-metre high tower.
The present-day appearance of the sanctuary dates from the first half of the 18th century. It impresses with its valuable, mostly Baroque interior. Its author is considered to be the prominent architect Ignác Josef Cyrani of Bolleshaus, who also contributed to other magnificent sacral buildings in Moravia (for example, the Basilica of St. Hostýn, the Church of St. John the Baptist in Kroměříž and the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows at the Church of St. Moritz, also in Kroměříž). The foundation stone for this reconstruction of the church was personally laid by the Bishop of Olomouc, Cardinal Wolfgang H. Schrattenbach, in 1724. The church was consecrated in May 1736 after the completion of the construction work.
The church was repaired several times afterwards. It survived two world wars, but without its three bells, which were taken away and melted down for military purposes. In 1996, this characteristic landmark of the historic centre of Kroměříž received a new facade, in 2001 the church received a new roof, in 2004 the stained glass windows were restored, and in 2006-2008 the balustrade was completely restored.
In the baptismal chapel there is an interesting baroque baptismal font and the most important work in this interior is the altar of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a valuable carving from the period around 1715.
The church also contains two side altars by the important Baroque sculptor Ondřej Zahner, whose works include, among others, the Column of the Holy Trinity in Olomouc, a UNESCO listed monument.
The Museum of Kroměříž Region has its headquarters in Kroměříž, but it also manages the Rymice Open Air Museum and the Velké Těšany Windmill. In the museum building on Velké náměstí, you can visit permanent exhibitions as well as interesting short-term exhibitions, creative workshops, programmes for schools and youth, lectures and conferences all year round.
The main building of the Museum of Kroměříž is located in the heart of Kroměříž in a historic house on Velké náměstí. You can literally walk through it from the basement to the attic. There are five permanent exhibitions and temporary exhibitions in the Small Gallery and the Gallery in the arcade.
In the basement of the museum there is the History exhibition hidden under the pavement of the city. In this attractive setting, you can see objects from prehistoric times to the end of the 17th century, such as finds from uncovered sewage pits and wells, evidence of diet and hygiene, as well as torture instruments and weapons from the Thirty Years’ War.
In the exhibition The Time Keepers there is a unique “time machine” assembled in 1929 by the cooper Jan Linduška. It has eight different dials and is equipped with a calendar with 13 months. You can try winding the weights and swinging the clock pendulum or see a real representation of the sundial function.
In six exhibition halls, the Max Švabinský Memorial offers seven decades of the work of one of the most important Kromeriz natives. He is presented as the author of a number of paintings, graphic sheets, the creator of mosaics or stained glass, as well as graphics of postage stamps and banknotes.
The exhibition Kroměříž in the wheel of history 1848-1948 invites visitors to take a walk through the more recent history of the town. You will learn many interesting facts – what the town centre was illuminated with at the time of the Diet or who among the citizens of Kroměříž took part in the Normandy landings. There are also large stylized models of now defunct monuments, such as the Jewish synagogue.
The mysterious Treasures of the Old Soil exhibition is housed in reconstructed authentic rooms with preserved beams, dark corners and mysterious doors. From the real world, you will be transported to the realms of literary and film heroes – you will find yourself, for example, with the Little Prince or the wise Aslan, and children will experience Alice’s journey down the rabbit hole.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Baroque Church of St. John the Baptist is one of the most beautiful monuments of the 18th century in Moravia. The Church of St. John the Baptist was built on the site of a Maltese commandery, which is commemorated by the Maltese crosses on the double towers.
The original Romanesque church with Gothic elements, founded by the Johanites at the hospital, was handed over to the Piarist order in the 17th century, which came to the town in 1687 and founded a grammar school, a college and a singing seminary. The Piarists added a dormitory to the church and in 1737 began construction of a new church designed by the episcopal architect Cyrani of Bolleshaus. The church was consecrated in 1768. To commemorate this event, 12 bronze crosses are placed around the perimeter of the church.
The design was based on the plan of the Salesian Church in Renngasse, Vienna, and the façade is reminiscent of the designs of the churches in Vienna and Prague. Above the entrance is a sculpture of the Baptism of Christ with adoring angels. The exquisite interior, decorated with rococo elements, is the work of leading Moravian and Austrian artists. Its location and its dimensions (21 m long, 15.8 m wide) make it a landmark in the central part of Kromeriz, which is the entrance to the historic centre.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
In the Moravian village of Kvasice stands a four-winged two-storey castle with a prismatic tower, which is surrounded by a nice castle park.
In the past, there was a fortress, which was built in 1365. The owner of the fortress was Milota of Benešov and Kvasice. During the Hussite wars the fortress was completely burnt down. The fire destroyed the fortress down to its foundations, so it was necessary to build a new fortress, which was surrounded by a moat.
In the 1680s, Havel Kurovský from Vrchlabí was the owner of the water castle. He had the water castle completely rebuilt and a handsome Renaissance chateau was created. The Renaissance arcades, which decorated the inner courtyard of the castle, were particularly beautiful.
The later owners of the Renaissance castle, the Rottals, made Kvasice Castle the seat of the administration of the area they controlled. At that time, all the unnecessary outbuildings in the forecourt were demolished and all the moats and the pond were filled in. In the 19th century, the Renaissance castle in Quasica underwent numerous structural modifications. At that time, the chateau was given a classical style, which has been preserved to this day. Nowadays it is a home for the elderly. However, the chateau garden is open to the general public, so you can take a walk here and if you are cycling, you can take a nice rest break or have a quiet snack here.
The Záhlinické rybníky Nature Park is a unique area on the middle Morava River. It includes the complex of Záhlinice Ponds, adjacent meadows and floodplain forest in the localities of Filena and Zámeček. It was declared in 1995 and covers an area of 500 ha.
The Záhlinice Ponds lie south-west of the town of Hulín, are fed by the Rusava and Mojena rivers and consist of the main ponds Nový, Pláňavský and Doubravický. The terrain is mostly flat with an average altitude of 186 m. The ponds are the most important ornithological site in Central Moravia.
All large ponds are interwoven and divided into several water areas by an extensive network of dykes. On their banks, large areas of reeds rustle in the wind, the dykes are planted with avenues of trees, thousands of fish splash in the water and an unprecedented number of water birds can be seen on the water surface. Around 270 species of birds have been repeatedly observed here, 135 of which are breeding birds. The combination of ponds, meadows and floodplain forest has created an area of high landscape value, which fulfils an important ecological function as a regional biocentre.
More than 100 species of bird species are permanent inhabitants of Záhlinice Ponds. During large migration routes, birds use the ponds as a breeding ground for short stopovers and resting. Among the permanent inhabitants of the ponds we can see the great cormorant, the ashen and white heron or the spoonbill.
The ponds, originally built in the 14th century, were later expanded in 1547-1573 by Jan Skála of Doubravka, who later became bishop of Olomouc and had his name changed to the better sounding Jan Dubravius. Doubravice, a former solitude in the middle of the ponds, is named after him. At a much later time a poultry farm was built here, today it serves the fishing association and there is also a small fallow deer preserve.
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The Budačina Natural Monument consists of a group of sandstone rocks above the valley slope of the Kudlovice brook in the Kudlovice valley in the local Budačina line, about 8 km from Kudlovice.
It was declared a natural monument in 1966 on an area of 8 hectares. The reason for the protection are the sandstone rock formations with a pseudo-karst cave.
It is a set of sandstone cliffs, where four massive rock formations gradually spread out. The highest of them reaches a height of 12 metres. A surprise for us is also a small fissure cave with a length of 5 metres. It wouldn’t be Chřiby if there wasn’t a story connected to this place. According to traditional legends, the aforementioned cave served as a hideout for the robbers Ondráš and Juráš, who used to ambush and rob passing merchants on the nearby merchant trail.
The Kostelany Ranch is located in the Chřiby Nature Park, just a few kilometres from the historic town of Kroměříž.
The Kostelany Ranch offers not only a western restaurant and stylish accommodation, but also a wellness centre, bowling, families with children, athletes for whom there is a climbing wall and horse lovers who will find stables with noble animals, which horses undoubtedly are. Very popular are horse and climbing summer camps for children, school trips, horseback riding or a visit to a western town.
For ten years our riding school has been characterized by the individual approach of experienced instructors, it has its own concept and its own sensuality. These lessons are based on communication between instructor, rider and horse. Above all, emphasis is placed on the basic principles of communication with the horse, understanding the simplicity of the aids and the habits of a good seat.
For riding training there is a 16×60 m indoor arena or a 30×60 m outdoor arena. All this under the guidance of multiple champions and representatives of the Czech Republic in western riding. The rider who has already mastered the horses on the riding arena can take advantage of the wonderful rides into the countryside of the beautiful Chřibské forests and meadows.
The rides are in groups and individuals always with an experienced escort. Even on these rides, the instructor is dedicated to the rider and passes on the experience of riding in the terrain, overcoming natural obstacles and is a guide and your companion. We use very reliable and experienced horses and quality equipment.
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The lower wooden lookout structure was built at the end of 2014 at the highest point of the popular excursion site of Ranch Kostelany (Kroměříž district) in cooperation between Ranch Kostelany and the local municipal authority. It is a 5 m high observation tower at an altitude of 390 m above sea level. After climbing all eighteen steps, the view of the cherry and plum orchard and the amazing panorama of the Chřiby Mountains will appear in front of us. The lookout tower offers a view of the village of Kostelany itself, with the large Sports Hall in the foreground and the surrounding wooded hills forming a backdrop to the village.
Further on, towards Kroměříž, we can see the panorama of the hilly area full of larger meadows, pastures and fields (here and there lined with dark green forest cover) and on the right, the road running along the deforested ridge into the forest and heading to Nová Dědina and Kvasice. Towards the east, a view of the wooded Chřiby range opens up. In it, at first glance, the lowland of the Kudlovice valley.
The Komínky natural monument represents the top rocky parts of the wooded ridge of the Chřiby Mountains, stretching from the Kudlovice valley towards Bunč. It is a place where the local inhabitants are said to have lit fires to signal danger.
The chimneys in Chřiby form a 40-metre-long belt of isolated sandstone cliffs and rocks of various shapes, sizes and heights at an altitude of 480 to 520 metres above sea level. The rocks of Magura sandstone are located on the slopes and summit of Komínky (520 m), about 1 km east of the recreation centre at Bunč.
In the early 20th century, hunters from aristocratic families often came here. Among them was Franz Ferdinand D’Este in 1903. It was for the sake of His Highness that the administration of the estate had comfortable steps with railings carved on the top of the cliff. Local workers inserted the iron fencing into dug holes and watered the beams with liquefied sulphur. Unfortunately, however, the sulphur caught fire and the area around the summit caught fire. The smoke from the mountain so frightened the locals that rumours of an ancient volcano awakening began to spread. Unfortunately, this “untruth” was not only reported in the local newspapers of the time, but also in the foreign media of the time.
The Komínky Rocks are also said to be the “centre” of Moravia. It is certain that the beauty of the local nature, the silence of the forest, wells and viewpoints of the region will delight the heart of every nature lover.
Under the peak you will notice a marble slab in one of the stones. It is a memorial to the leader of the 11th Kromeriz Scout Troop, who tragically died here in 1998.
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The memorable King’s Table is shrouded in many legends, especially relating to the Great Moravian past of the Central Moravia. For many years it has been the focus of archaeologists who have been trying to find an answer to the question of the real origin and purpose of this monument.
The King’s Table is a block of coarse-grained sandstone measuring approximately 263 x 187 cm and approximately 1 m high. It was considered by some researchers to be a megalithic dolmen, which was supposed to serve as a visor to determine the equinoxes and solstices. Not only the markers on the stone block itself, but especially the surrounding stones, formerly called “benches”, destroyed in 1870, were intended for this purpose.
Although it may have been an iconic site, the function of the astronomical visor is questionable. However, it undeniably served for centuries as a natural landmark of one part of the boundary of the Velehrad Cistercian monastery. It was first mentioned in a deed defining the monastery’s goods in 1228. On the occasion of the solemn consecration of the monastery church on 27 November 1228, Přemysl Otakar I issued a privilege at Velehrad defining the extent of the monastery’s land tenure. The King’s Table remained as a natural landmark of this boundary until the 18th century. It was also on this spot that on 6 October 1706 a treaty on the mutual boundary was concluded between the Velehrad monastery and Jan Sigismund, Count of Rottal, lord of the Napajedla estate.
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In Modrá u Velehrad you will find not only the well-known Archeological Open-air museum or a replica of the Great Moravian Church, but also a lookout tower with a view of the surrounding area.
A simple wooden construction of a small municipal lookout tower was built over the village of Modrá in the Uherské Hradiště region in one day in 1999. The Židoviny lookout tower in Modrá was built by local scouts at the suggestion of the mayor Mr. Miroslav Kovářík. However, over the years it had to be removed due to climatic conditions. In its place, a new wooden lookout tower of Židoviny in Modrá with a height of 12 metres was opened to the public in spring 2014. After climbing the access ladders, you will have a view of the Vizovice Hills, the Zlín Highlands, the White Carpathians, the Chřiby Mountains, the Pálava Mountains and the Hostýn Hills. It is part of the Modřansko nature trail. It is accessible all year round free of charge.
The Church of St. John the Baptist in Modrá presents a reconstructed ground plan, an information board informs about the history and significance of the site. Not far from where the original Great Moravian church stood, there is now a reconstruction of its possible original appearance in its actual size.
The site can be reached by the road leading from Staré Město to Velehrad. The site is located on an elevation belonging to the foothills of the Chřiby mountains, 30 m above the floodplain by the trade route, the so-called “Stará hradská”, connecting the Central Moravia with the Vyškov region. It is situated above the Archaeological Open-air Museum of Modrá.
The foundation masonry of the local church was discovered in 1911 by J. Nevěřil. Revision archaeological research at Modrá was carried out in 1953 – 1954 by the Moravian Museum in Brno. The research fully proved the Great Moravian age of the foundations and, in addition, uncovered a burial site with 37 skeletal graves in the immediate vicinity. The church was founded in the 1930s to 1940s under the influence of one of the missionary streams coming to Great Moravia from Western Europe. It was a small church with a rectangular nave (external dimensions 9.1 × 7 m) and a rectangular presbytery (length 4 m). Burials around the church took place between the end of the first half of the 9th century and the end of the first half of the following century.
Ceramic shards dating back to the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries were also found near the north wall of the chancel. On the basis of written records, it is assumed that the Modra church served as a makeshift church during the construction of the nearby Cistercian complex at Velehrad in the first half of the 13th century. At that time, its nave was supplemented with four internal supports. The final demise of the sacral building is placed before the end of the 17th century. The architectural elements of the dismantled church were used secondarily in the construction of houses in Nová Ves – Modrá, founded in 1786.
Visitors have the opportunity to observe life under the water surface through a glass wall in the Living Water exhibition, then in a large pool with cold-loving fish, such as trout, minnows, etc., where they enter the first underground floor through a transparent 8 m long tunnel directly into the world under water. This is the longest glass tunnel in the wild in Europe.
The “Living Water” project consists in introducing the importance of water in the landscape and life in it through direct and visual contact with animals and plants above and below the water. Visitors have the opportunity to observe life in the stream through a glass wall, then in a large pool with cold-loving fish, such as trout, minnows, etc., where on the first underground floor they enter a transparent 8 m long tunnel directly into the world under water. On the left side he will see life in a large pool, on the right and below him life in a pond with catfish, carp, tench, zander, etc. On this floor it is also possible to look through the glass wall at life in the wetland, where there are, for example, mud turtles, frogs, boobies, etc. Life-size models of fish with Braille descriptions are placed on the walls for visually impaired visitors. The second underground floor allows you to see through a transparent acrylic wall the life in the depths and the wintering of fish under the ice at a depth of 6 metres.
The educational area is supplemented with examples of forests and meadows from the Morava River basin area – e.g. the Chřiby Spring, Pálava, Floodplain Forest, Carpathians.
The area consists of two parts – educational and educational and relaxation, in which it is possible in the summer months to swim in an ecological lake with a paddling pool and water purification through plants and gravel with a water depth of 2.5 m.
The centre of Moravian Slovakia traditions is located in the village of Modrá near Velehrad. Visitors can not only learn about the process of burning fruit and the history of winemaking, but also taste products typical of the local region – fruit spirits and wine. The centre is complemented by a shop selling regional products and a café.
Together with the Archeoskanzen, the Botanical and Freshwater Exposition of Living Water, the Centre of Moravian Slovakia Traditions is an important tourist destination of the Moravian Slovakia region.
It offers a unique wine and plum trail, impresses with its thatched roof, but also a wide range of options. Visitors can not only learn about the process of burning fruit and the history of the winery, but also taste products typical of the local region.
In the basement there is a modern lecture hall for thirty people and two rooms for tasting up to a hundred samples of spirits and the same number of wine samples. On the ground floor there are two distilleries where the conversion of fruit fermentations into spirits and the drying of fruit, vegetables and mushrooms are controlled electronically. In the attic there is an exhibition of the Brno Moravian Museum. Here you will learn interesting facts about the production of alcoholic beverages dating back to antiquity – the concentration of alcoholic substances in fermented fruit juice by distillation was supposedly known to people in Egypt.
There is also an open-air shop of regional products with a wine shop, products from Moravian Slovakia and a café.
The Great Moravian settlement of Central Moravia is located near Uherské Hradiště. Archaeological Open-air Museum Modrá is alive with everyday life, educational performances, programmes, experimental metal smelting, pottery production, agricultural production and continuous archaeological research. Come and discover our ancient past!
The archaeological Open-air Museum in Modrá is located in the locality of the original Great Moravian settlement, in the close vicinity of Velehrad, 7 km from Uherské Hradiště. It represents an ideal form of a Slavic fortified settlement from the time of Great Moravia (9th century). It is made up of buildings whose parts are buried in the ground and have models in real archaeological objects. The above-ground mass of the buildings has the character of hypothetical reconstructions, which, however, were created on the basis of concrete findings.
You have the opportunity not only to see how the Slavs lived, but also to try ancient crafts, taste specialties, see the original crops, shrubs and trees. Children can also admire the animals that are on the premises (free-running pigs, goats, chickens, sheep or Figo the donkey). The open-air museum is alive with daily life, educational shows, programmes, experimental metal smelting, pottery production, agricultural production and ongoing archaeological research. Come and discover our ancient past.
During the year, various festivals, performances, exhibitions, markets and meetings are held in the open-air museum. The church is also a popular venue for wedding ceremonies. The open-air museum offers a wide range of educational programmes for schools. For older children, for example, there is the possibility of archery, and there are plenty of interesting things for inquisitive adults as well. You can also take advantage of the offer to walk through the open-air museum with workbooks containing tasks and interesting facts that will expand your and your children’s knowledge.
The largest terrarium in Moravia can be found in Modrá, close to the Archeological Open-air Museum. Terrarium Modrá shows mainly lizards, snakes, spiders, turtles, frogs, scorpions, but also caiman. Some animals live in a rainforest environment, others come from deserts and semi-deserts.
In dozens of terrarium quarters in the basement of the former hotel U Velehradu, chameleons, basilisks, and various species of varannas run around playing with colours. Snake lovers will be delighted by colourful coral or red snails. It is interesting to meet large anacondas or velvety grapefruit. You can even get acquainted, although preferably not in person, with the poisonous “spitting” red cobra. There is no danger, the cobra is separated from visitors by the terrarium glass. The “arrow frogs” are also poisonous. The venom of these colourful frogs was used by South American Indians to tip their deadly arrows. Even the frogs are behind glass.
The turtles are also interesting, especially the predatory caiman. You can also see an adult caiman, which is not a “turtle” but a type of crocodile. The smallest inhabitants of the terrarium are gliders, the largest terrarium is inhabited by a caiman and a four-meter long yellow anaconda, the longest snake here so far.
A special offer for group visits is available for tours. Come and experience for yourself the atmosphere of the jungle and a world full of exoticism and natural laws. Educational program for schools and kindergartens experiential tour for children and young people, which will not only be a great experience but also an opportunity to enrich school knowledge with new knowledge, by prior agreement can be individually tailored to the wishes of the school or teacher.
Velehrad is an important pilgrimage site in the Czech Republic. The pride of the parish is the Baroque basilica with the adjacent buildings of the former Cistercian monastery. In 1927 the local church was granted the title and privileges of a minor basilica (basilica minor).
Velehrad is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Moravia. Its history began more than 800 years ago, when the first 12 Cistercian monks came to the valley of the Salaška River to build their monastery near the village of Veligrad (today’s Staré Město). It was on the basis of its location that the monastery got its name and soon became the bearer of a much older spiritual tradition, which dates back to the 9th century, when the Slavic heralds Constantine and Methodius came to Moravia. The significance of the pilgrimage site of Velehrad therefore lies not in its local, but in its intellectual relationship to the centre of the apostolic activity of the Slavic heralds. That is why in the past it was called the “Moravian Bethlehem.” And so, for centuries, thousands of pilgrims have flocked to Velehrad, joined in 1990 by Blessed Pope John Paul II. We come here to touch our roots, not only spiritual roots, but also national roots in an inward way. Velehrad is also seen as a space for dialogue between the cultures of East and West.
The heart of the Velehrad pilgrimage site is the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saints Cyril and Methodius. Originally a late Romanesque building from the first third of the 13th century, it took on a Baroque appearance as a result of the disasters of war and especially the fire of 1681. Inside the richly decorated basilica there are several spiritual focal points that no visitor to this sacred space should miss: The altar around which Christians gather to celebrate the liturgy, the chapel of Our Lady Mother of Christian Unity with the Palladium of Velehrad, the tomb of Archbishop Antonín Stojan in the Royal Chapel and, most recently, the sarcophagus of Cardinal Tomáš Špidlík SJ in the presbytery of the basilica, decorated with magnificent mosaics. We can also highlight the sculpture of Saints Cyril and Methodius on the right side of the altar, which canonized the perception of the image of the Thessalonian brothers in the eyes of our ancestors, and the painting of the saints by the Polish painter Matejka, donated for the basilica in 1885.
The complex of monastery buildings houses the Stojan Gymnasium and the Vincentinum Institute of Social Welfare. The Information Centre can arrange a tour of the Salle Terrena with Baroque frescoes and the Slavic Hall, which are located in the former monastery.
The hall of the Velehrad monastery was built in 1724 -1728 as part of the construction of the new prelature of the monastery. The hall is decorated with frescoes depicting the four seasons in the form of allegorical figures and mythological scenes. These are complemented by corresponding biblical motifs.
“Cyrilka” is a small church built in the 13th century at the monastery gate for the pre-monastery inhabitants. It fell into disrepair in the 19th century and was restored in the neo-Gothic style on the occasion of the Jubilee of Cyril and Methodius in 1863. In 1929, an iconostasis was installed to allow the celebration of the Eastern liturgy. Currently, the chapel has been completely renovated and seasonal exhibitions are installed.
Former farm buildings of the Velehrad monastery. Its premises are accessible within the framework of the services provided by this building (permanent exhibitions of the Velehrad Museum, confectionery, bookstore).
Ambit, chapter hall, baroque crypts. The space is part of the new exhibition Velehrad at the Crossroads of European History.
The Chapel of St. Vendelin with a statue of the saint by F. Hirnl, a Baroque Marian column, a sculpture of St. Bernard and St. Luitgard by O. Schveigl, the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk from 1715 by the Baroque bridge over the Salaška stream, statues of St. John of Nepomuk by the road to the cemetery and in the village square, the statue of the Son of God at the crossroads between Velehrad and Modra (free, individual tours available). Velehrad cemetery with the grave of Mons. Šrámek, Cistercians of Velehrad, Slavist J. Vašić, nuns, Jesuits and other personalities.
The World Museum and Library of the Bible aims to create a quality and dignified place that makes unique exhibits of Bibles and spiritual books available to the general public. The museum offers approximately four hundred pieces of historic religious books and Christian literature from the mid-16th century onwards.
In the old monastery building you can see an exhibition dedicated to the most famous book of the Bible and other spiritual books. You will see, for example, the Bibles of Melantrich dating from 1549 and 1556, Bibles written in the language of the black Zulu tribe and the Bible written in an artificial language – Esperanto. An interesting feature is a handwritten transcription of the Gospel of Mark on cigarette paper or a Bible in water, which is actually displayed in water. It is made of a secret material, the donor did not reveal it. It’s not plastic or paper.
Bibles also come in packages from donors all over the world, and each one has a story. For example, the huge, handmade, years-old leporettos, telling children Bible stories, were personally brought by an eighty-two-year-old woman from Zlín. Among them is a book called Hvězdička (Little Star), handwritten and painted by the disabled Jana Janigová from Staré Turé. Her disability allowed her to hold the pencil only close to her eyes.
The smallest bible comes from Switzerland and is written in English, the seven-pound one was used during important events, and the one on cigarette papers was transcribed by one of the political prisoners to keep with him in times of hardship.
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The church was built in 1605, originally in Renaissance style, later rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style.
The history of the church is very varied. In the 16th century it was dominated by Lutherans. It was only in 1615 that it became permanently a Catholic church. In 1652 it was rededicated to Corpus Christi. Therefore, in June, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, processions and festive services are held at the church. The church has been hit by fires several times.
In 1931, the church was enlarged with a transept with a coffered ceiling and a presbytery designed by Jaroslav Oplt from Brno. In 1886 a new organ was installed in the church.
In 1945, new bells were added to the church. The original ones were confiscated by the German authorities during the war. The post-war bells rang at the church until July 2011. In October 2011, 3 new bells were consecrated. John Paul II, Our Lady of Fatima and St. Hedwig.
One of the symbols of Jablunkov, the church tower, has remained unchanged for centuries.
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The chapel is located at the foot of Kozubová Mountain in the village of Milíkov, in the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mountains, at an altitude of 982 m, about 35 km southeast of Frýdek-Místek. The chapel of St. Anne is part of the 18 m high stone lookout tower. The lookout tower is accessible only during church services (i.e. 4 times a year), otherwise it is closed. However, the key to the tower is available for rent at the nearby Kozubová cottage.
The chapel was built here on the initiative of parish priest Ploszko from Hnojník in 1936-37. Jan Kisza from Ropice managed the construction according to the project of the architect Dawid from Český Těšín. The consecration ceremony of the completed building made of Godul sandstone took place on St. Anne’s Day on 26 July 1937 with the participation of about 10 thousand people. The inhabitants of the region contributed to the construction with their financial donations thanks to a public collection.
The lookout tower on Kozubová (982 m above sea level) in the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mountains is a part of the Chapel of St. Anne situated in the cadastre of the village Milíkov.
The chapel of St. Anne was built on Kozubová on the initiative of parish priest Ploszek from Hnojník in 1936-37. At the end of the 1990s, the building underwent extensive external and internal reconstruction, to which, in addition to the faithful, the surrounding villages contributed.
The nearby tourist hut was built in 1929 and served its purpose until 1973, when it burned down. In 1982 the present Kozubová hut was put into operation in its place.
The chapel with an 18-metre high lookout tower is now owned by the church. Previously, it was accessible only a few times a year during church events. Since 2006 it has been possible to request access from the operator of the Kozubová chalet. There is a yellow hiking trail from Milíkov to the summit. Other ascent routes lead from Košařisk and Dolní Lomná. The Kozubová hut can be reached by car, but only with a permit. The tower offers a view only in the northern and eastern direction of the Czech-Slovak-Polish border area, in other directions the view is covered by the surrounding trees.
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Mrs. Anežka Baronová, the wife of Josef Baron, who built the Baron Hotel in 1932, was very pious and so Baron later built a stone chapel for her above the Baron Hotel – Kysuca on the Slovak side. Pilgrimages and services are still held there on Cyril and Methodius Day. The municipality of Klokočov, where it belongs, wanted to make this chapel famous because the priest Karol Wojtyla used to worship there for about a week in the 1950s when he stayed under the Bílý Kříž (White Cross). He later became Archbishop of Krakow and Pope. There used to be a beautiful view from the chapel, but today the whole area has been changed by mature trees. But the view can be enjoyed a little lower down.
The chapel is not actually part of Stary Hamry anymore, but is in the territory of the Slovak Republic. Still, people visit the area as a whole, so it would be a shame not to mention it. The chapel is dedicated to Cyril and Methodius and there is always an outdoor service on 6 July.
The wooden bell tower on the Beskydy Bílý Kříž (White Cross), below the peak of Súlov, originally stood next to an old wooden tavern that provided simple hospitality in this part of the mountains in the second third of the 19th century. With the development of tourism in the late 19th century, the bell tower became a welcome tourist attraction, and for 20 krejcars, anyone could ring its bell at any time. However, with the construction of the new Bílý Kříž Hotel in 1924, the bell tower took its own life. A new wooden bell tower was built near the hotel, but not a copy of the old one. Unfortunately, it is now a dilapidated structure.
The wooden church of St. Frederic in the Beskydy recreational mountain village of Bílá was built in the 1870s according to the plan of the builder Antonín Kybasta by the will of the Olomouc Cardinal Fridrich Landrat, after whom the dedication was chosen.
The church is a nice wooden building in the style of folk architecture. The wooden church was built by the architect Antonín Kybasta, who sought inspiration for its construction in Sweden. The church is characterized by a tall, narrow tower and an interesting roof design. Inside the church we can admire fourteen columns, which are beautifully carved and light enters through fourteen windows decorated with stained glass windows depicting the different stages of the Stations of the Cross. The tall and slender tower is reminiscent of Nordic architecture. Also, the intricately articulated roof, including the wrap-around plan, demonstrates not only the boldness of the proposed design, but also the skill of the local craftsmen who were able to cope with it during construction.
The parish of Bílá is administered from the parish of Ostravice.
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The archbishop’s lodge was built in 1906 near the church of St. Frederick on the turn-off by the Velká Smradlavá stream. The shell of the chateau, protected by shingles, still retains its original appearance.
It was built in 1906 by the Archbishop of Olomouc as a resting place with the possibility of hunting trips to the surrounding vast forests.
Next to the lodge is a horse stable, which was an accessory of this building and still serves its purpose. Several sculptures of horses’ heads can be seen here. Since 2008, a wooden chapel of St. Hubert has been built next to the lodge, which was consecrated by Bishop Lobkowicz on the occasion of the Hubert Mass.
Today it serves as an accommodation facility and can be booked through the Bishopric of Ostrava-Opava.
Near the top station of the cable car from Trojanovice to Pustevny there is a picturesque mountain cottage Maměnka, Libušín was destroyed by fire in March 2014, after a long reconstruction it opened in July 2020. The buildings were designed by architect Dušan Jurkovič in the style of folk architecture of Wallachia and Kysuce.
The hermitages are dominated by wooden buildings built in the folk style by the prominent Slovak architect Dušan Jurkovič. Both buildings were managed by the Wallachian Museum of Nature in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, which operated a stylish restaurant and hotel here. The Pusteven area is a National Cultural Monument.
However, one of them – the famous Libušín – was destroyed by a devastating fire on 3 March 2014. The interior of Libušín was decorated by the Czech painter Mikoláš Aleš, who took his interest in Wallachia from the Czechoslovak Ethnographic Exhibition held in Prague in 1895. The interiors of Libušín were painted by the academic painter Karel Štapfer based on Alš’s drawings of the robbers Ondráš and Juráš, the portent Stavinoha and the god Radegast. However, the interior of the dining room was completely destroyed by fire and the roof collapsed. Since 2016, a costly reconstruction has been underway, to which the public has also contributed a great deal in the form of a public collection.The rebuilt Libušín opened on 30 July 2020.
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Mountain saddle Pustevny in Beskydy
The Pustevny mountain saddle is one of the most important mountain resorts in the Beskydy Mountains. It is located in the Radhošt’ mountain range between the Radhošt’ and Tanečnice hills. Pustevny is dominated by wooden buildings built in folk style by Dušan Jurkovič.
The attractiveness of Pustevny attracted members of the Frenštát association Pohorská jednota Radhošt’, who set themselves the goal of making remote places of the Beskydy Mountains accessible, marking hiking trails and establishing a network of mountain hotels and hostels. In 1891, the first shelter built here was the Pústevňa shelter, and three years later the Šumná shelter was built next to it. Later, as the interest of tourists increased, they decided to increase the accommodation and hospitality capacities. Therefore, they built two more shelters designed by the Slovak architect Dušan Jurkovič in the style of Folk Art Nouveau. Libušín and Maměnka were opened in 1899. On the night of 2 to 3 March 2014, a large fire broke out in the Libušín shelter, destroying mainly the right part of the shelter, which contained the most valuable dining room. The reopening of Pusteven took place on 30 July 2020.
Due to the decline in tourism after the First World War, it was not until the First Republic that further development of Pustevny took place. In 1926, the construction of the modern mountain hotel Tanečnica was completed. Six years later, another mountain hotel was built on the ridge between Pustevny and Radhoštěm – Radegast.
There is also an old Wallachian bell tower and a viewing arbour called Cyrilka – 1893 on the rocks called Podstupně. During World War II, the 2nd Slovak Partisan Brigade of M. R. Štefánik prevented the retreating German soldiers from destroying the buildings on Pustevny. About 300 steps east of the Cyrilka lookout tower is an inaccessible cave of the same name.
The Pustevny area with the above-mentioned buildings is administered by the Wallachian Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm. Another attraction is the above-ground panoramic Wallachian Trail, which is 610 metres long, with the forest section up to the tower being 390 metres long and the rest being a walkway to the 22-metre high cascading tower. It includes a glass viewing platform and a 150-metre-long suspended “Himalayan” walkway.
The above-ground panoramic Valaska Trail is 610 metres long, with the forest section up to the tower being 390 metres long and the rest being a walkway up the 22-metre high cascading tower. It includes a glass viewing platform and a 150-metre-long suspended “Himalayan” walkway.
The Path Through the Trees stands at the top station of the cable car in Pustevny, just outside the cross-country skiing area, approximately 250 metres from the cable car towards the Tanečnica peak. The tower is 22 metres high, the highest floor of the tower is 1099 metres above sea level and in good weather it is possible to see the Jeseníky Mountains or Veľká Fatra.
The trail offers two unique technical solutions. A suspended walkway, the construction of which has never been used anywhere else in the country, and a glass observation deck. The latter is meant to evoke the feeling of standing in the air. Visitors will thus spend moments in the treetops, where there is a magnificent view of the Beskydy ridge. The trail is situated at a height of four to fifteen metres and includes the aforementioned observation tower and a 150-metre-long rope walk.
On the trail, visitors will learn many interesting facts about the nature of the Beskydy Mountains and the surrounding area. In the future, the operators plan to build a double zip line – a rope pulley and the highest trampoline playground in the Czech Republic.
Trail parameters:
height at the highest point from the ground 15.2 m
length 394 m
total length of all wooden profiles used – 15 935 m
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Pobedim je známou archeologickou lokalitou. Najvýznamnejším objavom bolo odkrytie slovanského hradiska z obdobia Pribinovho kniežatstva. Archeologický výskum na lokalite Hradištia viedla PhDr. Darina Bialeková CSc, ktorá sa stala čestnou občiankou obce.
Najstaršie osídlenie Pobedima pochádza z mladšej a neskorej dobe kamennej, kedy sa v chotári obce usadili prví roľníci. Dokladom osídlenia sú keramická črepy a časti kamenných nástrojov na polohe Hradištia. Tu sa počas výskumu odkryli i ďalšie doklady osídlenie a to zo staršej doby bronzovej. Z doby bronzovej je však najvýznamnejšie osídlenie z mladšej a neskorej doby bronzovej. Počas desaťročného výskumu sa preskúmala osada, ktorá patrila ľudu lužickej kultúry. Odkrylo sa viacero sídlištných objektov ako i kultové miesto uctievačov boha slnka. Z nálezov si zasluhujú pozornosť formy na odlievanie bronzových predmetov, keramika, opracované kosti a predovšetkým bohatá kolekcia bronzových predmetov / ihlice, kosáky, nožíky, šípky, šperky a ďalšie /. Z množstva keramických úlomkov sa podarilo zrekonštruovať nádoby rôznych typov a nechýbali ani drobné zvieracie plastiky. Osada z neskorej doby bronzovej bola dôležitým výrobným, obchodným a kultovým miestom na strednom Považí.
Významné bolo i osídlenie Pobedima v dobe, kedy naše územie bolo v susedstve Rímskej ríše. Na polohe Dolné pole sa preskúmalo sídlisko s výraznými nálezmi z doby rímskej. Odkryli sa sídliskové objekty a našli sa keramické nádoby a zvlášť cenné sú fragmenty rímskej keramiky tzv. terry sigillaty. Datovanie nálezov uľahčili rímske mince. Tieto sa objavili tak na lokalite Dolné pole ako i na polohe Horné pole. Významným a často publikovaným nálezom z doby rímskej je bronzová hlavička Siléna inkrustovaná striebrom. Objekty výrobného charakteru sa našli a zdokumentovali pri výstavbe diaľnice medzi Piešťanmi a Hornou Stredou. Kontinuita osídlenie Pobedima možno sledovať i v období sťahovania národov.
Prví Slovania sa objavili v chotári obce v 6. storočí, kedy sa tu rozkladali včasnoslovanské osady na polohách Dolné pole a Horné pole. Odtiaľ sa v 8. storočí presunulo osídlenie od povodia Dudváhu a Dubovej. Najintenzívnejšie slovanské osídlenie bolo však koncom 8. a začiatkom 9. storočia. V tom čase boli obývané viaceré polohy v chotári obce, ale najvýznamnejšie bolo na polohe Zapupovec, kde sa preskúmalo skoro 30 objektov z toho dve studne. Na základe nálezov sa obyvatelia osady venovali kováčstvu. Svedčia o tom nálezy dýz, železnej trosky a nedokončených výrobkov. Okrem týchto nálezov stojí za pozornosť nález drevenej naberačky zo studne 1 a nálezy dvoch umeleckých plechových kovaní.
Nepochybene najvýznamnejšou slovanskou archeologickou lokalitou bolo opevnené centrum, ktoré malo svoju akropolu a podhradie. Rozkladalo sa na polohe Hradištia a Podhradištia. Hradisko patrí k najstarším hradiskám naddunajských Slovanov. Bolo opevnené valom budovaným komorovým systémom. Z vonkajšej strany hlinený val spevnený drevom chránil kamenný múr a z vnútornej strany val podpierali šikmé podpery. Do koruny valu bola osadená drevená palisáda. V určitých častiach valu sa nachádzali strážne veže. V opevnenom centre sídlil veľmož so svojou družinou a služobníctvom. Opevnené centrum bol osídlene veľmožom, ktorý mal svoju družinu a služobníctvo. V blízkosti valu sa na nachádzali dielne, stred hradiska bol miestom na sústreďovanie obyvateľov okolitých osád v čase nebezpečenstva. Pobedimské hradisko bolo tiež centrom obchodu v povodí Váhu. Toto konštatovanie je podložené archeologickými nálezmi a hlavne nálezmi sekerovitých hrivien vtedajšieho polotovaru a primitívneho platidla.
Zánik hradiska sa datuje do prelomu prvej a druhej tretiny 9. storočia, do obdobia kedy sa stalo územie Pribinovho kniežatstva súčasťou Veľkej Moravy V druhej polovici 9. a v 10. storočí sa rozkladali v širšom okolí už zaniknutého hradiska slovanské osady poľnohospodárskeho charakteru. V 11. – 12. storočí sa osídlenie Pobedima prenieslo na územie dnešnej obce.
Spracoval: I. Pastorek
Literatúra: BIALEKOVÁ, D.: Pobedim v praveku, Pobedim v dobe rímskej a v dobe sťahovania národov, Pobedim v dobe slovanskej. Kolektív autorov, Pobedim, Bratislava 1992.
Cyrilka is an observation arbour located on the top of the Podstupně rock above the Pustevny Mountains. Cyrilka is a wooden polygonal structure with a low bulbous roof.
There is a wooden, painted panoramic view map in the gazebo. The wooden map has recently been replaced by a metal one, which, although it has detracted a little from the beauty, has added to its durability and longevity. The structure dates back to 1893 and was built by the Radhošt’ Podhorská unity. From Cyrilka you can see the Pustevny Mountains, the Radhošt’ Beskydy Mountains, especially Kněhyni, Čertův Mlýn and Lysá hora. There is also a view of Frenštát pod Radhoštěm and Trojanovice, Palkovické hůrky, Štramberská Trúba. The name Cyrilka also raises the question of whether there is a colleague named Metodějka anywhere in the area. Unfortunately, it has to be stated that there was, on the nearby Okrúhlý hill.
Radegast’s home has always been the Radhošt’ mountain in the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mountains (1129 m above sea level). According to legend, his idol stood on top of the mountain, which was demolished by the Thessalonian missionaries Constantine and Methodius, who allegedly visited Radhošt’ after their arrival in Great Moravia.
Radegast, the Slavic god of crops, harvest, abundance and hospitality, but also of sun and fire, was, according to myth, a great lover of good food and drink. He would often come in disguise among the common people and be entertained. When he was satisfied with the hospitality of the people, he rewarded them generously. After all, this was the name he was given for this quality – one who likes to be entertained.
There is a statue of him on the ridge path along Radhošt’ between the pilgrimage chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the Pustevny Mountains. It was created in 1929 in the USA by the sculptor Albín Polášek, a native of Frenštát pod Radhoštěm. The statue depicts Radegast with a bull’s head, a cornucopia, a duck and Wallachian ravens. The original three-metre high statue was made of artificial stone with granite rubble. However, on Radhošt’ it did not stand up well to the harsh weather. The greatest damage to the statue was caused by lightning that struck it during a storm. An exact copy by the stone sculptor Jan Sobek from Leskovec was installed on Radhošt’.
The natural granite from which he sculpted the seven-tonne statue of Radegast is such a strong material that it will last for several centuries even in extreme mountain conditions without serious damage. The former original adorns the vestibule of the Frenštát Town Hall.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
What Říp is in Bohemia, Radhošt’ is in Moravia. The foundation stone for the National Theatre was broken off from here, and according to tradition, this is where the chief priests stood to erect a cross on the site of pagan sacrifices. The Cyril and Methodius Chapel at the top of the mountain is the fruit of awakened national consciousness and since its foundation in 1898 it has remained the highest church in the Czech lands.
On the occasion of Methodius’ millennium, Pope Leo XIII in Rome consecrated the painting of Jan Sarkander for the future Radhoštěm Chapel to the Moravian pilgrims under the leadership of the later Archbishop of Olomouc, Antonín Cyril Stojan. The cost was then estimated at about 10,000 gold coins. Fialka Alojs was appointed chairman of the committee for the construction of the chapel.
In 1895, the chairman of the committee was Emil Kostelnik, a factory worker, who bought the original painting of the Wallachian Madonna by Adolf Liebscher at the ethnographic exhibition in Prague that year and travelled with it to Moravia and Bohemia to collect another part of the estimated costs of about 7,500 gold coins. The Archbishop of Olomouc, Theodor Kohn, donated part of the land in the Trojanovice area for the chapel and took over the patronage of the chapel. Also the Count of the Roznov estate Rudolf Kinský donated part of his land in the cadastre of Dolní Bečva.
For this reason, the planned chapel was to stand with one half on the Rožnov side and the other half on the Frenštát side. On 5 July 1896 the foundation stone of the Radhošt’ chapel was consecrated. Since the consecration of the chapel by the Archbishop of Olomouc, Theodor Kohn, in 1898, it has been cared for by the members of the Matica Radhošt’ association from Trojanovice.
He also managed the restoration of the wooden bell tower in 2000. Similarly to the construction of the chapel a hundred years ago, the people of Wallachia organized a collection, which partially paid for the construction work. In addition to money, they also donated wood from their own forests. One of the beams transported to Radhošt’ was carved with the symbolic inscription “Wallachians for themselves”.
The craftsmen who repaired the chapel had to show the same skill and art as their predecessors. The carved columns, the hand-hewn beams or the shingled roof of the new bell tower do not differ in detail from the original historic building.
Above the entrance to the chapel you can read the inscription “Love, Slavs. The windows are decorated with colourful stained glass windows with figures of saints. In the chapel, there is a marble altar of St. Cyril and Methodius and a right side altar for a rare painting of the Wallachian Madonna by Liebscher. The whole interior has a calming impression and a visit to the chapel, which is a jewel on the top of Radhoštěd, is a pleasant stop after a climb to the top of the sacred mountain.
When you say “open-air museum” in the Czech Republic, many people think of the one in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm. The largest and oldest open-air museum in Central Europe was founded in 1925 and in its three expositions, the Wooden Town, Wallachian Village and Mill Valley, there are almost 100 monumental objects.
The Wallachian Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm was founded in 1925 by the Jaroňek siblings and is the oldest museum of its kind in Central Europe. The most striking feature of the museum’s current activities is the purposeful effort to revive forgotten traditional techniques, folk art and customs, as well as to reconstruct the social life, trade and entertainment of our ancestors.
The Wooden Town is the oldest and most visited area of the Wallachian Open Air Museum. It was opened in 1925 and presents the way of life in a small town in the period from the middle of the 19th century to the first quarter of the 20th century. During the high season, folklore and craft programmes are held here every weekend. The wooden town is the venue for several folklore festivals. There is also an exhibition of the post office in the Wooden Town. This revived exhibition not only provides visitors with permanent postal services, but also offers a wide range of products for sale. In the building of the Manor Granary there is a permanent exhibition “How our ancestors built”.
Mill Valley is the youngest area of the Wallachian Open Air Museum. It was opened in 1982. It brings together technical buildings that are still functional today, mostly water-powered. The location of the mound, the mill and the sawmill is almost an exact reconstruction of the situation that still existed in Velké Karlovice in the first half of the 19th century – the valley of Podťata. The oil pressing plant is an original building from the 17th century. The hammer mill is a reconstruction of the Ostravice operation. With the exception of the pressing plant, all mechanisms are driven by water power. There is an exposition “Means of transport in Wallachia” in the building of the Ostravice wagon shed. The exhibition presents various forms of means of transport used in agriculture, forestry, commercial activities, passenger transport and other trades and crafts. In 2008 – 2009, the complex was expanded with new objects – a dwelling house from Trojanovice, a forge from Horní Lidec and a barn from Velké Karlovice – Podťatý. A timbered bell tower from Dolní Bečva, which originally stood in the area of the Wooden Town, was also added to the Hamer part of the Mill Valley.
Wallachian Heritage is the largest area of the Wallachian Open Air Museum. Farmsteads, shepherd’s buildings, a mill and a forge are located in a landscape whose ruggedness is reminiscent of many villages on the slopes of the Beskydy Mountains. The first buildings were constructed in 1962 and the area was opened to the public in 1972. The interiors of the houses depict the way of living from the middle of the 19th century in different social classes. Throughout the year, programmes are held here, reviving the old ways of farming. Fields, gardens and fruit trees are reminiscent of the cultivation of old crops. During the tour one can meet many domestic animals and a flock of sheep.
When visiting the Rožnov Open-Air Museum, you will get to know Wallachia as it was 100 years ago and more. You can walk through the new exposition – a small town under Radhoštěm and continue to wander among the houses of the old Rožnov square, the Wallachian village, where old crops and fruit trees with ancient varieties are still grown today, or take a look into the hammer mill, pressing plant, souk, mill or sawmill, where all the equipment is powered by water and is fully functional. In 2017, the museum staff built a stone barn here themselves. It is a faithful copy of the building that stood in Wallachia.
Various events are held in the Open-Air Museum throughout the year – fairs, festivals, demonstrations of traditional crafts and folk customs, as well as tastings of Wallachian specialties.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The stone lookout tower on the Brdo hill in Chřiby in the Kroměříž region is unique, as it is the first classical stone lookout tower built in the Czech Republic in more than 70 years.
There was already one tower on the 587-metre high Brdo hill. But it was made of wood and it fell into disrepair in the 1970s. The Association of Municipalities decided to build a more robust tower, the highest stone tower in Moravia. The stone and wood came from the local forests and surroundings. The construction was blessed by the Archbishop of Olomouc and Metropolitan of Moravia Jan Graubner during the opening ceremony.
Brdo Hill is the highest peak of the Chřiby Mountains. There are small rock formations on the north-western slope. The name of the hill is based on the old dialect word “brd”, which refers to a wooded elevation, usually with a rocky top.
The lookout tower on Brdo is the third lookout tower to be opened in the Zlín Region. A completely new 24-metre high lookout tower was built on a telecommunications tower on the Doubrava hill near Vizovice in the Zlín region. On Čubova Hill near Francova Lhota in the Vsetín region, a wooden structure was built instead of the original one, which had to be demolished due to its poor technical condition.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
In the past, the Jeřabčina rock was a great tourist magnet for visitors coming to the resort of Bunč. In the 1980s, the dense forest in its surroundings was cut down. The bleached rock became a welcome landmark for tourists trekking from Brdo to Bunč, and also a kind of signpost that told travellers that refreshments were close by.
The more inquisitive ones probably turned to the rock several hundred metres away through a clearing and climbed the hill at the top of which the rock rises. Their reward was a great view back to Brdo (then, of course, still without a lookout tower) and to one of the most beautiful Moravian castles, Buchlov. And the most curious ones certainly did not miss the rock bowl not only on the top of the 12 m high rock, but also on the neighbouring rock, which is even more beautiful. Yes, that’s right: the Jeřabčina rock consists of one higher rock on the edge of the slope of the Tvarůžek hill (it is one of its three peaks), one larger rock in its neighbourhood, which rolls out further on the ridge, and a smaller set of rocks and boulders, which together form a 40 m long rocky belt. The walls are very tastefully decorated with selectively weathered sandstone. The Cranberry Rock was named after the still abundant cranberries in its surroundings.
Source: turistika.cz
On the occasion of Methodius’ millennium, Pope Leo XIII in Rome consecrated the painting of Jan Sarkander for the future Radhoštěm Chapel to the Moravian pilgrims under the leadership of the later Archbishop of Olomouc, Antonín Cyril Stojan. The cost was then estimated at about 10,000 gold coins. Fialka Alojs was appointed chairman of the committee for the construction of the chapel.
In 1895, the chairman of the committee was Emil Kostelnik, a factory worker, who bought the original painting of the Wallachian Madonna by Adolf Liebscher at the ethnographic exhibition in Prague that year and travelled with it to Moravia and Bohemia to collect another part of the estimated costs of about 7,500 gold coins. The Archbishop of Olomouc, Theodor Kohn, donated part of the land in the Trojanovice area for the chapel and took over the patronage of the chapel. Also the Count of the Roznov estate Rudolf Kinský donated part of his land in the cadastre of Dolní Bečva.
For this reason, the planned chapel was to stand with one half on the Rožnov side and the other half on the Frenštát side. On 5 July 1896 the foundation stone of the Radhošt’ chapel was consecrated. Since the consecration of the chapel by the Archbishop of Olomouc, Theodor Kohn, in 1898, it has been cared for by the members of the Matica Radhošt’ association from Trojanovice.
He also managed the restoration of the wooden bell tower in 2000. Similarly to the construction of the chapel a hundred years ago, the people of Wallachia organized a collection, which partially paid for the construction work. In addition to money, they also donated wood from their own forests. One of the beams transported to Radhošt’ was carved with the symbolic inscription “Wallachians for themselves”.
The craftsmen who repaired the chapel had to show the same skill and art as their predecessors. The carved columns, the hand-hewn beams or the shingled roof of the new bell tower do not differ in detail from the original historic building.
Above the entrance to the chapel you can read the inscription “Love, Slavs. The windows are decorated with colourful stained glass windows with figures of saints. In the chapel, there is a marble altar of St. Cyril and Methodius and a right side altar for a rare painting of the Wallachian Madonna by Liebscher. The whole interior has a calming impression and a visit to the chapel, which is a jewel on the top of Radhoštěd, is a pleasant stop after a climb to the top of the sacred mountain.
Zdroj: www.pustevny.cz
The unique Jurkovič lookout tower was built on the Charles Hill in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm according to the plans of the architect Dušan Jurkovič, above the Wallachian heritage of the Wallachian Open Air Museum.
The well-known architect Dušan Jurkovič designed the lookout tower, which now stands on Karlova Hill in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, as early as 1896. The height of the tower is 32 metres, with the highest viewing platform at 19 metres.
The most interesting feature of the building is that all of the blacksmithing and plumbing work and most of the carpentry work, including the details, were done by hand using old working methods that are almost no longer in use today. 200 cubic metres of logs were used to build the tower and the colour scheme of the tower corresponds to Jurkovič’s buildings on the Pustevny. The Jurkovič tower in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm is built according to the original architect’s designs with only minor modifications based on current regulations.
The lookout tower offers a view of the western part of the village of Hutisko-Solanec, the village of Vigantice, the parts of Rožnov: Hážovice, Tylovice, Kramolišov, the centre of Rožnov, the northern parts of Rožnov, the villages in the western part of the Rožnovská brázda, the city park, the parts of Rožnov: Letná, Rybníčky and part of Horní Paseky in the north of the city, the Radhošť massif.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Rožnov Castle stood on the top of Hradisko Hill, rising above the left bank of the Bečva River near Rožnov pod Radhoštěm. The castle was founded in the second half of the 13th century by Bishop Bruno of Šaumburk or his successor Dětřich.
In 1310, the castle belonged to the lords of Krásno, in the 14th century the fortifications were strengthened under the lords of Kravař and in the 15th century a new Forecastle was built under the lords of Cimburk or Sovinec. In 1505 the castle was acquired by the Kunštát family, in 1526 by Jaroslav of Šternberk. At the beginning of the 16th century the western palace of the castle was rebuilt in the early Renaissance style. In 1535 the castle was the property of Jan of Pernštejn, but four years later it was occupied by the army by order of Emperor Ferdinand I and heavily damaged because robbers settled there. Later the castle was temporarily repaired and in 1660 it was again used by the manorial officials.
In the second half of the 17th century, when invasions from Hungary threatened, the fortifications were strengthened by building baroque bastions. At the end of the 17th century it was completely abandoned. The castle did not fall into ruin until the beginning of the 18th century under the Žerotín family, when its masonry was used to rebuild the nearby farm yard. In 1862, the citizens of Rožnov received permission from the municipal authority to dismantle the remains of the castle for the construction of their dwellings.
The core of the castle consists of a pair of opposing palaces with a spacious courtyard between them. Access to the core was provided by a gate in the south-eastern part of the core. On the northern side, below the core, was the smaller Undercroft, which ensured the economic operation of the castle. The castle is surrounded on three sides by a massive moat and rampart, even doubled in several places.
The Jarcovská kula is a rock formation rising on the left bank of the Vsetínská Bečva River, southwards near the village of Jarcová. This village is located south of the town of Valašské Meziříčí. Jarcovská kula is a part of the Vsetín Hills. It is an eight-metre high independent rock tower. A part of this rock has been mined. Jarcovská kula is made of coarse-grained sandstone and fine-grained siltstone. According to the stories of the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, this rock was created by the devil. In 1999, this unique rock formation was declared a natural monument under the name Jarcovská kula and its area is 0.10 hectares. The area around the natural monument is mostly spruce forest.
Prince Sámo created the country of Moravia as early as the beginning of the seventh century AD (one thousand four hundred years ago). At the beginning of the seventh century, Prince Sámo united the Slavic family settlements and the Slavic tribes into a territory bounded on the east by the Váh River, on the south by the rivers Danube, Morava and especially the Dyje, on the west by the highlands, nowadays the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, and on the north by the Oder River. This land, united by Prince Sámo, was named the land of the Danube Slavs, later Moravia. Today, Moravia is slightly smaller, at that time it extended to the Váh River to today’s Slovakia and Prince Sámo is rightly a great historical figure in Slovak history. The rest is still the same land, our Moravia. The statue of Prince Sámo was erected in the beautiful surroundings of the Jarcov Hills at the crossroads of hiking trails.
The most important historical architectural monument of Rajnochovice is the local church, which is closely related to the foundation of Rajnochovice.
On the site of today’s cemetery (to the left of the current church) there was a wooden church of St. Anne from the 12th century. The church gradually decayed under the increasing number of visitors, so the parish priest asked for help in Olomouc. Olomouc Cardinal Wolfgang of Schrattenbach decided to build a spacious church of the Nativity of St. Mary and St. Anne next to the wooden church, designed by the Italian architect G. P. Tencal. The temple was built between 1711 and 1716, and in 1717 it received its bells. After the sons of Nicholas (the founder of the village, see history) settled near the church in 1721, one of them became the bell-ringer.
The church is an architectural gem of the Baroque period. It is also called the “cathedral of Wallachia” because of its dimensions (ground plan 38 x 12 m). A wide stone staircase leads to the entrance of the church. There is a stone coat of arms of Cardinal Schrattenbach and a sundial above the entrance, with statues of St. John of Nepomuk and St. John Sarkander on the sides. There is also a stone pieta in front of the church (seated Mary with Christ on her lap) with the year 1815 and a stone cross from 1737.
The church itself has a vaulted ceiling, 22 windows with lunettes on the sides. In fine weather, the sun’s rays create admirable illumination. On the main altar is a wooden sculpture of St. Anne with the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus. It probably comes from the original wooden church. Around the sculpture is a decorative wooden carving. There is a painting of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary behind the main altar. In 1930, a new organ was installed in the original baroque organ case from 1720, which is one of the oldest in Moravia. The church has excellent acoustics.
At the same time as the church, the archbishop had a small mansion built for occasional stays. In 1727 a parish was established here with the right to keep registers of births, marriages and deaths. The parish building is currently the home of the Youth Centre of the Archdiocese of Olomouc – “The Port”. Young people have the opportunity to spend their free days together, play sports, attend lectures, spiritual renewal, etc. A similar purpose is served by the recreational facility in Košov – “Archa”. The centre has conditions for year-round accommodation.
The Rajnochovice railway is a significant chapter in the history of Rajnochovice and the entire region. Between 1904 and 1906, a narrow-gauge forest railway was built here, 8.3 km long, which ran along the slopes from the steam sawmill to the area above Podhradní Lhota (below Kečský Javorník).
The railway was built to transport timber to the sawmill. The locomotive would take empty wagons to the remote forests in the morning, while the loaded wagons would go down by themselves. The log cars had a capacity of 6000kg. The forest railway also had two passenger cars, which were used for Sunday trips of the estate and their guests.
The railway continued to operate without problems until 1918. The Archbishop’s superiors even planned to build another section of the railway to the Tesák area and a connection between the sawmill and the Rajnochovice railway station. During World War I, however, there was insufficient maintenance and breakdowns began to occur (even locomotives derailed). Locomotive traffic was therefore stopped and empty bogies began to be pulled by horses. In 1921 the railway traffic was stopped and in 1925 the final liquidation was ordered. After the forest railway in Rajnochovice, the picturesque forest road “štreka” remains to this day.
Recently, efforts have been made to restore this historical gem of the village through the civic association Society for the Restoration of the Rajnochovice Forest Railway. The basic aim of the Society is, as already mentioned, the restoration of the narrow gauge forest railway in Rajnochovice and the building of a forest railway museum with an information centre (the Society has already managed to buy the land and property opposite the sawmill), running demonstration rides, bringing together those interested in the history of forest and other narrow gauge railways and also organising cultural and educational events.
Source: kudyznudy.cz
There is a lookout tower at the top of Kelčský Javorník (open since September 2015). The aim of the tower is to increase the tourist attractiveness of the Kelčský Javorník and Hostýn Hills and to offer an unusual view of the region.
There used to be a wooden lookout tower at the top of Kelčský Javorník in the Hostýn Hills. However, it had to be demolished for safety reasons.
The new tower was built according to the design of ing. Ondrej Balazik and architect Marta Balážiková. The tower consists of a central steel column with a spiral staircase. The outer lining of the tower consists of 12 bent larch slats, the plan of which resembles a clock face. During the ascent, the visitor can observe the surroundings through the slats. Every eleventh step of the 156 steps is a stop with a view. The last step is the main viewing platform.
Access to the observation tower is unlimited and free of charge.
Source: kudyznudy.cz
Hostýn, with its Marian shrine (Basilica minor), is the most visited pilgrimage site in Moravia and, after Velehrad, also the most memorable. The expositions of the Holy Hostýn Museum present the historical development of Hostýn from prehistory to the present day.
The Hostýn Hills, named after the monumental mountain Hostýn, are a spur of the Moravian-Slovak Carpathian Mountains and therefore also the western part of the Vsetín Hills. Hostýn Mountain consists of two peaks – the higher northern peak with a lookout tower and a wind power station (736 m), the pilgrimage church and the monastery house are located on the western peak (718 m). Numerous archaeological investigations have shown that Hostýn was inhabited as early as the Stone Age.
The dominant building of the whole Hostýn is the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (completed in 1748) with a statue of the Virgin Mary. The basilica is surrounded by amphitheatres with chapels. At the beginning of the staircase leading up to the basilica is the Water Chapel with a spring of miraculous water. Very valuable is Jurkovič’s Stations of the Cross with Kohler mosaics. The last stop of the path (the round chapel of the Holy Sepulchre) is near the forest cemetery. Here are the eternal resting places of personalities whose lives were connected with Svatý Hostýn. There is a 15 m high lookout tower with 59 iron stairs on the higher peak. There is a wind power station next to the tower.
Holy Hostýn Museum
The former museum was located in the lookout tower, today’s museum is located in the unique Jurkovič Hall in the grounds of the pilgrimage houses. It presents the historical development of Hostýn from prehistory to the present day in its exhibitions on the ground floor. There is an exhibition of natural history, flora and fauna of the Hostýn Hills in the gallery. All exhibits are accompanied by descriptions and there is also modern audiovisual technology. The founder and operator of the museum is the Holy Hostýn Foundation.
The Basilica Minor underwent a major reconstruction in the winter of 2010 and 2011, which included the insulation of the church. In the summer of 2011, the boiler room in the sanctuary was converted into a training centre.
Source: kudyznudy.cz
Jurkovič situated his Stations of the Cross northeast of the church. On the architecturally designed horseshoe-shaped path, he irregularly placed thirteen stops, varying in shape, which seemed to emerge from the forest on the right side. Eight of them descend from the top of the church, while the ninth stop rises on a massive stone terrace, which is ascended by a series of steps. The termination of the Stations of the Cross forms the existing rotunda, incorporated into the cemetery grounds. Inside is a stone relief of the Laying in the Grave.
The Stations of the Cross were built gradually from 1904 until the Second World War. The hardships of the war and the associated lack of funding disrupted this magnificent plan of Jurkovič. Many of the planned buildings had to be abandoned, such as the assembly hall, the bell tower, the chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the commercial bazaar and many others.
The individual stops are roughly of three types. They are designed as open chapels, consisting of a wall of cut stone blocks with a mosaic image and a lomenica shelter, usually resting on beams. The end of the wall is either arched or triangular, and the canopies are covered with lintels. Blue scale tiles also cover the arch or gable of the rear wall adjoining the cottage roof with a lomenica. The roof is supported by two columns with brackets. These wooden columns in the stone plinth have polychromy in red, yellow, blue and green, also the lomenica. If the picture wall is terminated by an arch, the stone cross on the roof of the cottage is protected by an Art Nouveau curved plate. The triangular gable is topped with a cross. The roof is lower, spread over three bays, the central one being higher and projecting. The floor of the chapels is of stone steps, and there is a kneeler in front of the image. The painting decoration was entrusted to Jozko, who also designed the first glass mosaics of the Passion scenes. B. Škarda from Brno. Later on, J. Köhler continued the colourful ceramic mosaics.
Source: www.hostyn.cz
There is a beautiful view of Bystřice pod Hostýnem, Svatý Kopeček near Olomouc, Jeseníky, Zlín, Hranice na Moravě and in very good conditions you can also see Pálava or the Slovak Tatras from the stone lookout tower of Emperor Franz Joseph I. on the Hostýn hill (735 m above sea level).
There is not only the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary at the pilgrimage site of Moravian Hostýn (735 m above sea level), but also the Lookout Tower of Emperor Franz Joseph I, with the Chapel of the Holy Cross on the ground floor. The lookout tower was built in 1897-98, when Emperor Franz Joseph I visited Bystřice pod Hostýnem. It was opened on 14 September 1898 and this event had to be without much glory, the country was just after the death of the monarch’s wife Elizabeth.
Originally the tower was up to 27 metres high, but in 1915 it was lowered for safety reasons. The present height of the tower is 15 metres. The observation deck, which is 12 metres high, is reached by 63 steps.
The tower’s ground plan consists of two unevenly sized circles of masonry made of hard Hostýn stone. The larger one has a diameter of about seven metres, the smaller one about three metres. The thickness of the masonry is 70 cm to one metre. The entrance to the lookout tower is on the north side, where there is a spiral iron staircase leading to the room of the first Hostýn museum and then to the observation deck with a telescope at a height of 12 metres.
There is a chapel of the Holy Cross below the lookout tower on the ground floor. The entrance from the south side is formed by a hand-forged iron door, which is the work of the artistic blacksmith Mr. Skřehota from Bystřice pod Hostýnem. There is an altar opposite the door and above it a sandstone statue of Our Lady of Sorrows and a marble cross. It was made by master Ferdinand Neumann from Kroměříž and installed on 22 June 1898. The round windows were decorated with a glass sculpture by B. Škarda from Brno.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The museum introduces the visitor to the fascinating story of the coexistence of man and the mountain, which is over ten thousand years old and demonstrates that the place we associate with weekend relaxation today was once a strategic location for a large part of Moravia. The founder and operator of the museum is the Matice svatohostýnská.
HISTORY
The Holy Hostýn Museum was founded in 1913 by the Jesuits of Hostýn. From the beginning, it expanded its collections with objects that were in some way related to Svatý Hostýn. These included a collection of old Holy Hostýn songs from 1773, archaeological finds (arrows, spears, fragments from ashtrays and grain bins, grinding wheels, stone balls, etc.). The collection was also enriched by an interesting discovery in front of the 4th stop of the Stations of the Cross, where a large millstone and 10 military sickles were excavated. The museum also kept a photo album from the coronation festivities, a commemorative book with signatures of important visitors to our pilgrimage site, including Emperor Franz Joseph I. Donations of various documents, medals and paintings became valuable items. The collections were located in the tower. The restored St. Stephen’s Museum was opened on 6 May 2007.
EXHIBITION
Archaeological finds from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age are represented by a mammoth bone, a bronze axe or an iron arrowhead. Finds from a Celtic oppidum in the Younger Iron Age. Evidence from the Old Slavic settlement of the mountain in the times of Great Moravia and the Middle Ages. Evidence of Hostýn as a strategic defensive point above an ancient merchant trail in the lowlands.
The modest ruins of Obřany Castle are located on a steep hill in the Hostýn Hills, approximately 3 km from the village of Chvalčov. The Gothic castle was founded around 1365 by Boček of Kunštát. It was probably never completed and was abandoned during the Hussite Wars. The torso of the wall and the cylindrical tower have been preserved.
The Castle was for a long time considered to be the highest in Moravia at an altitude of 704 m, or at least the part east of the Morava River, but it lost this primacy to its close neighbour. Today, only the remains of the walls with the round tower have survived. Together with the Hostýn peak with its basilica and the Skalný and Čerňava hills, it forms a distinctive dominant feature of the landscape of the Hostýn Hills.
This type of castle, built on an elongated ridge and protected by towers at both ends, has several analogues in the castle architecture of our countries. There are several analogous castles, such as Trosky Castle in Bohemia and Kamenica Castle in Slovakia. Although Obřany was probably never completed according to the original plan, this castle served as the administrative centre of the estate for half a century before its final demise during the first quarter of the 15th century.
The ruins are located in the village of Chvalčov and can be reached by following the red trail from Rusava to Bystřice pod Hostýnem. The pilgrimage site of Hostýn is also on the route. The ruins are located in the protected area of the Obřany Nature Reserve, with rock formations in the surroundings.
The ruins are freely accessible. It is about 1.2 km from the trail we are following. If you decide to go to see the ruins, follow the red tourist sign from the Klapinov signpost and then go back the same way again.
Zdroj: www.kudyznudy.cz
Boarder guards were active in Wallachia from 1638 to 1830. Their main activity was to protect the inhabitants and their property, to guard the provincial borders against the invasions of Turks and Tatars or to watch for smugglers, poachers and other elements, whom they led to the dungeons.
The Boarder Guards Corps was divided into tithing divisions, which consisted of 9 portacees and a commander – a chaplain. There was a porter’s station in Rusava from 1717 to 1740. The present Rusava Corporal’s Corps was established on 12 December 2007 to symbolically continue the traditions of the Wallachian Portash Corps. During the year, the Rusava Decalogue organises events for the public – for example, the Meeting of the Three Juras at the Three Stones, the Boarder Guards Fire, the Stepanic and New Year’s Eve walks with the Boarder Guards. In addition, you can meet the porters directly while running errands on the Rusava Boarder Guards Trail from Rusava to Podhradní Lhota. Although the Boarder Guards did not wear a uniform, but folk clothing according to local customs, you will certainly not miss them even now. They are armed with a flintlock rifle and a walasket, and formerly with a sabre, a rope over their shoulder and a bag with a bandasque.
The tree of the porters was the fir tree. They would meet at the fir tree and pass the service. One such tree was also planted by the modern-day Boarder Guards at Klapinov in 2008.
The Klapinov crossroads is a mountain meadow with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
Source: www.turistika.cz
The ruins of Lukov Castle are one of the largest castles in Moravia, nowadays a large ruin of a Gothic castle with a preserved pillar bridge and an entrance gate.
The ruins of Lukov Castle have an extensive history and are surrounded by a number of legends, the most famous of which is about the buried treasure of the Templars, which is hidden in the underground passages. Lukov Castle is set in unique nature and its charm evokes feelings of times long past. Around the castle you can see the rock walls called Králky, the memorable Valdštejn oak or the Bezedník pond hidden in the woods below the castle. Several events are held at the castle throughout the year, bringing the castle back to life.
The origins of Lukov Castle date back to the first third of the 13th century. Fragments of stone elements dating back to this period attest to the activity of the stonemasons of the important Velehrad construction smelter. The castle was in the possession of the powerful Sternberk family at the beginning of the 14th century. During the Bohemian-Hungarian wars, the castle was conquered and burnt down by the troops of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary. The so-called Lower Castle with St. John’s Tower was probably built at this time. In 1511, the Kunštát family bought the Lukov manor. The next owners of the Lukov castle were the Nekš family of Landek from 1548 onwards, during whose tenure the castle was extensively rebuilt in the Renaissance style and adapted to the requirements of a comfortable life at that time.
The last heiress of the family, Lucretia, therefore became the centre of interest for many noble cavaliers. Her second husband was Albrecht Wenceslaus Eusebius of Wallenstein, whose vast estate fell into his lap after her death in 1614.
Lukov was the centre of several uprisings of the local population, the so-called Wallachians, against the Habsburgs during the Thirty Years’ War. The Swedes captured Lukov Castle without a fight, garrisoned it for almost three months, and when they left they looted and burned it. At that time, the castle was held by the Minkvic family of Minkvicburg, who, however, had been struggling with huge debts and executions for years. From the debt-ridden Minkvics, the Lukov estate was acquired by Jan Josef of Rottal, who soon sold it to the Seilerns. The castle lost its importance and gradually the offices were moved down to the village until it was abandoned completely at the end of the 18th century and became a source of cheap building materials.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Zoo Zlín-Lešná is a unique place where you can see animals of all continents in a natural bio-park with free range. The animals live here in a successful imitation of their original environment. Birds live in aviaries that resemble their homeland, while mammals are displayed in natural exhibits.
Visit the Zoo in Zlín and you won’t regret it! It is located 4 km from Zlín towards Holešov and is one of the most visited gardens in the Czech Republic. The originality of the zoo is the division of the premises according to continents.
You will travel through Africa, Asia, Australia and South America and meet 222 species of animals in one day. Among the most attractive are elephants, giraffes, rhinos, gorillas, sea lions, lions, tigers, penguins, parrots, anteaters and llamas, among many others. In the new Yucatan Tropical Hall, among the fauna and flora, you will see a memory of the Mayan civilization, the former inhabitants of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is said that Zoo Zlín-Lešná is one of the most beautiful places in Moravia.
Since June 2018, a new exhibition in the Amazon section (which is undergoing a long-term transformation) called Guayanas has been open. The completely transformed displays will gradually introduce not only the indigenous inhabitants of the Amazon region, such as howler monkeys, stork, South American storks and macaw parrots, but also new species. These include the four-toed anteaters or the true breeding treasure – the colourful tamarins. The ZOO in Zlín is the only zoo in the Czech Republic that breeds these. In the Asian part, a comfortable “den” for grizzly bears is to be built in the near future, which will allow you to admire these animals from close proximity.
The Zoo Zlín opened a large aviary for vultures and other bird species in the African region in August 2023. There are approximately 20 to 25 species of African vultures in the aviary, which have nesting boxes and the extra-large space allows them to fly. Visitors will also find the opportunity to see vultures feeding attractive – vultures are fed in the form of a whole animal (no longer alive), which they share as they would in normal nature. In addition to vultures, the aviary is also inhabited by western grey-headed parrots, rough-toothed beavers and various species of turacos. A rarity in the aviary is also a beautiful mature oak tree where the vultures like to rest.
The Jaguar Trek grew up in Zoo Zlín in 2022, you can find it in the American area of the zoo in the slope under the tropical Yucatan Hall. It is the largest exhibit of its kind in Europe. The unique enclosure consists of a large outdoor area with a glass-enclosed swimming pool, a building with indoor quarters and breeding facilities. Apart from jaguars, the complex also houses condors and macaws. The jaguars have a superior exhibition area of over 2,000 m2. The individual buildings and the entire space tell the story of a journey through a landscape where wilderness meets the human world and where fauna often take up residence in abandoned relics of our civilisation.
Its concept and size is unparalleled in Europe. Only in the Zlín Zoo can visitors see a group of adult stingrays, consisting of 16 females and 2 males, petted and even fed with shrimps. The ray bay pavilion was created by rebuilding the former monkey pavilion. It was inspired by natural history documentaries that showed how curious and friendly stingrays are to divers. There are stingrays in zoos all over the world, but in outdoor tanks, and that would not be possible in our conditions. That’s why an indoor bay was created in Zlín – and let’s add that there is no similar facility of this size anywhere else in Europe.
Source: kudyznudy.cz
The fairytale-looking Lešná Castle belonged to the Seilern-Aspang family, who built it at the end of the 18th century according to a design by the Viennese architect Johann Mick. It is located in Štípa, a local part of Zlín, in the grounds of the local zoo. The beautiful interiors of the castle are among the most beautiful in the Czech Republic.
Lešná Castle was built by the Seilern-Aspang family at the end of the 18th century. In 1886, the Seilern family decided to build a new more representative castle, the old building was demolished and a new castle was built in its place. It is built in a mixed historicist style – Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque. The new castle was very comfortably equipped.
There was electricity, piped hot and cold water, nice bathrooms, a domestic telephone and the whole castle was heated by central heating. The chateau became the leading residence of the Counts of Seilern thanks to the comfort it provided and the picturesque surrounding countryside, and was occupied until April 1945.
There are richly carved wooden coffered ceilings in almost every room of the castle, the walls are covered with wooden panelling, all made of stained Slavonian oak. All the wooden panelling and ceilings were made in Vienna according to precise plans and transported to Lešná in parts and assembled there. The entrance hall is dominated by a magnificent spacious staircase leading to the count’s rooms. The Seilerns welcomed their guests on the ground floor, the first floor contained the count’s living quarters and the second (attic) floor was mostly guest rooms.
The boiler room and kitchen, storage and operating rooms were set up in the basement. To prevent food from getting cold during the journey from the basement, an elevator connected the kitchen and the first floor. Food was served in the dining room one floor up. There was a large folding table in the dining room that could be quickly set up. The largest room in the entire castle is the so-called Hall of the Ancestors, where portraits of the original owners of the castle, the Counts of Seilern, found their place among the wooden ceilings and walls. There is a billiard table in the billiard room, which can easily be turned into a snooker table. The bedroom occupied by the Countess resembles a mirror room. Adjoining the bedroom is a bathroom with the modern conveniences of hot and cold water and a flushing toilet.
Thanks to Count Seilern’s passion for travelling, there are many unique and historically valuable collections in the castle. These valuable items were collected by the Seilern family during a trip around the world in the 1930s. The collection includes items such as Japanese and Chinese porcelain, ebony and ivory statuettes, ancient excavations, sandalwood chests and many other art objects.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Chapel of the Resurrection of the Most Holy Saviour or the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk is a cemetery chapel and the tomb of the Counts of Seilern-Aspang. The chapel was built around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The chapel is a central building. The central layout and some architectural elements belong to the Romanesque style. The impression of the Romanesque style is also enhanced by the portal of the building. The central part of the chapel is an octagon with an unequal plan. The presbytery is attached to it from the east, and the chapels are attached from the north and south. On the west, the nave vestibule is attached to the central hall. The presbytery, north and south chapels are identical in size; there is a wider entrance vestibule on the exterior plan adjoining from the west. The chapel is thus arranged in a strictly cruciform plan. The chancel and the two side chapels are finished with a vaulted ceiling above. The nave of the chapel is surmounted by an eight-sided tambour with four stained-glass windows. The roof consists of an eight-sided spire. The side chapels contain the tumbas. There is one in the right chapel and two in the left chapel. The tumbas are marble, decorated with a wreath sculpture on the top.
At first glance from the outside, the retreat portal of the chapel catches the eye. It is one of the architectural elements that evoke the Romanesque style of the building. The portal is completely made of sandstone and is stepped once. There are kneeling figures of angels on each side of the pedestal at the bottom of the stepping. Before and after the first gradation, a column is set into each side. Above the columns is a moulded cornice. The tympanum then depicts an eagle with a crown on the left and a two-tailed lion with a crown on the right. The two figures are facing away from each other and bear the family coat of arms of the Seilern-Aspang family; a crown is placed on the coat of arms. Above the cornice and around the tympanum is a recessed niche. A triangular shield rises above the tympanum. It is dominated by a sculpture of Christ crucified at the top, with two figures kneeling at his feet. The sculpture is placed in front of the top of the shield and is perched on a short column.
Source: www.starokatolici.cz
The Pilgrimage Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Štípa, a local part of Zlín, is one of the most important pilgrimage churches and remarkable examples of Baroque architecture. It is also one of the largest and most beautiful church buildings in the Olomouc Archdiocese. Its history is connected with Albrecht of Wallenstein.
Before her death, the noblewoman Lukretia Nekes of Landek committed her husband Albrecht von Wallenstein to the construction of the church and monastery and bequeathed large sums of money for this purpose. The church is a single-nave building with a semicircular presbytery and vault, but it is impressive for its rich interior decoration and painting. In the interior, apart from the altar with the medieval Madonna, the altarpiece of Count Seilern in the classical style is also striking. The organ was built in 1890 by František Čapek and Max Zachistal from Kremze (now Austria) and the Štípa instrument is one of their largest and finest surviving pieces. The construction of the organ was paid for by Count Franz Seilern, the then patron of the church, at a cost of 5,500 gold coins. The organ is largely made of wood, i.e. the impulse from the keys to the pipes is guided by a system of wooden stops (mechanical tract). This magnificent monument is not only a valuable historical and artistic work, but also a wonderful legacy of our ancestors.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Literally a few metres from the new Štípa church – the Pilgrimage Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary – stands the old Gothic Štípa church, which was built in the second half of the 14th century when the Sternberg family enlarged the original chapel.
The entrance portal of the old Štípa church can also be included in this period. Only some parts of this little church have survived to this day. Many changes in its life can be traced only from fragmentary chronicle records. The alien elements of different building stages that can still be found on the church tell us something about the changes. The earliest appearance of the church is quite consistent with its present state.
Four tombstones have been preserved in the old Štípa church. Two of them on the south side at the entrance to the church belong to the Nekes family, one to Jan Nekes the younger from Landek and Lukov, the other to his wife Barbara Bítovská from Slavíkovice and Lukov, grandparents of Lukrecia Nekes from Landek, the patroness of the new Štípa church.
The church served as the tomb of the Seilern family from 1807 to 1907. When they then built a new tomb in the newly established cemetery, the importance and notoriety of the old Stípa church gradually disappeared.
Only the nave of the original church remains today, as the flimsy presbytery was demolished in 1807.
Unfortunately, it is currently in a very poor condition (mainly due to groundwater) – extensive reconstruction work has been underway since 1997. Of course, it is still inaccessible to the public.
Source: www.stipa.cz
The construction of the Tomáš Bat’a Villa began in 1909 and was completed in 1911. It was built by the genius entrepreneur Tomas Bata, the founder of the Bata shoe factories. He wanted to build a comfortable residence for himself and his family where he could relax and still see his factory.
The overall construction took two years, its basic shape was designed and built by the Vizovice builder František Novák, and T. Bat’a asked the architect Jan Kotera to finish it. The house was very simple for its time. Cosiness and functionality were the main attributes to which the interior and exterior of the villa were adapted. The interior is decorated with a number of architectural and craft gems. Around the grounds of the villa is a garden that was greatly influenced by the garden architect František Thomayer.
The Bata Villa was returned to the family after 1989 and in 1997 Tomáš Bata offered it as a space for the Foundation’s offices. The villa has become the place where most of the Foundation’s educational, cultural and social activities take place. At the same time, some rooms in the villa are available as conference facilities for the public.
The Tomáš Bat’a Foundation offers schools, companies and other organized groups tours of the Tomáš Bat’a Villa with expert commentary on his life, the history of the Bat’a company and the history of the house. The tours are free for schools. For companies and other organized groups for a fee of 65 CZK/person.
There is a minimum of 15 people in the group, the maximum number of participants is a maximum of 45 people. Tour requests should be addressed to: sekretariat@batova-vila.cz or tel. 577 219 083.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Zlín Castle is a four-winged castle with an inner courtyard in the middle of the Freedom Orchard in the centre of Zlín. The chateau was originally a Gothic fortress, which was rebuilt in the second half of the 16th century in Renaissance style.
Zlín is still historically new and young. More than 95% have ancestors only in the third or fourth generation, and the town has only a few houses over a hundred years old that have been preserved in their original form. The castle building with its 500-year-old walls is the only tangible link to the ancient past. The Zlín Castle is a four-winged castle with an inner courtyard in the middle of the Freedom Orchard in the centre of Zlín. The castle was originally a Gothic fortress, which was rebuilt in the second half of the 16th century in Renaissance style.
The history of the chateau is of course connected with the history of Zlín as the centre of the Zlín manor. From the 3rd quarter of the 15th century, when Vilém Tetour of Tetovo acquired the estate, the Tetours became the owners for almost a hundred years and sold it to Jan Kropáč of Nevědomí in 1571. In 1589 it was bought by Kryštof Cedlar Pačlavský and from 1622 the Cedlar creditors, the most influential of whom, Kryštof Karel Podstatský of Prusinovice, was the de facto owner of the estate from the early 1530s. Until the middle of the 17th century the castle was permanently inhabited. In 1655, the estate was bought by Gabriel Serényi, who usually resided elsewhere. The same was the case under the Rothals (1712-1763). In 1763 the estate was inherited by the youngest daughter of Jáchym Adam Rotal, Maria Theresa, married name Khevenhüller. Between 1804 and 1857 the estate was owned by the Bretton family, from 1860 by the Haupt family.
From now on, a new phase of the castle grounds begins. The town leased the castle and the adjacent park to the Bat’a Support Fund in 1930 and the latter opened it to the general public. The castle became a club house and a place for meeting and debating, following the example of English clubs. A café, a restaurant, reading rooms and cultural and sports clubs also found a home here. Exhibition halls of the Regional Art Gallery and the Museum of Southeast Moravia were located in the premises of the castle since the end of the 1950s.
The total reconstruction of the oldest building in Zlín began in the summer of 2021. It is a gradual work in stages, so the restoration of the castle will take several years, according to the design of the architect Pavel Mudřík. The castle will offer a number of new features after the reconstruction, such as a restaurant, a café, a confectionery, an artisan bakery and a museum of the history of Zlín.
Currently, the castle is home to the Living Zlín cultural and creative centre, the Václav Chad Gallery, the Office of the Zlín City Architect and the Courage sales gallery. The extensive premises are used for short-term exhibitions, cultural events and rentals.
Zdroj: www.kudyznudy.cz
The industrial buildings with the Bata markings 14 and 15 have been transformed into the modern cultural and educational centre 14|15 BATA INSTITUTE. The Regional Gallery of Fine Arts, the Museum of South-East Moravia and the F. Bartos Regional Library are located here.
One of the first places to go when visiting Zlín is undoubtedly 14|15 BATA INSTITUT, located on the edge of the former Bata factory complex. Although the edge could be better described as a “gateway” to the now fully vibrant industrial space.
But let’s go back to the beginning for a moment. Let’s go back to 1944, when buildings marked 14 and 15 already existed on the same site, but unfortunately that was also the year of their demise. In this war year, the aerial bombs did not avoid these buildings either and both had to go down completely after the end of the war. The 15th building waited for its resurrection only until 1947. In 1949, Building 14 was also completed. These two mirror-symmetrical buildings came from the pen of architect Jiří Voženílek and were directly designed for the needs of shoe production. After the Bata era, shoe production continued in the buildings under the Svit brand. And then it went downhill for many years, until 2008, when the completely devastated buildings were bought by the Zlín Region. However, if you are interested in the architecture and history of these buildings in more depth, be sure to check out the pages of the ZAM Zlín Architectural Manual.ˇ
After a costly reconstruction, cultural institutions of the Zlín Region have found a home in the renovated buildings. The 14|15 BAŤ INSTITUTE houses the Regional Art Gallery, the Museum of South-East Moravia and the František Bartos Regional Library.
By the Regional Art Gallery you should not imagine just a building with paintings and sculptures, but a place where art is alive. In addition to the permanent exhibitions and other events, the building houses two exhibition spaces, a permanent exhibition, a graphic cabinet and regularly hosts a Galefield for the little ones.
In the Museum of Southeast Moravia, you will find a unique permanent exhibition, The Bata Principle: Today Fantasy, Tomorrow Reality. You will also find here a shoe museum, an exhibition dedicated to the filmmaking beginnings of the Zlín film studios or the travelling discoveries of Mr. Hanzelka and Mr. Zikmund.
The František Bartos Library, the largest library in the Zlín Region, has finally found a dignified and much-needed home here. Those interested can find here more than half a million documents in various formats.
You will find the Red Brick Design Shop in the lobby of Building 15, full of designer clothes, handbags and jewellery. Dozens of Czech brands have taken up residence here, many of them coming directly from Zlín or the surrounding area.
It’s also worth visiting the 14I15 Bata Institute for the Regional Information Centre, which you’ll find right on the ground floor of the 14th building, where you can get valuable advice and materials before visiting the city as a tourist.
The varied cultural life does not only take place inside the 14th and 15th buildings, but very often also between them. The buildings are connected by a large concrete platform, which often hosts concerts and various open-air events.
14I15 The Bata Institute brings constant variety to the lives of Zlín’s residents and visitors, be it the aforementioned concerts or lectures, travel talks or festivals. Lovers of art, architecture and history will find their own here. Moreover, the permanent exhibitions provide a comprehensive view of the Bata phenomenon in Zlín. Before you do, be sure to find out what there is to see in Bata’s Zlín, preferably plan a weekend in Zlín.
The administrative building number 21 of the Bata factories – the “Zlín skyscraper” is one of the top works of pre-war Czechoslovak functionalist architecture. With 16 floors and a height of 77.5 metres, it is the tallest building in Zlín. There is an observation deck with a stylish café on the roof of the building, which offers an unusual view of the city and its surroundings. The terrace is open to the public.
The 21st administrative building of the Bata company – the Zlín skyscraper was one of the first high-rise buildings in Europe and the tallest building in Czechoslovakia. It deservedly won the Building of the Century award together with the entire industrial complex of the former Bata factories. The building was built in 1936-1938 according to the design of architect Vladimír Karfík, who was the head of the design department of Bata’s factories in 1930-1946. It is situated in a traditional row of factory buildings, directly influencing the Square of Work, the northern side of which it closes, and thus became a typical landmark of the modern concept of the city.
In terms of layout, it is a three-tract building, designed on the same modular network (6.15 x 6.15 m) as the production buildings. The entire floor, measuring 80 x 20 metres, was a large office, mostly without partitions, where about 200 people worked. The work area remained clean, as both the vertical circulation (staircases with lifts) and the sanitary facilities and air-conditioning chambers were allocated outside this space. The structure of the building is reinforced concrete, the envelope is made up of steel double-glazed windows and brick lining with Nightingale tiles. You can visit the exhibition about the history of the Bata company on weekdays in the 8th floor.
A real technical treat is the air-conditioned elevator – the mobile office of J. A. Bata measuring 6 x 6 metres, equipped with air conditioning, telephone and washbasin. This masterpiece of the architect V. Karfík is today a national cultural monument of the functionalism period.
The Memorial to Tomáš Bat’a closes the ascending park avenue between the dormitories. According to the original design, the whole complex was to contain a group of buildings of a study and educational character, culminating in a museum building on the park axis. However, the plans were changed by the sudden death of the founder of the shoe empire, who died in 1932 shortly after take-off from nearby Otrokovice during a planned aerial work trip to Möhlin, Switzerland.
The memorial was built in place of the museum and only two of the eight study institutes (1936-1938) were built, which were architecturally connected to the memorial building. The typical skeleton of a production building with a variable storey layout was also used here. The architect Gahura used the strength of the reinforced concrete skeleton to create an interesting interior and exterior design with impressive smooth continuous glazed surfaces.
The Memorial of Tomáš Bat’a is the most impressive architectural work of F. L. Gahura, a modern paraphrase of the buildings of the High Gothic period: only a support system and coloured stained glass windows, only a reinforced concrete skeleton and glass. In its first ten years, it was visited by 1.5 million people.
However, it ceased to serve its mission in November 1944, when the glass shell was severely damaged during the wartime bombing of Zlín. Cultural activities (already under the name of the renamed House of Art) were restored in June 1948, with the opening of the XI. Zlín Salon.
The building was rebuilt in 1954-1955 by the academic architect J. Staša to serve simultaneously the Workers’ Philharmonic and the Regional Art Gallery Gottwaldov for more than 55 years. The House of Art (originally the Tomáš Bat’a Memorial) was entered into the Central List of Immovable Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic in 1985.
When considering the restoration of the Tomáš Bat’a Memorial, it was thought of in a European and global context. The conclusions of the October 2006 expert conference were unequivocal – to return the Memorial to its original form and ideological function, with the proviso that the use should be adapted to the building, not the other way around.
These conclusions were approved by the Zlín City Council in 2011 and in 2012-2014 an architectural study of the restoration was created on the basis of these conclusions. The Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra in Zlín acquired new premises in the Congress Centre, the Regional Art Gallery in the building 14|15 of the Bata Institute. In 2013, the name of the building was returned to the Tomáš Bat’a Memorial.
The demanding restoration was carried out in 2016-2018, financed by the Ministry of Culture, proceeds from the public collection and the City of Zlín. The latter, together with the Bata family, the town of Möhlin and other major donors approached by the Tomáš Bata Foundation, also contributed financially to the realisation of the main exhibit, a monumental replica of the JU F13 aircraft. An architectural icon and the pinnacle of Gahur’s urban design work has reopened its doors to the public.
Source: www.zlin.eu
The pilgrimage site Svatá voda – Malenovice is located 7 km from Zlín. The local well has a reputation of healing water. The well is covered with a stone vault. Above it is a steep slope, in which a rock cave with a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes is located.
We learn from the history of the pilgrimage site, which is also referred to as a place of excursion, that already Saints Cyril and Methodius preached and baptized here. People began to notice that sincere prayer and washing with spring water gave mental and physical refreshment.
Help was mainly sought here by mothers of small sick children who hung children’s shirts on trees in gratitude for hearing their pleas.
The first chapel mentioned in history is the forest chapel from 1854, built by Josef Buksa from Šelešovice, who thanked the Virgin Mary for healing him from blindness. In the chapel there was placed a picture of Our Lady of Provodov.
The stoneware statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was erected above the spring in 1902 and later moved to a niche in the rock. There were more and more pilgrims with music and priests from Slovácko, Wallachia and Haná. The project of a small pilgrimage church was drawn up in 1933, but its construction did not take place. Instead of a general overhaul of the original chapel in 1963, a new chapel was built in two days thanks to the efforts of the then spiritual administrator of Malenovice, P. Vojtěch Krále, and especially thanks to the extremely courageous dedication of the parishioners from Lhota u Malenovic. At this time, the Lourdes cave and the surroundings of the spring were also renovated.
Pilgrim processions with music have been banned since the 1950s. Only the parish of Lhota u Malenovic was allowed to march with music every year, because the procession through the forest “did not disturb anyone and did not interfere with traffic”.
The common pilgrimage is held on the first Sunday in September and its continuity has never been interrupted.
Source: www.farnosthalenkovice.eu
There are few places that leave a mark on you. One of the unforgettable places is Napajedla Castle. You can go here for a tour, sit with a cup of coffee, visit various cultural programs, get married or rent rooms for your own organized events.
The castle in the centre of Napajedla near Zlín was built in the middle of the 18th century. There were over fifty living rooms on three floors, in addition to the facilities. The building is surrounded by a ten-hectare English-style park with rare trees and a romantic pond with water lilies. The park serves not only for a pleasant walk, but also for organizing various events and activities. The beautiful historical monument has been in private hands since 2008 and has been gradually opened to the public since 2009.
You can admire the beauty of the historical halls, which were used by the Napajedel nobility, especially the Rottal, Kobenzl, Stockau and the important Baltazzi families. In 1886, they founded a famous stud farm with English Thoroughbreds.
You will sleep in rooms where the local comtesse used to sleep. You’ll visit a park that has witnessed famous horse auctions. After all, the centuries-old trees could tell….. Our philosophy: “The sweetest happiness is that which we share together”.
Napajedla Castle is open to everyone who loves people and life. Here you will find not only the historical legacy of our history, but also comfort that will take your breath away. You will feel at home here, a place where you will experience luxury in our castle accommodation and at the same time home cooking like from your grandmother.
Enjoy special relaxation treatments in the atypical and unique holistic studio or directly in the rooms. Here you can make merry at weddings, family celebrations or corporate events. All this with full service, but at the same time with a human home-like approach.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The founder of the oldest English Thoroughbred breeding in our territory was Aristides Baltazzi, a member of an influential Viennese family with Greek roots, in 1886. The stud achieved great success and for many years was the most successful breeder of these horses in the Czech Republic. The breeding unfortunately ended in 2023.
Aristides Baltazzi (racehorse rider, horse breeder and policeman) came to Napajedel after his marriage to the daughter of the owner of the local estate Friedrich Stockau. The family’s seat was an 18th century castle. The stables, which later became a stud farm, were not built until a century later.
The economic crisis and Widow Marie’s ill-advised investments in experimental oil wells contributed to the estate’s financial decline. The widow Baltazzi was forced to sell all her thoroughbred horses in 1930, which became the property of the State at the intervention of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The land, buildings and the chateau were acquired at a public auction in 1935 by the Bat’a company. In 1937, on the initiative of Ing. Bohumil Tichota and the then director Dr. Ing. Václav Michal, the stud farm with pastures and stables was exchanged for the land in Otrokovice and Tlumačov. From the same year the stud was included in the association of state institutes for horse breeding and 12 mares were imported, which significantly influenced the quality of breeding. Between 1948 and 1989, the Napajedla stud had a privileged position in the breeding of thoroughbreds and a number of racing champions emerged from the local stable, winning at racetracks all over Europe. In 1992 it was transformed into the joint-stock company Horse Breeding Napajedla, which has maintained the breeding tradition with the excellent reputation of the local horses. In 2005 it became a private joint stock company. In 2020, the owners of the stud farm presented to the city authorities their intention to build low-rise apartment buildings on the grass paddocks. The breeding of English thoroughbreds in Napajedle was terminated in 2023.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The town hall was built in 1904 under the design of Dominik Fey from Uherské Hradiště. The impetus for this construction was, among other things, the promotion of Napajedel to a town in 1898.
The town hall was built in the pseudo-Renaissance style. Important Moravian artists were invited to decorate the building. Franta Uprka is the author of the statue of St. George placed between the windows on the first floor.
The dial of the tower clock was designed by Jano Köhler. The interior of the town hall is also richly decorated. There are rich stained glass windows, paintings in the meeting room and wooden tiles.
During important cultural events, the town hall tower is open to view the city (St.Wenceslas Festival, Open Monuments Day, European Heritage Days).
Opposite the town hall is the Church of St. Bartholomew, with majestic staircases leading up to it.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Opposite the Old Castle is the Baroque building of the Rectory, which was built in the 1780s and forms a single complex with the Church of St. Bartholomew, which is reached by a majestic staircase lined with statues of national saints. The church was completed in 1712 and is one of the region’s most important religious monuments.
The church was built between 1710 and 1712 and some of the structural elements and statues from the old church were used in its construction, such as the stone statues of St. Peter and St. Paul placed in the front of the church. There is a coat of arms of the Rotal family above the portal of the main entrance, held by two angels, and the year of completion of the construction in 1712. There are two Renaissance tombstones of Friedrich and Bartholomew of Žerotín on the sides of the main entrance, dated 1568.
The wooden statues of the apostles (St. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were transferred from the old church. The altarpiece of the Passion of St. Bartholomew is the work of Fr. Kančić from 1809. The stained glass windows above the chancel date from the end of the last century. There are now two bells in the church tower. The most extensive renovation of the interior was carried out at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Napajedla Museum attracts both young visitors to the permanent exhibition of toys as well as adults to temporary exhibitions and historical permanent exhibitions. The museum is located in the former monastery.
In the Napajedla Museum you can see the permanent exhibition Playground of Toys, which will introduce you in a playful, interactive way to the legendary toys designed by Libuše Niklová and Alfréd Klug, which have long been produced and are still being produced in the Fatra Napajedla company. The author of the exhibition is Libuše Niklová’s son, the well-known artist Petr Nikl, who designed it as a “Man Don’t Be Angry!” exhibition where children and adults can play with the toys themselves.
There are also permanent exhibitions Fatra in Time – 80 years of the factory in an imaginative cube, The Story of the Town – an introductory edition of facts and extraordinary facts from the history of Napajedel and Slavia, the story of the factory – more than a century of the company’s history with a demonstration of historic engines.
The Napajedla Museum has a unique audiovisual hall in which it organizes temporary exhibitions – historical, association, art.
In addition to the museum, the New Monastery also houses a primary art school, a Culture Club, an information centre, a café, a monastery chapel, a chamber hall, two small gyms, facilities for athletes, pensioners, a beekeeping club and folklore groups.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The wooden church in Velká Lhota is a church of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren and is a unique cultural monument in the village of Velká Lhota in the Vsetín district of the Zlín Region.
It was built in 1783 shortly after the issuance of the toleration patent of Emperor Joseph II. It has never been rebuilt, among other things due to the poverty of the parishioners, and thus remains the only wooden church with the original features of toleration churches in the Czech Republic.
The writer Jan Karafiát served as parish priest here for twenty years at the end of the 19th century. The church was declared an immovable cultural monument of the Czech Republic in 1964 and was classified as a national cultural monument in 2008.
The Evangelical congregation was established in the former Hrubá Lhota a year after the publication of the toleration patent, which ended the long-standing persecution of Protestants. Services were first held in the barn of Jiří Fabián. The place was chosen because the Catholic authorities in none of the neighbouring villages wanted to provide land directly on the territory of the village (neither Malé Bystřice nor Střítež nad Bečvou).
Later, a timbered church covered with shingles was built from thick spruce logs. However, there were strict rules that had to be followed before the first services could be held there in 1783.
The toleration church could not have a tower or bells, and even the entrance could not face the main access road. The windows had to be small. The church, which is surrounded on two sides by an arcade, is unheated, without artificial lighting, and the interior is devoid of statues and paintings. The only distinctive decorations are Bible quotations written in Swabian on black panels and a quotation from the Gospel of Matthew on the ceiling of the church.
The church was for a long time the only Protestant church on the territory of Žerotín manor after the toleration patent was issued. It was not until 1866 that another Protestant church was built in nearby Střítež. In 1938 a harmonium was purchased for the church, the organ was not installed until 1996.
The church is still in use and holds Sunday services and other ceremonies – continuously since the founding of the church.
Thanks to deforestation, this rock formation, hidden in the forest for many years, has become a dominant feature of Medůvka and its surroundings, its beauty overshadowing even the nearby and much larger climbing rocks. These, together with the rock, create a very impressive backdrop of life.
The rock formation offers a nice view of the deep Brňovský valley, the lower climbing rocks of Medůvky and the secluded area with a modern replica of a windmill, after whose original owner – Adolf Skypal – the rock formation is named.
A small but very important area of the Moravian sandstones in terms of difficulty, discovered for climbing only at the beginning of the 1980s. The rock is divided into two parts, the Little Meduvka and the Big Meduvka. The formation consists of one tower and two peripheral blocks, with the valley wall of the highest block reaching a height of 10 m. An isolated rock formation in the shape of a characteristic needle, situated on the eastern side of the massif, is 3 m high. Although the dimensions of the rock are not impressive, it is one of the most important climbing sites in Moravia.
The rock is made of very hard quartz sandstone. Most of the trails lead in the valley north walls, the rocks are sunny only from the west. The terrain is suitable for warm summer days.
24th October 2023, Bunč – Velehrad, Czech Republic
Councillors of the Zlín Region together with Bishop Nuzík of Olomouc on the Cyril and Methodius Route leading from Bunč to Velehrad.
“In the further development of the Cyril and Methodius Route, cooperation and communication with our partners, including the municipalities along its trail, is crucial for us. We therefore took this opportunity to visit several of them during our journey, where we met and discussed with the local mayors. Together, we realise that the centre of the marked trails in the Velehrad area has extraordinary potential and there is a need for quality services and accompanying infrastructure,” said Lubomír Traub, chairman of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius and deputy governor of the Zlín Region.
The invitation to join the pilgrimage with the councillors was accepted by Bishop Mons. Josef Nuzík, administrator of the Olomouc Archdiocese, and he perceived it as follows: “”We feel the need for movement and the beauty of the views more with the hiking trail. With the pilgrimage we expect spiritual refreshment and strengthening, to experience something deeper. I believe that the Cyril and Methodius Route will gradually gain pilgrims as well as those who will testify that we are not just walkers in the world, but pilgrims with a destination.”
The participants had the opportunity to see the reconstructed Baroque clock from the 18th century in the tower of the Empire church in Jankovice. The time machine then transported them to the prehistoric era, from which the underappreciated stone monument – the so-called King’s Table, resembling the head of a pratur. Many people, including the governor and the bishop, also climbed the wooden lookout tower above Modra. They sampled local wine and even fresh goat’s milk from a medieval “priest” who sang them the Kyrie eleison in a replica of the Church of St. John the Baptist. They continued on to the construction of the Treasury of Great Moravia, which will house the most valuable artifacts and replicas from the early Middle Ages. At the end, parish priest Josef Čunek guided them through the pilgrimage site and the basilica at Velehrad, which is one of the important state-forming sites of the country and is literally a chronicle of history. Otmar Oliva, a world-renowned sculptor, also came to talk about his permanent exhibition The Story of a Statue at the Velehrad Tourist Centre.
“The easy trail was full of great experiences and we literally travelled through time. I can recommend everyone to do something for their health and knowledge and to go on this or one of the other walking trails of Cyril and Methodius Route in the autumn. Hikers can find detailed information about the trails, including recommendations for day stages, on our website www.cyril-methodius.cz.” summarised Zuzana Vojtová, Director of the East Moravian Tourism Centre and the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius Association.
It is 10 years since the founding of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, which is dedicated to marking trails Cyril and Methodius Route in the field in cooperation with the Czech Tourist Club. All the trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route in the Czech Republic, which in total are about 900 km long, end at Velehrad. The association managed to achieve the registration of the Cyril and Methodius Route as the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in 2021, the first route of this kind to be based in the Czech Republic. This registration is perhaps equal in importance only to the UNESCO registration.
Information about the trail: Bunč – Velehrad – Cyril and Methodius Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe (cyril-methodius.cz)
14th November, Mojmírovce, Slovakia
The European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius is expanding with 9 new members from four European countries. The new members are Velehrad Municipality (Czech Republic), Modrá Municipality (Czech Republic), Bojná Municipality (Slovakia), Žilina Self-Governing Region (Slovakia), the civic association EUROPEAN ROUTE C&M (Slovakia), Mojmir Foundation (Slovakia), the Institute of Macedonian Literature at the University of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Skopje (Nothern Macedonia), Institute of Old Slavic Culture Prilep (Northern Macedonia) and the Archaeological Museum of Veliki Preslav (Bulgaria). The Association, which is dedicated to the development of the Cyril and Methodius Route – the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, has already 33 official members from 9 countries.
“I am very pleased that in the year 2023, when the Slavic countries commemorate 1160 years since the arrival of Constantine-Cyril and Methodius in Great Moravia and 10 years of our association’s activity, we are growing with a diverse range of members from four European countries. All of them want to capitalise on their long-standing work in the field of cultural heritage and contribute to the living Cyril and Methodius tradition and cultural dialogue in an international network. The legacy of the brothers of Thessaloniki unites us all,” said Lubomír Traub, Chairman of the European Cyril and Methodius Cultural Route and Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region for Strategic Development, Subsidies and Tourism.
The new members were approved and welcomed by the General Assembly of the European Cultural Routes of Saints Cyril and Methodius Association held in Mojmírovce, Slovakia, on 14 November, after prior discussion in the Scientific and Managing Committee of the Association. During the meeting of the Association, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Cyril and Methodius Research Centre at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia and the Institute of Old Slavonic Culture Prilep from Northern Macedonia was also signed, among other things, for cooperation in the construction of the Cyril and Methodius Route in the Balkans.
It was the second meeting of the association’s governing bodies held in Mojmírovce this year, the first one having taken place in Thessaloniki, Greece, in the spring. The next meeting of the Managing Committee and the General Assembly will take place in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, in spring 2024. We are working on developing contacts and trails, both towards Rome and the Balkans.
The site of Devín Castle at the confluence of the rivers Danube and Morava is known for its many archaeological finds from different periods. It has been inhabited since the Early Stone Age. The oldest fortification of the site can be classified as dating back to the Bronze Age. The most intensive settlement belongs to the period between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD and the 1st century AD when the Celts settled here. Later, it was settled at the end of the Roman period and at the time of the Migration of Peoples (4th-6th centuries AD).
Findings from the Great Moravian period confirm the cultural-spiritual as well as political-strategic importance of Devín. In contemporary sources, Devín is mentioned alongside Nitra and Bratislava as one of the three main settlements of Great Moravia. In the 9th century, Prince Rastislav had a massive Great Moravian fortress built here. A report from 864 puts it in direct connection with Devín: “In the month of August, King Ludovít marched with a massive defence force across the Danube, surrounded Rastic in a castle (town), which in the language of that people is called Dowina (Maiden)…”. Other smaller fortifications on the slopes of Devínská Kobyla served as guard and defence sites. Devín, as one of the few early medieval sites in Slovakia, is mentioned in written sources (in the Annals of Fulda) under the name Dowina. In 864, the East Franconian king Ludovít the German went to battle against the Moravian prince Rastislav and besieged him at the castle mentioned above. This report shows the importance of this site. There is also a more complex construction of the fortification built of wood, clay and stone, probably from the early Middle Ages (9th-11th centuries). Several residential and farm buildings were found from this period. The fact that it was not only a military fortress, but also an important religious centre is confirmed by the most significant find – the foundations of a stone building, a triple-domed basilica, found on the south-eastern terrace. The masonry was preserved at the level of the foundations. From the fragmentary finds we know that the building was plastered and decorated with frescoes. It is probably a sacral building. This is also suggested by the proximity of the burial site, where graves dating from around the mid-9th century were uncovered. The building probably disappeared sometime in the 10th century, although the hilltop was certainly inhabited. Later, probably in the 11th century, a rotunda was built to the south-west of this structure, around which a cemetery dating from the 11th to 13th centuries was built. The rotunda disappeared, and with it the cemetery, probably when the settlement moved to the suburbs, where a new parish church was built.
The origin of the medieval castle on the top of the hill is placed in the middle of the 13th century. The castle was enlarged by the so-called middle castle in the first half of the 15th century. In the period when Mikuláš Garay took possession of the castle. His son Ladislav in the middle of the 15th century started fortifying the so-called Lower Castle. He wanted to replace the older rampart with a new fortification. However, the project was probably oversized and could not be completed even by the next owners of the castle in the second half of the 15th and the first half of the 16th century.
The castle was gradually abandoned and destroyed at the beginning of the 19th century. The castle was destroyed in the early 19th century by the army of Emperor Napoleon.
The remains of the Great Moravian church from the second half of the 9th century testify to the fact that the place was not only military, but also played an important role in the culture and education of our ancestors. The construction of the church dates back to the reign of Rastislav, i.e. around 850. It was a sacral building around which people were buried. It can be assumed that it was a so-called proprietary church, i.e. a church combining a sacred and a secular – residential part, which was used by the Grand Duke of Devín. The church existed for about 60 years, which includes the period of the Cyril and Methodius mission in our territory. Nearby another building was discovered – this time of a circular plan with a diameter of 650 cm. The research proved that it was also a sacral object dating back to the first half of the 11th century. The nearby Great Moravian church was no longer in existence at that time and the early medieval rotunda therefore probably took over its function. The castle is currently the venue of regular events that bring the life of our ancestors to life, such as combat and theatrical performances of historical fencing, presentations of archery or a rich artillery arsenal, duels on horseback, demonstrations of crafts and others.
On the place where St. Benedict († around 1033) lived a hermit’s life, Bishop James I of Nitra founded a small monastery – the Abbey of St. Benedict in 1224. At its heart were the cave spaces where the hermit lived, to which they added a three-storey chapel, unique in our territory, which is open on the top floor to the aforementioned cave. Other monastery buildings were built in close proximity.
However, the life of the Benedictine monks over the centuries was seriously disturbed by the turbulent period during the expansion of Matúš Čák from nearby Trenčín and later by the raids of Hussite troops from nearby Moravia. The demise of the local abbey was caused by the attack of General Katzianer’s troops in 1528.
The Jesuits of Trenčín, who acquired the property of the defunct abbey by donation from King Ferdinand III in 1644 (other sources mention the Bishop of Nitra, Jan Püsky, as the donor), brought new life to the large Skalka. The Jesuits subsequently built new monastery buildings next to the original ones in 1667-69 and gradually renovated the whole area. The reconstruction of the upper floor of the medieval chapel is mentioned in 1717, the stone stairs to the monastery were built in 1755 and the roof was replaced in 1768.
After the dissolution of the Order in the Austrian monarchy in 1773, the Jesuits had to leave Veľká Skalka as well and the abandoned buildings began to deteriorate until they turned into ruins.
Partial repairs were carried out in Veľká Skalka in 1852-1853, 1892, 1911 and 1914. After the Second World War, further work was carried out in 1951 and then again in 1982. Major repair and conservation work on the ruins, combined with research, began after 2000.
The two-tower church built in Romanesque style was first mentioned here in 1208. It was dedicated to St. Benadik. Juraj Thurzo, a zealous Catholic, the grandfather of Juraj Thurzo, later palatine, built a chapel in honour of St. Dorothy on its site in 1520.
During the Jesuits’ stay in Skalka, the chapel was renovated in 1713 and a tower was added. A new altar in honour of Our Lady of Czestochowa was built in 1679. The church was damaged during the Boer wars. The chapel was enlarged to its present form in 1745 and two towers were added. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built in 1949 and processions were held there on Good Friday. Later, a calvary was built on Malá Skalka (1676) with fourteen Stations of the Cross.
The church was restored again under the Trenčín parish priest Abbot Ľudovít Stárek in 1852-1853; it was repaired and consecrated in 1924 by the Bishop of Nitra Karol Kmetěk. The main altar has since been decorated with statues of the hermits St. Andrew-Svorad and Benadik. The war events of the Second World War did not bypass Skalka either and therefore it was necessary to proceed again to extensive renovation, which was completed in 1951. The solemn Holy Mass was celebrated by the Nitra administrator, Bishop Eduard Nécsey. The painting of the saints on the wall is the work of Father Emil Prokop, SVD, from 1983.
Other modifications to the church at Mala Skalka were carried out in 2003-2006. Sanitary facilities, repairs to the pilgrimage house and the surrounding area were built in 2011. A new Stations of the Cross were added to the pilgrimage area in 2012.
Trenčín Castle – the dominant feature of the town of Trenčín and the whole Povazie region. Together with Spiš Castle and Devín Castle, it is one of the largest castles in Europe.
It has always guarded the trade routes connecting the region of northern Hungary and the Central Slovak mining towns with Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia and Poland. The origins of the castle date back to the 11th century, when it consisted of a residential tower and a rotunda, the remains of which can be seen in the upper courtyard. At the end of the 13th century, the castle came into the possession of Matúš Čák, who owned almost 50 castles and became the legendary lord of the Váh and the Tatra Mountains. There is a beautiful view of a large part of the Považie region from the highest tower of Matúš’s castle.
Other owners of the castle gradually modified and rebuilt it according to their own ideas. King Ludovít of Anjou added a new palace – Ludovít’s Palace, in which you can now see historical period furniture from the 17th-19th centuries. Sigismund of Luxembourg gave the castle to his wife Barbara of Celje and had Barbara’s palace built for her. Stefan Zápolský acquired the castle together with the town at the end of the 15th century and began extensive reconstruction. The Zápolský Palace is the youngest palace of Trenčín Castle.
You can see the barracks, the hunger chamber, the cannon bastion and the well of love in the lower part of the castle. The barracks were once used to accommodate the castle garrison and were also used as an ammunition store. Nowadays you can find an exhibition of medieval and modern cold, firearms and firearms. The Cold Chamber was originally built as a lookout tower. It was only later used as a castle prison. It has housed replicas of medieval instruments of torture since 2014. The more adventurous can try putting their head in the pyre, which is located in front of the hunger chamber.
In ancient times, the cannon bastion protected the bridges crossing the Váh River. Nowadays it is used for wedding ceremonies, festive events and occasional exhibitions. A short distance from the cannon bastion is the Well of Love, to which the story of the love of the Turkish young man Omar for the beautiful Fatima is connected. Fatima was a captive of the castle lord Stefan Zápolský and in order to free her, Omar had to dig a well in the hard rock of Trenčín Castle. After three years of digging with his comrades, he finally succeeded. Omar handed the first goblet of water to Zápolský with the words: You have water Zapolsky, but you don’t have a heart. When Omar was taking the freed Fatima on horseback from the castle, her veil got caught on an arrow bush. The oldest inn in Trenčín, originally called the Veil, stood on this spot; today you will find the Fatima Restaurant here.
The Trenčín castle lost its military significance towards the end of the 18th century. A huge fire on 11 June 1790, which almost destroyed the town, also devastatingly affected the castle. The last owner was Iphigenia De Castris D’Harcourt, who donated the castle to the town of Trenčín in 1905.
The church was built in the village as a relatively large building sometime in the 1330s-40s. It was a representative single nave in the full extent of the present main nave with a shorter square sanctuary. The walls of what was probably originally a flat-roofed nave survive to about two-thirds of their original height, and the side walls of the sanctuary survive at their full original height.
The next construction phase followed the significant damage to the church during an attack by the armies of the Czech king Přemysl Otakar II in the 1370s. It included a significant rebuilding of the sanctuary, which was extended eastwards into a polygon and vaulted with a heavy rib vault. This was supported by massive lateral pillars preserved in the foundations. At the end of the sanctuary, the role of the pillars was taken over by the solid masonry of the corners, which created a straight eastern wall of the presbytery on the exterior. Subsequently, a rectangular sacristy with a vaulted vault was added on the north side of the sanctuary.
In the 14th century, the south chapel was added, originally it was to extend only to the south portal to the main nave. However, during construction it was extended to the west front of the nave. At the same time, a crypt with a stone vault was built under the extension. The chapel was vaulted with cross-rib vaults; only the newer west bay survives.
The north side aisle was also built as a side chapel in the second quarter of the 15th century. The chapel was connected to the nave by broken arcaded arches similar to those of the south aisle. The lower parts of the masonry of what is probably the original Gothic tower, preserved in the foundations of the present Baroque tower, also date from the late Gothic period. A Renaissance-style renovation was carried out in the second third of the 16th century, which was necessitated by the burning of the church by Turkish troops. The sacred space was then protected by bricking up the arcades connecting the original side aisles with the main one.
The church was Baroqueised during the restoration in the 1770s. The tower was added, the nave and the sanctuary were given vaults with buttressed ridge sections. Work continued in the 18th century, when the west front was completed with portals with statues in the lintels and additional statues in the gables. The illumination of the nave was designed with semicircular windows of the so-called thermal windows, and the Gothic windows of the side aisles were also adapted to the same shape. In the interior, the arcaded arches to the side aisles were reopened. A wooden pulpit, accessible by a staircase from the sacristy, was placed on the pillar of the arcade arch in the north-eastern part. A new lectern was built in the west part of the nave. The tower was also raised, its façade modified and roofed with a new roof of a typical onion shape. Access to the tower was solved by a staircase from the new extension.
A new sacristy was added to the south side of the sanctuary, and in 1788-1789 the restoration culminated in a representative refurbishment of the sanctuary with a new vaulted ceiling, ornamental wall paintings and, finally, the erection of a new high altar in connection with the change of patronage to the present-day Holy Cross. The central motif is thus the sculpture of the Crucified Christ, which was probably created in the workshop of the famous sculptor F. X. Messerschmidt, who worked in Bratislava at the end of his life.
Further repairs and modifications are mentioned for the years 1863, 1937 and 1949-1950. A major restoration was carried out in the 1970s and 1980s based on the results of research, together with the restoration of some elements, and continues today. The research in 2015-2017 has significantly changed our view of the earliest history of the church.
High in the hills of the White Carpathians, women with extraordinary abilities have lived since time immemorial. They were able to heal and help with all sorts of troubles, they were able to advise in times of trouble and they were also said to see into the future. They were called goddesses, and they passed on their art from generation to generation.
There is still a cottage in the village of Čierné where the last goddess of Žítková, Irma Gabrhelová (1905-2001), lived, known by the nickname “Chupatá”, which she used like her mother, who was otherwise known as the goddess Struharka. Irma Gabrhelová spent almost half a century of her life in this cottage, of which she lived alone as a widow for twenty-two years. She came from thirteen children. She married when she was twenty-five. She had seven children with her husband. Irma Gabrhelová was widowed when she was sixty-eight years old and since then she lived alone in the cottage. The goddess Irma passed away at the turn of the millennium, on January 7, 2001, at the age of ninety-seven. With her, a unique phenomenon disappeared not only from the hills, but also from Central Europe. The goddesses at Žítková are no more. They left this world one by one, quietly and almost unnoticed. The only tangible thing that remains of the goddesses of Žítkov is this cottage, which we bought in a dismal state and reconstructed with the greatest respect and the greatest sensitivity. Today it is possible to visit this cottage, to see it including the interpretation.
The information and tourist centre is located in the municipal office building and certainly has a lot to offer its visitors. Several books from regional literature are available for purchase.
Tourist stamps, stickers and a wide range of postcards mapping the beautiful nature of Žítkovka are available for tourists. A great attraction is also the photo exhibition of Helena Michalčíková from Starý Hrozenkov. Helena has been using her lens to map the beautiful nature of Žítkovka and the whole Moravian Kopanice for several years in all seasons. The way the author looks at the world around her is sure to appeal to everyone, especially because her paintings capture not only specific places, but also their spirit and essence.
The information centre offers interesting attractions in the form of an exhibition of period photographs. Visitors can read interesting facts about the history and nomenclature of local districts. Of course, there are also tourist maps and a leaflet with hiking routes, which give detailed instructions on how to see the most of our countryside.
You can see crafts, justice, housing with economy, art and spiritual life in the Bojkovice region Museum. The historic apartment from the 1950s and the old school classroom have their own unique atmosphere. The latest exhibition focuses on the phenomenon of Moravian Kopanice and the Žítková goddess.
You can enjoy expositions devoted to the oldest history of the Bojkovice region, guilds and crafts, the Bojkovice judiciary, a folk house with a farm and an exposition of sacral themes. Each tour has its own attraction and unique atmosphere. You can see, for example, the equipment of an 18th-century tannery, examples of blacksmiths and locksmiths’ work or guild figures in the exhibition focused on crafts. There is also the traditional theme of the museum – an exhibition dedicated to animal husbandry or objects reminiscent of the activities of Bajer’s soda factory.
The importance of Bojkovice as an administrative and judicial centre, which has had judicial powers since the 15th century, is also recalled. It is worth mentioning that the museum itself is now located in the former courthouse and the Bojkovice town hall from 1672 was also located on this site. Its existence is commemorated by a bell from 1669, which rang for convicts on their way to the execution ground, the shackles from the town hall cloakroom and the poppy which was placed on the town hall tower. A more recent period, when the district court functioned here, is represented by the installation of the court room and there is also a reminder of the important head of the district court, JUDr. Bohumír Bunža.
There is a demonstration of housing and farming in the Bojkovice region for lovers of folk traditions with an impressive installation of a house wall separating the two parts. Another exposition dedicated to spiritual themes offers an opportunity to reflect and be silent over works of a sacred nature. Impressive atmosphere is evoked by stained glass windows, statues and images of centurions or the presence of a priest – even if only as a mannequin. You will feel like you are visiting your grandmother in the exhibition of a 1950s retro apartment, which consists of a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom and a bathroom with a toilet. All the furnishings are period and evoke memories of a time recently past for visitors. The school classroom exhibition is loved not only by children, but also by adults, whose memories of their school years will fade.
Another exhibition focuses on the Moravian Kopanice area. This is the area consisting of the villages of Starý Hrozenkov, Žítková, Vápenice and Vyškovec. The first part of the exposition will introduce you to the history of the area, life during the year and the simple costume with typical colourful embroidery of Moravské Kopanice. The descriptive part of the exposition is complemented by embroidery, costumes and costume components from different time periods and historical photographs illustrating the reality of everyday life. The exhibition continues with the installation of a two-room house consisting of a pit, which was used to house farm tools, household utensils and often livestock, and a simply furnished room dominated by a black kitchen with a bread oven.
The Neo-Gothic Chateau Nový Světlov, originally a Gothic castle from the 15th century, is today sometimes called the Slovak Miramare and serves as a hotel and restaurant. Tours of the chateau are offered on a limited basis during the tourist season. The courtyard of the chateau is covered, fully air-conditioned and equipped with audiovisual technology. The space allows for theatre and concert performances, congresses and conferences. The chateau’s surroundings are popular for weddings. The complex also includes a large English park.
At the foot of the White Carpathians in Bojkovice – Světlov you will find a unique chateau in the English Tudor Gothic style. Nový Světlov Chateau is a prestigious regional cultural centre open all year round. You will find here a theatre hall, a hotel and a restaurant. The hotel part has a capacity of 72 beds. Each room is equipped with hand-carved mahogany furniture, a large-screen plasma TV. Guests will welcome the modern and marble-tiled bathrooms with the charm of history.
The main theatre and concert hall with underfloor heating and full air conditioning, with excellent sound system and intelligent lighting, has a capacity of at least 500 people for theatrical arrangements. A number of historic halls and lounges are available for social gatherings, celebrations and business presentations.
The Larisch Mönnich Restaurant offers a seating capacity of 68. It is located on the ground floor of the south wing adjacent to the main hall. It is completely wheelchair accessible, including modern toilets. Visitors can make use of the adjacent car park adjacent to the main entrance.
From April to October, weekend tours of the castle run from 11am – 4pm. Then, from July to August, tours of the castle are available every day except Mondays, with a trained guide every full hour. Organised tours of the castle are from Tuesday to Sunday, from 11:00 to 16:00. Tours begin every full hour, with the last tour starting at 4:00 pm. Tours and larger groups, please announce your visit in advance.
The dominant feature of the capital, Bratislava Castle, rises on a hill above the old town and provides a magnificent view. The castle hillside was already inhabited in the late Stone Age. Recent archaeological research here has uncovered the most representative Roman building in a Celtic setting from the first century BC north of the Alps. The discovery of gold coins bearing the names of Biatec and Nonos, the first Celtic princes in the area, confirmed the existence of a royal residence. The castle is also closely associated with Maria Theresa. After her coronation as Queen of Hungary in June 1741, she stayed here until December and returned repeatedly. Later, she had it rebuilt into a representative Baroque residence and the castle served as the residence of her daughter Maria Christina and her husband, the Elector Albert of Saxe-Tessen, who was a well-known art enthusiast and concentrated many of his works in Bratislava Castle. He later transferred them to Vienna and many of them are still part of the art collections of the world-famous Albertina.
The turn of the 5th and 6th centuries marked the beginning of the Slavic settlement of this locality. The first inhabitants first occupied sites where the remains of older dwellings and fortifications were prominent. They secured the acropolis of the castle hill as well as the nearby hill of the castle rock above today’s Devín with a system of fortified settlements. We learn from military reports about the names of both systems -Dowina and Brezalauspurch. The location of the settlement on the Bratislava castle hill controlling the crossing trade routes and the Danube ford was very advantageous. It can be said that there was a well-fortified centre with log dwellings, a palace (it was a two-room building built on the top platform of the castle area), a pre-Romanesque three-aisle basilica, a cemetery and farm buildings from the first half of the 9th century. The fortification, still wooden (documented width of the wall 4.5 m, height 1.6-2 m), delimited an area of about 300×200 metres and, with a few necessary modifications, lasted in this form until the end of the 14th century, when it was replaced by stone Gothic walls.
The results of archaeological research with numerous evidences of advanced Great Moravian material culture (buttons, ornaments, pottery) show that this Slavic fortress exceeded the character of a frontier fortress in its architecture and function. One of the most important finds from the Great Moravian period are the remains of a church building from the 9th century on the eastern terrace of the castle. The fact that it was a sacral building is evidenced by its layout; its eastern orientation and the burial ground that was located near it.
On the basis of these findings, Bratislava Castle can be considered an important Great Moravian fortress in the 9th century – the religious and secular centre of the wider area. It housed a princely retinue and a church dignitary. The importance of the fortress is also reflected in the fact that its name Brezalauspurch appeared in the Salzburg annals of 907 in connection with the battle of 4 July 907, in which the Bavarian armies were defeated by the Old Hungarians. Before that, however, the original function of the fortress within the administrative structure of Great Moravia had already disappeared. The castle regained its significance in the 11th century, when it became a Komitat castle and the seat of the royal family.
Luhačovice offers a unique wealth – natural healing springs. Lázně Luhačovice manages Vincentka and 8 other mineral springs.
Luhačovice mineral waters have a high content of mineral substances and excellent free carbon dioxide outgassing. Their temperature ranges between 10 and 14°C. They are considered to be among the most effective in Europe.
They help in the spa treatment of the respiratory system, the musculoskeletal system, the digestive system, the circulatory system, diabetes and recovery after cancer treatment.
They are used for drinking cures, inhalation treatments and carbonic baths. Annually, we carry out 80,000 natural carbon dioxide baths and nearly 200,000 inhalations of mineral healing water.
The most famous medicinal spring in Luhačovice is Vincentka. Vincentka is the basic inhalation medium in most inhalatories in the Czech Republic. However, its effect directly from the spring is irreplaceable.
Aloiska Spring
Ottovka Spring
The spring of MUDr. František Št’astný
New Jubilee Spring
St. Joseph Spring
Viola Spring
Amandka Spring
Mary Spring
The spa colonnade in Luhačovice, sometimes also called the Great Colonnade, was built after World War II according to the plans of architect Oskar Poříska.
The Spa Colonnade in Luhačovice is a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, it is a functionalist work of the Brno architect Oskar Poříska (1897-1982) consisting of three interconnected buildings. These are the Vincentka Hall, the Great Colonnade and the Small Colonnade. The buildings were built on the south side of the spa square between 1947-1951. The work created between 1946 and 1952 integrates the spa centre. The colonnade impresses with its ground plan complemented by glazing and benches. Many shops are located here. The colonnade starts in the area next to Jurkovič’s house and with an elegant curve it progresses to the central spa hall with the Vincentka spring.
The spa colonnade has undergone extensive reconstruction (2018 – 2019), during which the previously inaccessible atria were restored, the glazing was renewed, the colonnade was brightened thanks to skylights, the lighting and mosaic pavement were reconstructed. The spring in the centre of the colonnade has also been restored; previously people could drink the Amandka spring there, now Vincentka is brought in. In the atriums, relaxation areas have been created, where there are gardens for gastronomic establishments, which were previously not on the colonnade.
In the upper gallery you will find a relaxation zone and a permanent interactive exhibition dedicated to the origin and importance of Luhačovice mineral waters. The hall will also be used for cultural and social events.
In the very heart of the Luhačovice Spa is a national monument and the dominant feature of the town – Jurkovič House. The original mill was rebuilt in 1902 by the well-known architect Dušan Jurkovič into a spa house with accommodation and a balneotherapy centre.
The building of the hotel Jurkovičův dům **** is located in a picturesque park near the spa colonnade. After an extensive reconstruction, the house of architect Dušan Jurkovič has retained the character of folk art nouveau and its original beauty. It offers luxurious accommodation in rooms equipped with period furniture, television, telephone, free wired internet and minibar. The hotel’s restaurant serves local and international cuisine. Dietary and vegetarian meals are available.
It is one of the first buildings that Jurkovič created in this picturesque town. He carried out a basic reconstruction of the 18th century ” John’s House” in 1902. He combined these two old buildings into one unit, adding an additional floor and an attic. He gave the whole building a colourful paint job inside and out. In its time, it was called a colourful fairy tale, and nowadays this house is a landmark and the most beautiful building in Luhačovice. The house was named after Count John Serenyi and in 1947 named after its creator D. Jurkovič. The reconstruction of this most valuable building of the spa park was completed in 2002, and services were added to include a swimming pool, sauna and restaurant for guests.
The museum, which was founded in 1918, focuses on the history and traditions of the Luhačovice Zálesí region. The museum displays, for example, blueprint moulds, interior furnishings, pottery and faience, folk costumes, paintings on glass, polychrome sculptures and other customary objects.
The exhibition Known and Unknown Luhačovice, located in the new premises of the Elektra Cultural House, is a lifestyle exhibition that combines three views of Luhačovice in the early 20th century. It presents Luhačovice as the centre of a traditional ethnographic region called the Luhačovice Zálesí, as a place with medicinal waters and a developing spa industry, and thirdly as a specific urban area growing up between a village and a spa.
The museum, through a new exposition, publishes both the valuable ethnographic collection of the Luhačovice Museum Society from the 1920s and collections from recent years, aimed at documenting the Luhačovice spa and the history of the village. The exposition is complemented by short-term exhibitions and accompanying programmes for schools and the public.
The natural and cultural-historical area of the Rochus Park together with the adjacent vineyards already offers the citizens and visitors of the town a marked sightseeing tourist circuit, opportunities for walks, family trips and guided tours.
You can also admire ancient cultural monuments – the pilgrimage chapel of St. Roch in the centre of the Park Rochus area and the burgher wine cellars in Vinohradská Street. There are also other interesting destinations in the area, such as the lookout tower on Rovnina or the possibility of a wine tasting in the cool cellars of winemakers in Uherské Hradiště.
There are orchards in the natural area, sheep grazing and regular public events.
Among the most important investments in recent years are a small nature museum on the edge of the Rochus Park, landscaped natural areas with planted avenues winding up to the Chapel of St. Roch, an exhibition of local plants, more walking and nature trails, viewpoints, areas for sport and relaxation. We already offer field trips, educational and experiential programs.
Above the vineyards at the top of the 345-metre high Mařatice hill stands a memorial chapel, which commemorates the devastating plague epidemic that struck the inhabitants of Uherské Hradiště in 1680. The leading townsmen of Hradiště, led by Zacharias Guchs, donated part of their property to build a chapel dedicated to the patrons of the plague (St. Roch, St. Sebastian and St. Rosalie). After the Bishop of Olomouc, Karl Lichtenstein, gave his approval, construction began in the autumn of 1680, but its completion took a long time. One of the main reasons for the many years of construction was the fire that broke out in Uherské Hradiště in April 1681 and destroyed a large part of the town.
In October 1687, the mine of the tower was lifted and the construction of the chancel was completed. The construction of the chapel was continued with the construction of the Nave, the Narthex and in 1715 a hermitage was added to the chapel for the church wardens.
In 1786, under Emperor Joseph II, the chapel was consecrated and sold to the town of Uherské Hradiště, which established a powder house for the local garrison. After the First World War, the chapel was for the primary purpose of preserving the valuable monument thanks to the efforts of Archbishop Dr. Antonín Cyril Stojan and Uherské Hradiště citizens ing. Vojtěch Stancl and JUDr. Miroslav Skácel. In 1931 the chapel was rededicated and pilgrimages began to be held there.
After the Second World War, an effort was made to restore the chapel in a dignified manner so that it would be an ornament of the region it dominates. Under the guidance of the parish office in Sady and the auspices of the conservation authorities, it was repaired with the help of the faithful and many willing collaborators between 1965 and 1968. The Chapel of St. Roch, St. Sebastian and St. Rosalie was consecrated on 29 September 1968, the 35th anniversary of the death of the Archbishop of Olomouc, Antonín Cyril Stojan.
The preserved form of the chapel is classical. It is an important cultural element of the landscape and has been declared a cultural monument.
You can visit a freely accessible archaeological site dating back to the 9th century, where traces of ancient history were created. This is one of the places where the burial site of St Methodius is believed to have been.
It is a national cultural monument with the remains of an important church complex dating back to the Great Moravian Empire. Christian missionaries built one of the first brick churches north of the Danube here as early as the turn of the 8th and 9th centuries.
One of the most important archaeological sites from the period of the Great Moravian Empire is located in today’s urban part of Uherské Hradiště, popularly known as “Derfle”, on the so-called Sadská hill above the bend of the original course of the Olšava River. It proves the presence of an ecclesiastical complex of several brick buildings built in three construction phases throughout the 9th century. It included a baptistery and a large burial ground. Both outside and inside the church buildings, archaeologists uncovered 87 graves, often placed in coffins with rich alms. According to the findings, a prominent figure, perhaps Prince Svatupluk himself, was buried in the chapel with a burial chamber. On the northern side, the sacral complex was separated by walls from a cluster of twelve log buildings where craftsmen and their families lived and worked in workshops. On the opposite side stood a large building that probably served as a gathering place for the faithful and perhaps a place of instruction for priests. There was a well and a paved road between the various precincts.
Due to the overall layout of the complex and the significant finds (a lead cross with a Greek liturgical inscription, and a writing tablet), it is assumed that representatives of the Byzantine mission worked here.
The site was finally abandoned during the 13th century.
Visitors to the Sadské Heights can see a reconstructed floor plan of the church buildings and learn about the history and significance of this freely accessible archaeological site through an information board.
The Museum of Moravian Slovakia in Uherské Hradiště occupies an important position in the network of Czech and Moravian museums. Not only with its history dating back to 1914 or the number of collection items, but above all with its focus and work outputs it attracts the interest of both the professional and the general public.
Since its foundation it has been profiled in ethnography and archaeology, later in fine arts and history. Its research and collecting focus on the entire ethnographic area of Moravian Slovakia places it among the regional institutions. From what was originally a small cultural institution, born out of the dedication and enthusiasm of patriotic staff, it has developed into a professional and highly expert institution that serves the public in several buildings.
The historically and architecturally valuable building in Smetana Gardens in Uherské Hradiště, whose two large extensions were built by the renowned architect Bohuslav Fuchs, houses an ethnographic exposition of Moravian Slovakia, which will draw you into the atmosphere of this picturesque region. The dazzling beauty of costumes, family and annual ceremonies and customs, handicrafts and folk architecture. The three-dimensional objects are complemented by multimedia elements in the form of animations of selected dioramas, short films and a database of over 1,800 archival photographs. You can also test your newly acquired knowledge about life in Slovácko in interactive tests. The exhibition is also adapted for the blind and partially sighted.
You can also visit the two exhibition halls, which host ethnographic, historical and archaeological exhibitions. During the year there are also many accompanying programmes – workshops, children’s workshops, talks, etc.
The Memorial of Great Moravia – Cyril and Methodius Centre in the Staré Město is a showcase of the history connected with Great Moravia for more than 70 years. But it is not only the period of Great Moravia – we must not forget the traces of much older settlements. Discover the imprints of prehistory, the story of Slavic lore and the life of the Great Moravian nobility and visit the monument, which is classified as a national cultural monument and its exhibitions are also adapted for the blind and visually impaired.
The Great Moravia exhibition tells the story of the great man Mojslav around the foundations of the 9th century cemetery church. The second exhibition, The Story of Constantine and Methodius, opens with a book about the lives of the men who were at the beginning of Slavic writing. From the exhibition Prehistory of Uherské Hradiště, the originals of the most important archaeological finds speak as mute witnesses of the past.
Do you want to know the past even more deeply and find yourself directly at the places connected with Great Moravia? Head to the freely accessible archaeological sites around Uherské Hradiště.
Whether it’s the “Špitálky” in the Staré Město, where you can see the foundations of an 18.5 m long temple, or the foundations of a small church with its replica in the village of Modrá.
Perhaps the most mystical place is the Height of St. Methodius in Uherské Hradiště. It belongs to one of the sites where the grave of St. Methodius is said to have been. Head to the places where you can literally touch history!
The “Baroque beauty”, as we can proudly call it, also served as an infirmary, post office or orphanage during three centuries. In 1962 it became a gallery and is still one of the most important collection institutions in the field of fine arts in the Zlín Region.
Several exhibition halls invite you to encounter the permanent exhibition of the Art of Southeast Moravia, which changes in three-year cycles, as well as the exhibition programmes that rotate throughout the year.
There are other gems to be discovered in the courtyard of the Gallery of the Museum of Moravian Slovakia, such as the original Baroque fountain from the early 18th century (you can see a copy on Masaryk Square) or the Renaissance tombstone of the townsman Urban.
The space in front of the gallery is artfully complemented by a sculpture installation that is regularly changed as part of the Sculpture for the City project.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Moravian Museum Brno has opened the Centre of Slavic Archaeology in Uherské Hradiště. Here you will see an exhibition about Saints Cyril and Methodius and learn interesting information about the beginnings of Christianity in Moravia.
The museum building of the Centre of Slavic Archaeology shows mainly the work of the Archaeological Institute of the Moravian Museum, i.e. finds directly from the region and the results of research on Slavic settlement, Great Moravia and the beginnings of Christianity. Interested visitors can see the local archaeological discoveries.
The first exhibition is dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius. The exhibition presents well-known finds, such as the so-called Stupava False, i.e. original stones discovered near the village of Stupava in Chřiby, which more than eighty years ago the visionary Klementina Maštalířová identified as part of the tomb of St. Methodius, which was later refuted by archaeologists.
In addition to the reminder of the fate and local influence of Cyril and Methodius, the exhibition also includes large-scale models depicting the probable situation of the sacral centre of Great Moravia in Uherské Hradiště – Sady as well as the appearance of the hitherto little-presented power headquarters of Veligrad, which was on the site of the current cemetery in the Staré Město. You will see medieval coins, jewellery (e.g. silver earrings from the 9th century discovered in October 2013) or replica of shoes.
Moreover, the centre expects that archaeologists will continuously enrich them with their new discoveries. Finds often come, for example, from salvage excavations, when archaeologists have to explore a site quickly before being replaced by construction workers.
There was a fishermen’s settlement on this site at the beginning of the 9th century, which soon disappeared, and around the middle of the same century a large stone building of the palace type was built here, the most representative building in the entire Uherské Hradiště agglomeration at that time.
The building was the seat of the Grand Duke, his family and the assembly of representatives of the Moravians. A stone rotunda was built near the palace for the Grand Duke, the remains of which were uncovered under the chancel of the present church. The building was plastered and painted.
The present church of St. Michael was built in the second quarter of the 13th century by the Cistercians of Velehrad. Until the end of the 15th century it was the only main church building in the town and was apparently fortified with a moat and a wall. The church was burnt down by the Swedes in 1645 and rebuilt as late as 1734.
The magnificent construction of the huge modern church of the Holy Spirit took place between 2002 and 2014 and required considerable financial resources. The entire church is completely wheelchair accessible, has air conditioning and underfloor heating. The interior of the church is still temporary and will be gradually retrofitted according to financial possibilities.
The long-under-construction church has earned the nickname “Temelín” among the locals. The blessing ceremony took place on 5 October 2014 during the pontifical mass.
The entrance and the front side of the church are located on the side of the Monument to Great Moravia. It consists of two towers slightly inclined towards the building itself, representing the 2 Slavic saints Cyril and Methodius.
The towers are connected in the middle by a cross, the shape of which is based on a discovery made during an archaeological excavation on the site. The main nave has a proposed exterior cladding of glass. The glass symbolises the penetration of the rays and the openness of the church. The basement created under the nave houses a hall for social use, various cultural and educational events in the city. There is a liturgical space with an altar and a tabernacle in the front, designed as a common space for the church and the winter chapel, which is located behind the liturgical space on the east side and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The materials used in the construction were traditional reinforced concrete, masonry construction and wooden or stone cladding.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Memorial of Great Moravia – Cyril and Methodius Centre in Staré Město introduces visitors to archaeological findings from the region and the life of the Slavs. Its first part was built in the 1960s over the foundations of a Great Moravian church with a large burial site.
The national cultural monument, which extends the range of presented finds beyond the borders of the region, offers three expositions. The current exposition Great Moravia in the locality Na Valách focuses mainly on the Great Moravian agglomeration with its centres in Uherské Hradiště and on the church buildings in Modrá near Velehrad and at the St. Kliment hillfort near Osvětimany.
The visitor is informed about Great Moravian architecture – including reconstructions of individual ecclesiastical and profane buildings. Visitors will see replicas of period clothing, shoes, precious jewellery, working tools and other findings from archaeological excavations that have been taking place in the Staré Město for more than a century.
The exhibited objects are accompanied by a series of drawings and three-dimensional reconstructions that explain the use of the objects in practice, as well as maps and diagrams that illuminate the links of the agglomeration to the near and distant surroundings.
The new extension, the Cyril and Methodius Centre, together with the original Great Moravia exhibition, has become one of the landmarks of the Staré Město in the Uherské Hradiště region. It has thus joined one of the main presentation centres of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius. It connects several countries.
The building is connected by a glass neck with the original building, in which the Great Moravia exhibition is installed, the Memorial of Great Moravia. The space of the extension offers mainly a modern permanent exhibition The Story of Cyril and Methodius. It is interactive and relies not only on classic exhibits, but also on audiovisual technology that guides the visitor through the life and work of the heroes.
The third exposition, entitled The Prehistory of Uherské Hradiště, offers visitors the originals of the most important archaeological finds or a unique haptic trail.
The exhibitions also present the current results of archaeological research carried out by the Moravian Slovakia Museum in Uherské Hradiště and the Archaeological Institute of the Moravian Museum in Brno in the local area. Literature related to the period of the Great Moravian Empire and replicas of some finds can be purchased in the ticket office.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Do you want to learn about the past even more deeply and find yourself directly at the places connected with Great Moravia? Head to a freely accessible archaeological site where you can see the foundations of a great temple.
The important polycultural site hides not only the negatives of the foundations of the Great Moravian temple, but also traces of much older settlements – the culture of ash fields, with corded pottery or the culture with Moravian painted pottery dating back to the Early Stone Age.
The site of the national cultural monument “Špitálky” is located on the so-called Velehrad promontory and forms the south-western part of the Staré Město, which was established after 1918. The northern part of “Špitály” is today the location “Na Špitálkách” (the site of the discovery of the foundations of the Great Moravian church in 1949) in a narrower sense. Velehrad’s promontory has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period, as shown by the findings of split stone tools from the earlier Stone Age, as well as the findings of cut and smoothed industrial culture with linear pottery, Moravian painted pottery, ceramic finds from the Unetic culture, the Middle Danube Mound culture and the Ashfield culture, including the Hallstatt period.
In 1949, while collecting gravel from the terrace profile on the right bank of the blind arm of the Morava River in the position “U Stohu”, just behind the Staré Město sugar factory, three skeleton graves without charity were excavated. Soon afterwards, not only several other skeleton graves with alms were destroyed during machine gravel extraction, but also the entire southern half of the foundations of the Great Moravian church. The same year, a rescue excavation was started by the Institute of Archaeology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences in Brno under the direction of Josef Poulik. During the research in 1949-1950, a skeletal burial site was uncovered with a total of 42 graves with rich equipment (spurs, iron knives, silver and gold earrings and buttons, coffin fittings, a circular plaque with a carved relief of a rider with a falcon, etc.). Given the nature of the burial site, it is most often assumed that the church may have been owned by an important family of the Great Moravian elite, whose members were also buried here. It is possible that the church was part of a larger ownership unit, perhaps a manor house, situated in a strategically important location.
According to the preserved remains of the foundations, the church had a rectangular nave, which was closed on the eastern side by a semicircular closure and on the western side it turned into a vestibule. The interior of the nave was divided by 6 supports. At the north-eastern corner of the church the remains of a smaller building with a recess, perhaps a baptistery, were found. A similar depression was found at the south-west corner of the nartex. The temple was 18.5 m long and approximately 8 m wide. Its foundation masonry is preserved only in negative form. Stake pits and traces of wooden fencing were found along the south and west sides of the church. In terms of location, it stood in a strategic place, at the site of the road and the gate of the so-called outer fortification. Given the absence of finds typical of the second half of the 10th century, it is obvious that it disappeared immediately after the fall of Great Moravia.
During the archaeological research in 2020, a Late Eneolithic grave of a culture with corded pottery was also newly documented at the site, which consisted of ceramic vessels and fragments of copper hair spiral ornaments. Most of the archaeological objects found in the newly investigated area are related to the settlement of the site in the Early to Late Bronze Age. However, the presence of the carriers of the ash field culture was already demonstrated here during the research in 1950. The newly identified Bronze Age objects were mainly concentrated in the south-eastern part of the study area.
EXHIBITION ON THE CYRIL AND METHODIUS ROUTE OPENED IN AQUILEIA, ITALY
6th December 2023, Aquileia, Italy
An exhibition on the Cyril and Methodius Route – the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe – opened last week in Aquileia, Italy, in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. The opening of the exhibition took place on the 6th of December on the occasion of a conference dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the UNESCO inscription of the Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia. Mrs. Dana Daňová, Chair of the Managing Committee of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius, presented how the Cyril and Methodius Route benefits from international cooperation with other Council of Europe Cultural Routes, such as Via Francigena, Via Romea Germanica or Via Romea Strata.
“”We concluded a memorandum of cooperation a year ago with representatives of the town of Aquileia, the local foundation and the basilica, in Modrá near Velehrad. The invitation to celebrate the anniversary of Aquileia’s inscription on the UNESCO list and the opportunity to present an exhibition on the Cyril and Methodius Route are proof of our good relations and interest in active cooperation,” said Lubomír Traub, chairman of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius and Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region for Strategic Development, Subsidies and Tourism.
An exhibition presenting a cultural route connected with Slavic cultural heritage is on display in the Bishop’s Palace opposite the Basilica. The exhibition has not yet been scheduled to end, but it should move to Rome in the winter months. The opening of the indoor exhibition, consisting of twelve scrolling panels, was preceded by a presentation of the Cyril and Methodius Route at an international conference on the cultural and pilgrimage routes that pass through the site.
“‘Saints Cyril and Methodius also travelled through Aquileia in the early Medieval period, which is why it is an important place on the Cyril and Methodius Route in Italy. It is the route to Rome, where Saint Cyril is buried. We have discussed with representatives of the city, for example, cooperation in tourism – Czech cyclists and Slovak motorcyclists will be heading here next year,” said Dana Daňová, Chairwoman of the Managing Committee of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius.
The Cyril and Methodius Route builds on the broad legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius, co-patrons of Europe, and is aimed at promoting sustainable cultural tourism and the increasingly popular pilgrimage tourism.
The Slavic hillfort in Mikulčice is undoubtedly one of the most important places related to the early history of our state. It was one of the most impressive fortified settlements of Great Moravia. In its time, the Mikulčice hillfort was a water castle, which was surrounded by the rugged arms of the Morava River.
One of the most important archaeological sites in the Czech Republic is located on the territory of Mikulčice. It is a place whose life ended more than a thousand years ago and, undisturbed by other historical events, preserved its secrets until the 20th century.
The first museum exhibition was opened to the public in 1960 in the original ground floor building. During 2015, a new Visitor Centre was built, which takes over the concept of the original exhibition. Unfortunately, this exhibition has not been completed and is therefore not accessible. It is promised to be dominated in the future by authentic finds of wooden boats discovered during excavations of extinct riverbeds. A new model of the hillfort, or its ninth-century appearance, is currently located in the Visitor Centre. It presents the latest findings of archaeologists obtained over the past decades. Visitors can get an idea of the original appearance and layout of the buildings of the inner fortified area of the hillfort and its surroundings.
The second permanent exhibition “Great Moravian Mikulčice – The Second Church and Sacral Architecture of the Princely Castle” in Hall II consists not only of a tour of the authentic foundations of the Second Church, burial pits with burials and three-dimensional models of local churches and palaces, but also of a projection combining elements of computer visualization, spoken word. High-quality replicas of jewellery and other small objects found during archaeological excavations are also on display in Exposition II.
The Visitor Centre includes an observation tower reaching a height of 30 m. Although it does not allow a view of the most distant surroundings, it offers an opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of the hillfort.
After the tour of Pavilion II, it is possible to take a walking tour of the hillfort along the visitor trail and see copies of the foundations of stone buildings in the field, with panels describing the interesting features of the district.
In 2019, a modern footbridge spanned the flow of the bordering Morava River, connecting the original wider area of the hillfort. This has created a pleasant route for pedestrians and cyclists alike, offering a visit to another important standing early medieval monument near Kopčany – the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch – close to the floodplain forests. The footbridge also connects to two national networks of cycle paths.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
There was an important settlement area in the 9th century on an elevation marked in historical maps as Za jezero u sv. Markety (Behind the Lake at St. Margaret’s). It was connected with the road to the Valy hillfort in Mikulčice from the east, which passed through these places. The Valy hillfort is considered to be one of the seats of the Mojmir dynasty in the 9th and 10th centuries, whose representatives were Mojmir I (around 795-846), Rastislav (?-870), Svatopluk I (around 830-894) and Mojmir II (?-907?), and who were at the head of the historically known Moravians.
North of where the ruins of Majer’s grove Kačenáreň stand today, a settlement of guards was built in the 9th century. It controlled the road to the Mikulčice hillfort of Valy. Near the settlement, on the south-western slope of the dune, there was a burial ground. The burial site was a pagan cult site, which included the grave of the chief of the settlement. Sometime in the second half of the 9th century, a church of St. Margaret of Antioch and a great manor house were built to the southwest of the guardian settlement to seat the new administrator of the area.
The Church of St. Margaret of Antioch, a single-nave, two-space building with a presbytery built on the plan of an irregular trapezoid, is one of the typical representatives of the church architecture of the 8th – mid-11th century in Europe. Its peculiarity was the atrium with a brick tomb. The overall dimensions of the building are 11.9 x 5.2 m. The building material is thin sandstone slabs from local quarries. The masonry is 0.75 m thick. The church originally had simple small windows with almost straight lining and a triangular-shaped top arch, which are preserved intact in the north wall of the nave. The same window opening has been reconstructed in the west elevation above the entrance to the nave of the church. The exteriors and façade of the church have been cleaned of modern plaster. The original entrance opening to the nave of the church has been reconstructed in the west façade. The presbytery has a vaulted ceiling, the nave has no ceiling and is open to the attic. The church has a new roof, a new stylized roof truss and ceramic roofing.
The Church of St. Margaret of Antioch had an atrium with internal dimensions of 3.84 x 2.70 m in the first construction phase. Today only a fragment of its southern foundation wall with a bend to the north below ground level is preserved. A brick tomb with internal dimensions of 0.65 – 0.75 m x 2.05 m was located below ground level adjacent to the south wall of the anteroom. An important church dignitary or the founder of the church was buried in the tomb.
During the 13th-14th centuries, after the demolition of the narthex, the windows in the north wall of the nave were bricked up and the window openings on the south side were modified with a nun-shaped lining. A new narrow rectangular window in the east wall of the chancel replaced the original, probably 15th century, slit window. This alteration may be related to the construction of the ceiling above the nave and the change in the shape of the church roof. A significant reconstruction of the church dates from 1647 – enlargement of the entrance to the nave from the west by the insertion of a large stone portal, new internal plastering and painting, paving with brick and moving the altar to the beginning of the nave. During the 18th century the church was prepared with hexagonal ceramic tiles, the Gothic windows in the south wall of the nave were bricked up and replaced with a semicircular window with a horizontal sill. The church was also repainted. The last known significant structural alteration of the church took place in 1926.
Around the church is the original old Kopčany cemetery with graves from the 9th – 18th centuries The size of the cemetery is unknown. Its area in the 18th century is indicated by the size of the plot on which the church now stands.
The original patronymic of the church is unknown, the current one probably dates back to the 13th century. The church of St. Margaret served the needs of the Christian inhabitants of the surrounding settlements in the 9th-10th centuries, and in the 13th century it became part of the parish of Holička as a branch church. It is currently administered by the Roman Catholic Church, the Kopčany parish, which was established in 1862. The church used to serve ecclesiastical purposes until 1994. In 2000, in parallel with the research of the church, its restoration began. In addition to the church itself, the area of the adjacent cemetery will be landscaped. After the restoration is completed, the church will once again serve ecclesiastical purposes and at the same time become a living museum exhibition of pre-Romanesque liturgy in the Mikulčice-Kopčany archaeological park.
Holíč Chateau is a Baroque manor house and a historical landmark in Holíč, Slovakia. The manor house was built as a summer residence by the Habsburgs in the 18th century. It replaced an older military fortification dating back to the 12th century.
The original stone castle was built on the Moravian-Hungarian border in the 13th century as a border fortress. The location remains a border area in the 21st century. The site is located in Slovakia, approximately 1 km from the border with the Czech Republic and 25 km from the border with Austria.
History
The oldest archaeological findings in the Holíč area date from the Neolithic period, and there are findings from the Bronze Age, Iron Age and the Roman time. For the better part of the 13th century, Holíč was the seat of a border comitatus. Following a Mongol invasion in 1241, the Árpád dynasty decided to build a new stone castle on the site of an older wooden water castle which stood there since the 11th century. A document from 1256 mentions the castle as Wywar, meaning “New Castle”.
The look and purpose of the castle kept changing throughout subsequent centuries. Under the ownership of Matthias Csák of Trenčín, a single-storey Gothic palace was built on the site around 1315. An underground system of castle corridors was also constructed in the 14th century. They connected different parts of the castle as well as the utility buildings. Later the castle came into the possession of Stibor of Stiborice. The site underwent another large-scale transformation in the mid 15th century when another palace was added, while most of the pre-Gothic fortification was taken apart. The late Gothic structures from the 15th century were replaced in the Renaissance period by an anti-Turkish star fortification, connected by casemates with an external and internal moat. At the same time, a basement was dug under almost the entire courtyard. Utility buildings were placed near the outer perimeter. The northern and extended western wing of the manor house was also completed. This Renaissance star fortress was completed after 1678.
After 1736, when the town and the castle became the property of the Franz I, Holy Roman Emperor (husband of Maria Theresa), the Renaissance fortress was gradually reconstructed into a three-winged Baroque mansion. Testifying to the royals’ interest in the site, the reconstruction was carried out under the supervision of some of the most important Austrian architects and artists at the time: Franz Anton Hillebrandt, Jean Nicolas Jadot and Joseph Chamant. A broad new central street connecting the town and the castle was also added during the renovation. The primary purpose of the new manor house was to be a summer retreat of the Habsburgs. The mansion had almost 100 rooms in 1799.
The Baroque transformation of the Holíč Chateau was a major construction event, the result of which ranks among the best Baroque works in Slovakia. The monumentality of the building, its generous architectural concept and historical realities later led to its recognition as a National Cultural Monument in 1970.
Following the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, the manor house was nationalized. A school was established in one part, while other buildings were used for agricultural purposes. The manor house has been falling into disrepair since. As of 2021, most of the site is in need of renovation.
The hillfort ” Ostrá skala (Sharp Rock)” (812 m.a.s.l.) is situated on a limestone cliff to the east of “Tupá skala” (Dull Rock). It is protected from the eastern and southern sides by 50-60 m high cliff walls. The settlement area is in the NW part, from where there is also an access road. The earliest settlement is recorded here in the form of stake pits, which date the pottery to the younger period of the Baden culture.
Together with the location of “Trnina” above Dolný Kubín, it is the second Eneolithic highland settlement in Orava. After the destruction of the Hallstatt hillfort on “Tupá skala (Dull Rock)”, the settlement briefly moved here, documented by ceramic fragments in a secondary position. In the Late Stone Age – the Púchov culture, a fortified hillfort was built here, protected by a stone and clay rampart with a height of 3.5 m and a palisade. The inner area was divided into three parts, with the acropolis enclosed by a rampart with a lattice structure. Settlement continued here in the Roman phase of the Punic culture. On the area typical Latenian pottery was found, including painted vessels, iron clasps, tools. Three golden Celtic staters date from the 19th century, and the discovery of a bronze weight hanger suggests the possibility of coin production. An exceptional find is a depot of 40 iron objects dated to the 4th century – to the so-called North Carpathian group of the Late Roman period, which, together with the finds of pottery, proves that there was a smaller settlement here at the beginning of the migration of peoples. The site was also important in the Slavic period, when a Great Moravian settlement was built here. Iron spurs date this settlement to the Blatnica-Mikulčice horizon, to the turn of the 8th-9th century.
Ostrá skala (Sharp Rock) as a strategic location for fortification was discovered again in the 9th century AD by our ancestors the Slavs, who again rebuilt fortifications and built new dwellings on the hillfort. The Slavic fortification system at the end of the 8th century and in the 9th century. The Slavic settlement used the remains of fortifications from earlier periods. It was also a continuation of the earlier arrangement of the inner area of the hillfort, when a palisade enclosure divided the hillfort into three courtyards with an area of approximately 1.5-2 hectares. The rampart, in plan in the shape of an asymmetrical horseshoe, protected the highest area of the settlement with an area of 2,500 m2. The rampart dates back to the Latin period, when the Slavs built a wooden enclosure on top of the rampart.
From the turn of the 8th and 9th centuries. The cultural layer, a sunken dwelling with a furnace and other settlement objects with fireplaces come from the 6th century. Among the finds, three spurs, scythes, bucket fittings, knives, axes, razors and weapons should be mentioned. From the younger period, dated to the 10th century. From the 12th to the turn of the 12th/13th centuries, dwellings with log construction (charred remains of wooden beams) were recognised in the plan. The fortified settlement probably fulfilled a central administrative function in the region in the first period. On the basis of the long-term ongoing reassessment of the finds (iron objects – weapons, horse equipment), the continuity of the settlement from the second half of the 9th century onwards has already been established up to the 10th century. This was the period between the two most important landmarks of early medieval use of the site. However, it does not reach the same intensity as in the two dominant time periods.
The foundation stone for the church was consecrated by Ján Klačány on 2 June 1787. Emperor Joseph II issued a privilege for the extension of religious freedom in 1786 and allowed Evangelicals to build towers, which was already known at the time of the construction of the church.
The church was furnished modestly and simply. In 1790 a baptismal font was donated to the church. The name of František Sláma, who was a builder and carpenter in one person, is connected with the Evangelical church. He was responsible for the construction of the Windmill in Holíč and equipped the evangelical church with pews, a pavilion and pulpits. He made the whole interior of the church according to the artistic design of the manorial architect Karl von Bertele. The main altar is classical from the end of the 18th century with the image of Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, at the foot of Mount Olivet, being strengthened by an angel. Evangelicals are mentioned in Holíč as early as around 1580 and the literary mention of the cemetery dates back to 1646. Maria Theresa’s Intimatum forbade burying the dead bodies of Protestants in the Roman Catholic cemetery, so the cemetery in the northern part above St. Florian’s Chapel was assigned to the Protestants by Emperor Joseph II after the issuance of the Patent of Toleration. The church is a National Cultural Monument.
Currently, the church is open to the public only by appointment at the Holíč Tourist Information Centre during the summer tourist season and during the European Heritage Days.
Scattered throughout western Slovakia are communities of so-called reoptants from Ukraine who have returned to their homeland after several decades of displacement from eastern Slovakia. Twenty-four years ago, they also came to the town of Holíč, on the border of Slovakia and Moravia. With great love and dedication, priests from eastern Slovakia (e.g., Mgr. Milan Gerka, Archim. Vasily Sadvariy, and others) came to them and celebrated Orthodox services for them. The piety and interest of the people of Holíč in spiritual life made it possible to establish a church community. Its first spiritual administrator was the Rev. Mikuláš Rusič. After him, Protopriest Jakub Jacečko began to work in Holíč, who was the initiator of the establishment of a new church that would meet the growing number of Orthodox Christians in Holíč and its surroundings.
In the most difficult times, when the Orthodox in Holíč were looking for a place where they could perform their services, the Roman Catholic parish of Holíč was very helpful to them and allowed them to use the chapel of St. Florian in the local cemetery for many years. After a decade of preparation and subsequent implementation, thanks to the financial and material support of sponsors and donors, the Orthodox church community received a new shrine.
The temple was built between 2013 and 2018 in the classical Orthodox style with a dominant dome and typical onion-shaped towers at the local cemetery. The consecration of this newly built church took place on 28-29 April 2018. It became a great event for the Bratislava Archdeaconry (it is the third Orthodox church in this region after Bratislava and Komárno), but also for the wider surrounding area.
The consecration of the church and the blessing of the foundation stone /13.06.2013/ took place in the presence of the highest representatives of the Orthodox Church – His Beatitude Rastislav, Archbishop of Prešov, Metropolitan of the Czech lands and Slovakia, together with His Eminence Michael, Archbishop of Prague and the Czech lands, a number of clergy, believers and the highest representatives of the councils of some Orthodox countries in Slovakia, and also representatives of the City of Holíč.
If you are interested in an excursion for organized groups, or in access to the church at other times, please contact the administrator of the church community at t.č. +421 34/668 52 84, +421 918 941 124, or by e-mail to: jaceckovajana@centrum.sk or the Tourist Information Centre Holíč.
The architectural design is the work of Stanislav Mikovčák, the building contractor is Antonín Žídek from Ratíškovice, so it is a truly international building.The main building stone is stone, the canopy is wooden, the iron bars with blacksmith elements are worth mentioning. The shape of the tower was inspired by the nearby windmill, which has also recently undergone renovation. As the tower does not stand on the very top, the views are rather limited to north, west or south directions. In the north, it is mainly the spurs of the White Carpathians, gradually to the west the wide plains of the Lower Moravian Valley, behind them we can see the peaks of the Chřiby Mountains (experts will certainly discover Buchlov). The northern spurs of the Alps can be seen relatively close by. In the floodplain forests around Moravia we can suspect the ancient centre of the Great Moravian settlement near Mikulčice.
Outside Holíč we can see the nearby Skalice and the surrounding villages. Two red hatched chimneys belong to the Hodonín power plant. Almost from above we look into the Jewish cemetery, the golden towers of the Orthodox Church of the Mother of God Počajevská look a bit more problematic.
The lookout tower is freely accessible and still considerably fresh, the grand opening took place on 11.5.2021. The lookout tower is equipped with two powerful telescopes.
Hidden in a secret place in the tower is a time capsule for future generations to follow, which should provide information about the motives and desires of our time.
The windmill in Holíč is the only preserved building of its kind in Slovakia. Therefore, it is not surprising that it has become a cultural monument. However, the windmill in Holíč, within sight of the Morava River, was not the only windmill on the territory of today’s Slovakia. Other windmills in the Záhorie region were located in the villages of Vrbovce, Chvojnice, Sobotiště and Havran.
The windmill near Holíč was built in the 1880s on the site of the original wooden mill from 1801. The windmill stands on a flat (now forested) hill Hreben (230 m) southeast of Holíč. From the centre of Holíč or from the Holíč Chateau it can be easily reached by following the yellow trail. However, you can also reach the mill by car.
The windmill in Holíč is a brick windmill of the Dutch type, of which the largest number have been preserved in Moravia. For example, in Kuželov, Studénka, Hodslavice or Zbyslavice. There were not many windmills in Slovakia, as the construction of water mills was preferred.
The windmill in Holíč was grinding until 1926, when the last miller, Jaromír Sláma, son of František Sláma (1847-1900), an immigrant from Jevíčko, ended his activity. From 1926 the windmill fell into disrepair. Therefore, it is not surprising that practically nothing of the grinding equipment has survived.
It was not until the late 1960s that the windwheel imitation was installed by the Heritage Institute. However, the pinwheel was made of steel. Surprisingly, however, it was the hunting association in Holíč that was responsible for the complete reconstruction of the three-storey building in the 1970s.
The windmill in Holíč has a circular ground plan, a flat domed roof with a lightning rod. The original roof with a wind wheel was rotatable and could be turned nicely downwind. The adjacent outdoor area at the windmill is used for social events.
When you say the town of Skalica, almost everyone associates it with the oldest cultural monument, which is the rotunda. However, few people know that this church was built first and then the town of Skalica grew up. The rotunda is located on a small hill on the outskirts of the town. It is built in Romanesque style. We do not know the exact date of the rotunda’s construction. Its architecture follows the type of Czech and Moravian rotundas and, together with the historical circumstances, it can be dated back to the end of the 10th century to the beginning of the 11th century on the site of an Old Slavic hillfort. Later it was rebuilt in Gothic and also in Baroque style. The upper part had a defensive function as a watchtower and the lower part served as a chapel. Traces of gunfire can still be seen in the upper part. In the interior, fragments of wall paintings from the Gothic period have been preserved, depicting the motif of the legend of St. George. He fights with a dragon.
The present appearance was acquired in 1945. In 1970, the Rotunda of St. George was declared a national cultural monument. In the same year, significant archaeological research was carried out on the rotunda. In the past, the rotunda functioned as a proprietary church with a small burial area.
This important cultural and historical monument is open to the general public – from 20 May to 17 September it is free of charge for the public. It can also be visited out of season, but you have to apply for an opening at the town information office. There is a small fee to visit the rotunda out of season. Currently, the rotunda in Skalica has been undergoing a long and difficult reconstruction.
The history of the Jesuit church dates back to 1693, when the foundation stone was laid not only for the church, but also for the school and the college. The construction lasted almost thirty years. It is dedicated to Francis Xavier, who is the patron saint of the Jesuit order and protector against the plague. The Jesuits founded a secondary school in Skalica. Due to the large number of monks and students, it was upgraded to a college. In 1724 the church was destroyed by fire. Fifty years later the Jesuits left the town and the church was taken over by the Paulicians for a short time.
There were originally eight altars in the church. However, only the main altar with the painting of Francis Xavier has survived, together with the statues of Saints Peter and Paul. The image of the patron saint is one of the largest paintings in Slovakia, measuring 3.5×6.5 metres. It dates from the middle of the 18th century and the author of the painting is unknown. Like many monuments, this painting has deteriorated over time. Between 1995 and 1996 it was restored by two women – Rosanna Báthoryová and Dagmar Morávková. Six years ago Milan Flajžín restored the frame of the painting. The church quickly fell into disrepair and many parts of the interior were taken to other churches. Only the aforementioned main altar and the fresco in the side chapel of the Virgin Mary have been preserved.
In 2011, it underwent a complete reconstruction, which was also the most extensive reconstruction in the history of Skalica. Both the exterior and the interior of the church were renovated. On 27 November 2011, the ceremonial opening of the reconstructed church took place. This day marks the beginning of the next stage of the church as a cultural and social centre in Skalica. Since then, it has served as a cultural and cognitive monument, where concerts of organ music, as well as other genres, exhibitions, school graduations, social events, as well as weddings were sporadically held. The church has unique acoustics, which is also the best acoustics in Central Europe. The Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic even awarded the church the Cultural Monument of the Year 2011 award for the comprehensive renovation and restoration of the Jesuit church furnishings in Skalica. The church belongs to the property of the town and is not used for religious purposes.
It is a representative building of one of the most important Slovak architects Dušan Jurkovič. The core of the building, built in 1905, consists of a large theatre hall in a unique style, with murals by the famous Moravian artists Josef Uprka and Antos Frolka. The mosaic decorations on the façade were designed by Mikoláš Aleš. The premises of the house are used for cultural and social events. There was an extensive reconstruction of the house in 2005, both inside and outside.
On the first floor, the Záhorie Museum has its permanent exhibition and the Július Koreszka Gallery. It was founded in 1905 by MUDr. Pavel Blaho in the former Catholic Circle House, as the building was called. Art Nouveau lovers can visit this unique monument in this way.
Originally it was the house of the Pálfi counts from Erdöd. In the first third of the 17th century it was built by joining two medieval houses. It was rebuilt between 1780 and 1800. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, it was owned by the Mitták family.
The beginning of museum activities dates back to the years 1876 to 1881, when František Víťazoslav Sasinek started his collecting activities. In 1898, MUDr. Pavel Blaho returned to Skalice and, together with his acquaintances, began to work on the idea of collecting and presenting folk art in the Záhorie region. He made the first collection available to the public in 1903 in the private house of Jozef Novák in Skalica. The culmination of the efforts to create a museum in Skalica was in 1905, when a new cultural house was opened on the town square. The house was called the Catholic House or also the Social House and was the first nationally oriented museum in Slovakia founded by a private person. Until 1914, 250 to 400 people visited it annually. After the death of Dr. Pavel Blaha, in 1927, attendance tended to decline. This was mainly due to the disputes over the Federal House. It lasted until 1935. Seven years later, Gizela Blahova returned to Skalice and took over the care of the collections. In 1945, the administration of the museum was transferred to the Municipal National Committee in Skalica and in 1952 it was established as the District Museum of Homeland. The issue of purchasing the premises and collections from the Blahová family was not resolved until 1966. After that, the status of the museum and its management changed for a very long time.
After that, the status of the museum changed for a very long time, but so did its management. Since 1965 it has been under its present name as the Záhorie Museum.
At present, the museum functions as a regional institution with a remit for Záhorie. It is a workplace with systematic scientific research, acquisition, editorial, documentary, presentation, methodological, cultural, social and educational activities.
The Záhorie Museum provides comprehensive museum documentation in the districts of Skalica, Senica and documentation of ethnic and cultural relations of Záhorie with neighbouring regions throughout its historical territory. In addition to domestic, regional and national cultural institutions, it also cooperates with foreign museums in neighbouring Moravia and Austria. Among them, the Záhorie Museum has a special relationship with the museum in Hohenau an der March, with which it also established official partnership relations in 2005. The collections of the Záhorie Museum focus on archaeology, history, literary history, ethnography and musicology of the region. The current founder of the museum is the Trnava Self-Governing Region.
The first written mention of the village dates back to 24 September 1237 in the immunity document of Pope Gregory IX for the Zabrdovice monastery. Křtiny is one of the oldest and most memorable pilgrimage sites in Moravia. It was probably founded at the time of the foundation of the Zabrdovice monastery before 1209. Two other written references to Křtiny have been preserved from the pre-Husitic period: in 1299 the Bishop of Cende granted forty-day indulgences to the Křtiny church and in 1321 a deed of gift from Henry of Lipá, who donated the oldest Křtiny mill and Hora (the forest above the mill) to the monastery. It seems that there were already two churches in Křtiny at that time. The older Romanesque one, called Bohemian, and the newer Gothic one, called German.
Owners – Premonstratensian monastery in Zábrdovice, from 1784 – Religious Fund of the State, then from 1830 – Francis X. Dietrichstein. From 1854 – Terezie Mensdorf-Pouilly, then 1856 – Alfons Mensdorf-Pouilly (son of the previous one). 1864 – Vincenc of Bubno and Lititz, 1882 – Mořic Teuber, Edvin Offermann and from 1894 – Jan II. Lichtenštejn, who owned them until the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia, when his property was nationalized.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, the Křtiny region witnessed a great boom in tourism, and a number of speleological and archaeological discoveries were made, dominated by the discovery of a Hallstatt burial site in Býčí skála and discoveries in Výpustek. Křtiny began to live not only from pilgrimages, but also from tourism.
During the late 6th and early 7th century, the Slavic tribes settled in the territory of the Roman provinces Macedonia Prima and Macedonia Secunda, which is located in the area south of Skopje and north of Thessaloniki. This resulted in a change in the population structure of the Eastern Kingdom. In the 9th century, St. Clement, a student of Byzantine missionaries Cyril and Methodius, began to spread the Slavic alphabet among Christian followers. He founded the Ohrid Literary School, and in 893, St. Kliment was appointed the first Slavic bishop by the Bulgarian emperor Simeon.
St. Clement of Ohrid, no matter how far he was from Ohrid, according to his life, he always returned with joy to the monastery he built himself. It was his monastery that became the pivot of the education and progress of the Macedonian Slavs. Built on a flat plateau called Plaoshnik, with a dominant position and beautiful views towards the lake, Kliment’s Monastery dominated its position at the eastern end of the old town. However, the location of the monastery was determined by other factors. Namely, in this part of the city, there are remains of several church buildings from the early Christian period, so it is rightly believed that the seat of the Lychnid bishopric was here. Two buildings impress with their dimensions and construction concepts. These are the polyconchal church and the early Christian basilica; the first with complex forms and sophisticated typology related to the martyriums, and the second with the spaciousness, rhythm and strictness of the official hierarchy as a prototype for a cathedral church. Saint Kliment of Ohrid built his monastery here, and his Catholicon was placed on the altar of the great basilica, not by chance, because it was most likely the cathedral of the old bishopric. Clement constructed the triconchos from scratch as a catholicon for his monastery. He chose a spiritual form of construction, which was not very common but had a long tradition in construction history.
One of the purposes of Clement’s building was to serve as his own burial church, which is why his biography emphasizes that he prepared his grave on the front right side of the pronaos. It is believed that Clement drew inspiration from the old Plaoshnik, which contained remains of older buildings associated with the Lychnid bishopric. The tetraconch building, which dominates the space, may have influenced St. Clement’s design. Even today, these buildings impress with their complex and functional plans, as well as the symbolic forms used in their architecture. The story of Saint Clement’s Church spans over a thousand years, including its conversion into an Islamic religious building after the Ottoman invasion of the Macedonian territory in the 15th century. The saint’s relics were relocated to a more secure place in the upper part of the city, and attempts were made to restore the Christian sanctuary in the post-Byzantine period. The grandiose reconstruction of the original temple in the beginning of the 21st century is also a significant episode in the church’s history.
All these events have contributed to the rich and diverse heritage of the cult resting place of St. Clement of Ohrid. Plaosnik underwent a significant restoration project between 1999 and 2002 to celebrate 2000 years of Christianity in Macedonia and the world. The first phase of the project focused on restoring the Church of Saint Clement Panteleimon. To achieve this, the Sultan Mehmed Mosque was relocated, and the church was rebuilt on the remaining foundations of the ruined church that had been inside the Mosque for four centuries. The original tomb of Saint Clement was also restored. The rebuilt church is described as a “woven and embroidered folk building”.
You can rent motor boats for 4-10 persons and comfortable cabin passenger boats for 2-4 persons in the port of Skalica and sail along the Bata Canal. The port also offers cruise boat trips from the port of Skalica to the port of Sudoměřice to the technical monument of the tippler. Experience cruises with a programme are offered by the port for schools and seniors, and for companies it provides teambuilding activities in the port area. Refreshments in the harbour are offered by the Kotva bistro. The wharf building is designed as a wooden structure with two floors and an observation tower. There are sanitary facilities within the building for visitors and for the port service staff. In front of the building there are parking spaces for cars.
The docking and mooring of vessels is made possible by fixed piers formed by an earth structure. Access to the quays is provided by wheelchair access from the quay and wheelchair access from the first floor of the building. The connection between the peninsula and the island is provided by a wooden footbridge. Wooden stairs lead up to the building from the car park.
The Sudoměřice-Bata Canal switching station was built in 1939. Today, it is one of the most interesting sights along the Bata Canal Route, admired by visitors on hiking trips, cyclists and especially water tourism enthusiasts from the deck of motor boats or other vessels.
Výklopník was used to transfer lignite coal, which was brought along the railway line from the nearby Thomas Mine in Ratíškovice. A fully loaded wagon with lignite coal was pulled into the tipping room by a cable winch. There is an ingenious cradle with a hopper in this room. The entire cradle, including the track, hopper and full carriage, was lifted by means of a rope hoist. The wagon then dumped the dusty lignite through the front door into the prepared ship. These ships sailed along the Bata Canal as far as Otrokovice to the power plant.
Currently it serves as an observation tower, for those interested it is possible to tour the interiors with expert interpretation. There is a dock nearby with boat rental and refreshments.
The Bata Canal, or the Otrokovice-Rohatec Canal, is a historic waterway built in 1935-38, 20 km long, connecting Otrokovice with Rohatec. It runs partly along the Morava River, otherwise through artificially dug canals with a number of movable weirs, locks and other water structures and technical monuments. The remains of these monuments allow us to discover the technical skills of our ancestors.
Nowadays, almost the entire waterway of about 80 km has been repaired, 13 locks have been put into operation, thus enabling both regular and tourist water transport between Otrokovice and Hodonín. The section from the Belovo weir near Otrokovice to Kroměříž is separate and is not connected to the rest of the waterway.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The complex consists of some of the oldest buildings of folk architecture in the Czech Republic. The upper area serves as a natural auditorium to the oldest and most valuable cellars. It can be found about 4 km southeast of Strážnice and 14 km from Hodonín.
The cellars of Plze got their name from the significant presence of snails in the area. Wine cellars are mentioned as early as the 15th century. The facades of some cellars are plastered with a simple but beautiful combination of white and blue, while others are decorated with colourful ornaments.
There are around 80 wine cellars in the area, built since the 15th century. The cellars were built by the winemakers themselves. The wine cellars form a streetscape with two small squares. The area is widely visited by tourists and wine tourism is developing. It is open to the public all year round. During the summer, a wine shop is open right at the beginning of the reserve, where tourists can taste local wines.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The recreational port of Petrov opened on the Bata Canal in August 2015. It will provide berth for up to 45 boats, whose crews will find all services here.
Since August 2015, the new recreational marina Petrov has been open on the Bata Canal. It offers vessels the necessary facilities – enough berths for boats, refuelling, waste pumping, toilets, showers and other necessary infrastructure, without which recreational tourism on this waterway cannot exist.
The Bata Canal is one of the most popular tourist attractions in South and East Moravia. This 52-kilometre-long waterway, built by Tomas Bata to transport coal from Ratíškovice to the Otrokovice heating plants, is now used exclusively for cruises by sightseeing boats and houseboats.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Coming into the town from Hodonín or from the opposite side from Veselí nad Moravou, no one can miss the two massive brick Renaissance gates that have been preserved on the outskirts of the town as remnants of the original medieval town fortifications.
The mighty bastions with loopholes, which today form an important landmark of the town, were in the distant past part of the town gates built in the second half of the 16th century to defend against the Turkish danger by the then owner of the Strážnice estate, Jan of Žerotín.
Two gates with semi-circular bastions, capable of withstanding even heavier calibre firearms, were placed on the main access roads to the town. There are niches inside the gates in which the guards stood, and there were wooden stairs leading up to the first floor, where key firing stations for handguns were located. Hook guns and cannons could be fired from the ground floor. The two bastions were formerly connected by an access corridor, which was above the gate on the side facing the town. This corridor also gave access to the gate-keeper’s apartment, which was opened and closed by a heavy grating lowered by a chain from a shaft. In front of the gate was a drawbridge, which was raised for the night, making the town inaccessible. Later, according to the well-known chronicler of Strážnice, Jan Skácel, a solid bridge was built instead of the drawbridge and a massive gate was put in place of the grille. Moreover, Strážnice was surrounded by a thorough earthen rampart with a wooden palisade. Two smaller gates were built in the rampart – Svačinovská ( on the way from Dolina ) and Vinohradnická ( leading from Předměstí ) and small brick bastions were also part of the fortification.
The defensive function of the town ceased to be important after the end of enemy invasions and the fortifications gradually disappeared. In the second half of the 18th century, the ramparts with wooden walls were still functional, but during the 19th century the remains of the ramparts were gradually removed and the ditches were filled with waste.
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is part of a Baroque complex from the mid-18th century, together with a former convent and gymnasium. It was built on the site of the original fraternal complex from the end of the 16th century. In connection with historical events, the ownership of the Strážnice estate passed to the Italian Magnis family. At their invitation, the Italian Catholic Piarist order came to the town in 1633. For more than a hundred years the church of the Brothers was used for services and gradually funds were raised from the faithful up to 90 km from the town for the construction of a new church. The style of the design suggests that it was the work of the Italian builder Ignazio Cyrani. In 1745 the bells were hung and the interior decoration began. The main altar of the Assumption and six side altars were created. The retable depicts the Holy Trinity by the Brno Baroque painter Josef Tadeáš Rotter, who also painted the side altars. The significance of the main altar is underlined by the statues of St. Thomas and St. Augustine on the left and St. Vojtěch and St. Charles of Boromea on the right. This architectural work is topped with a Marian crown and the emblem of the Magnis family, for whom the space under the altar served as a tomb in the past. The interior of the church also attracts attention with its baptistery, four blocks of Baroque pews, the reliquary of St. Joseph of Kalasanky and, since 2013, the reliquary of St. John Paul II. In the choir at the back of the church there is an organ with a pedal organ and a rich set of pipes. The consecration of the church took place on 18 October 1750 in the presence of the Bishop of Olomouc, Charles, Count of Scherffenberg.
The Church of St. Martin was built in the 15th century. It is dedicated to St. Martin of Tours, whose painting by the Kromeriz painter Jan Zapletal from 1833 adorns the main altar. It was originally built in the Gothic style. Two walled Gothic side entrances, pillars and windows are still preserved. These original stylistic elements were discovered during the renovation of the church in 1943. The coats of arms of the founder of the church – the then owner of the estate Jiří of Kravař – can be traced on the exterior façade. At the end of the 15th century, the estate passed into the hands of the Žerotín family and the church was joined by a rectory, a Latin school and a cemetery. The church of St. Martin is connected with the legend of the mysterious ever-returning “Žerotín” tombstone of the prematurely deceased Bernart Hanno of Žerotín, originally placed next to the altar. According to historical documents, he was a munchen of the Roman Emperor Maximilian II and died right in the church in 1568 at the age of only twenty-seven. When his tombstone was to be taken out of the church and bricked into the outer wall after the sale of the estate to Francis of Magna and the targeted recatholicization, it always returned to its original place in a strange way by the next day. The church, like the whole town, burned down many times during its history and was later rebuilt in the Baroque style. Under the church there is a walled crypt where the lords of Kravař and Žerotín rest.
One of the landmarks of the town is the White Tower, which was built around 1615. It served together with the town fortifications to protect the town from destructive raids from Hungary. Originally, the tower was taller, and there was probably a wooden gallery at the top, where a watchman kept watch and gave information about approaching enemies or fire by means of signals. The watchman had a dwelling on the floor below the gallery. In one of the fires, the tower was also affected and the wooden floor and roof burnt down (1652), after which the tower was lowered to its present form.
The ground floor of the tower is made of stone, the floors are made of brick, unplastered on the inside. From the second floor the tower narrows. The walls on the first floor are almost 2 metres thick. The Renaissance windows were modified in the second half of the 19th century into a neo-Gothic arch, which reduces the pressure of the masonry. The tower used to be decorated with Renaissance ornaments – sgraffiti, which are partially preserved on the wall facing the church courtyard.
The tower was built next to the church of St. Martin ( built in the 14th century ). There was a cemetery next to the church, which was enclosed by a wall. Burials ceased in the cemetery in 1785 and the cemetery wall was dismantled in 1799.
The entrance to the tower was originally by a wooden staircase on the first floor. There are walled entrances in the wall. During renovations in 1948, it was discovered that a spiral staircase was bricked into the wall on the ground floor.
There is a clockwork from 1900 and bells in the tower, of which the older one, the rarely decorated “St. Joseph” cast in 1719, was saved from military requisitions during both world wars. The second bell is “St. Anthony”. In addition, there is a smaller bell – “St. Barbara”.
The older clockwork dates from the beginning of the 18th century, before that there was probably a sundial.
There is a passage on the ground floor of the tower, which has been alternately walled up and opened. Interestingly, the tower stands on unstable ground and therefore is tilted by up to half a metre.
The repairs to the White Tower were carried out in 2013 and cost three quarters of a million crowns, including its equipment. The tower, which used to be one of the three steepest in the former Czechoslovakia, received new stairs, railings, repaired walls, a viewing platform and new shutters.
From above, you can enjoy a unique view of the town and its surroundings with the plains of the Strážnice Pomoraví region and the distant ridges of the White Carpathians.
Visit a place where history comes alive. Return to the days of thatched-roof cottages, craft workshops, peace and harmony.
The first attempts to build an ethnographic museum in the countryside of south-east Moravia appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. It was not until 1973 that the construction of the museum in Strážnice began. Since 1981, the grounds of Moravské Kopanice, Luhačovice Zálesí, Horňácko, technical water structures, a vineyard area and a meadow farm have been open to the public. In total, there are more than 64 buildings in the terrain, which has been artificially modelled with ballast and planted with greenery to match the original environment.
The expositions situated in selected buildings introduce the visitor to the way of life and living of the people in the mountain areas of Moravian Slovakia as well as in the fertile part of Moravia. The exhibition of vineyard buildings and their equipment, which is complemented by a vineyard representing wine growing from the earliest times to the present day, is the only exhibition of its kind in our territory.
Every year, the National Institute of Folk Culture organises over 12 thematic events for visitors, with demonstrations of folk customs and handicraft techniques. Every last weekend in June it becomes an attractive setting for the programmes of the International Folklore Festival Strážnice. The National Institute of Folk Culture in Strážnice is the founder and professional guarantor of the Museum of the Village of South-East Moravia.
At the end of October 2023, new buildings were completed in the Strážnice Open Air Museum – a mill and a Fulling Mill. The new Podhájský Mill and Fulling Mill, together with the farm facilities in the form of a barn and stables, have become the newest buildings in the Water Engineering Complex. The complex is an example of water structures that could be encountered in the past in south-eastern Moravia. All these buildings originally stood in the basin of the Velička river, near Strážnice, in the Horňácko region. The area is complemented by previously built buildings – a horizontal water sawmill and a miller’s dwelling from the Čerešníky mills. Visitors will be able to see the new buildings and the exhibition in the 2024 season.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Castle, surrounded by a large park, is an ornament of the town of Strážnice. A permanent tour circuit with a historical library and a newly opened castle chapel with a highly valuable altar.
Strážnice Castle stands on the site of an original peasant castle, probably built in the second half of the 13th century, which was owned by the Lords of Kravaře from the beginning of the 14th century. Jiří of Kravař carried out an extensive Gothic reconstruction of the castle in 1453, and after his death in 1466 his daughter Elisabeth inherited Strážnice. She mortgaged the estate to the Lords of Žerotín in 1486, who finally bought it after her death in 1500. Under the Žerotín family, the town and the castle flourished greatly and were rebuilt into a Renaissance castle around the middle of the 16th century. During the Thirty Years’ War, the last Žerotín owner, Jan Jetřich II, had to leave the estate because of his Protestant beliefs and it was subsequently acquired by the imperial colonel František Magnis. During the 17th century, the town and the castle were frequently attacked, but it was not until the beginning of the 18th century that things calmed down.
Count František Antonín Magnis contributed to the development of the park at the beginning of the 19th century by building greenhouses and a chain bridge over the Morávka River. The last reconstruction of the castle, which gave it its present picturesque Neo-Renaissance appearance, was carried out by Filip Magnis in 1854. The Magnis family owned Strážnice Castle with small breaks until 1945, after which the castle was nationalized.
From 1956 until now the castle has been the seat of the National Institute of Folk Culture. There is an historical library, a chateau chapel and a number of interesting exhibitions in the accessible part of the castle:
Folk Clothing in Moravia
Musical instruments in folk culture
Photo – Fráňa Huml – Frenštát p. Radhoštěm – Black and white wandering in Moravian Slovakia
Historical puppets from the collections of Milan Knížák
The plane tree avenue, consisting of 52 trees, which is the largest collection of plane trees in the Czech Republic, is definitely worth a visit. It was planted in the middle of the 19th century along the carriage road originally leading to the castle in Hodonín. The largest plane tree is 480 cm in circumference and about 200 years old. The largest tree in the castle park, however, is a listed acacia with a trunk circumference of 590 cm, estimated to be over 200 years old.
Since 1946, the International Folklore Festival, one of the oldest and largest folklore festivals in the world, has been held in the surroundings of the castle park and the castle building.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
It is one of the oldest preserved buildings in Strážnice, which is mentioned as early as 1543. Průžek’s Mill in Strážnice has historical architectural elements: massive supporting beams and a wooden mill torture pillar with the year 1601.
Originally a water mill, it was gradually converted to a steam mill at the end of the 19th century and then to an electric roller mill in the 1930s.
The interior is fully equipped with mill equipment from the 1930s. The mill was grinding until 1975.
Today, there is a museum exhibition of milling in the mill.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
A visit to a blueprint workshop with a demonstration of traditional production, which has not changed since its foundation in 1906. The workshop also includes a shop where you can find a full range of products.
The blueprint workshop in Strážnice, one of the last two establishments of its kind in the Czech Republic, has a tradition of more than a century. It uses the ancient technology of negative printing, where the fabric is printed with a reserve and then dyed in an indigo bath. The reserve is then removed, revealing the pattern in the original colour of the fabric. The produced blueprint is decorated with both traditional regional patterns and motifs based on tradition and bearing the original input of the artists of the Centre for Folk Art Production. Space is also given to contemporary designers. Textiles are offered as yardage as well as in the form of a variety of utilitarian and decorative products that adapt to contemporary demand.
The blueprint goods of the Strážnice workshop are valued for their original aesthetically valuable motifs and the irreplaceable shade of blue given by the indigo dye. This quality handicraft thus forms a significant part of our country’s cultural heritage, as evidenced by its inclusion on the UNESCO national list in 2015.
In November 2018, the Blueprint was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Austria and Hungary jointly applied for the listing of this method of textile decoration. For the Czech Republic, the blueprint is already the sixth item on the list of intangible cultural heritage.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The former owner of the Strážnice manor, Count František Magnis, donated part of the land near the Jewish quarter to the Jews of Strážnice in the middle of the 17th century for the purpose of establishing a cemetery. During the 18th century, older tombstones from the original cemetery, which was located directly in the Old Town of Strážnice, were transferred to the new cemetery. The total area of the current cemetery is five thousand square metres. The Jewish ceremonial baths, called mikvehs, built on a water spring and located in the cellar of the neighbouring house, are also an important monument. Various types of tombstones can be seen in the cemetery area. The oldest ones are stone stelae set directly into the ground. The most important rabbinical graves, whose tombstones depict blessing hands, are located next to the eastern side of the synagogue. For example, Rabbi Aron ben Benjamin ha-Levi, who died in 1686, is buried here. The total number of graves is estimated at 1,500. The older tombstones are made of sandstone, granite or marble, the newer ones of light or dark granite. The texts on the tombstones were carved only in Hebrew until the middle of the 19th century. The last burial here was in the 1950s.
The spiritual centre of every Jewish community is the synagogue. The original synagogue of unknown age stood on the same site as the present one, but it was apparently damaged by fire in the past to such an extent that a completely new synagogue was built in 1804.
This building was then renovated in 1870 by the builder Leopold Slovák. Services were held in the synagogue until 1941. During the war, on 22 June 1941, the synagogue was demolished by SA troops, after which it was used as a warehouse. Only in 1991 it was returned to the Brno Jewish community. The interior of the synagogue was renovated. The space is provided with a neck vault, decorated with a geometric painting with plant motifs and a starry sky. The windows in the synagogue are modern with semicircular finials and stained glass in the form of a six-pointed Star of David. Currently, the synagogue is open to the public during the summer tourist season and exhibitions with Jewish themes are held there.
The idea of founding a city museum was born in 1935 among the city’s intellectuals to collect evidence of the city’s history in order to preserve antiquities and monuments. The Museum Association was founded and the City Museum was opened. In 1954, the museum was closed. In 1993, the association was re-established and the museum was set up in one of the historic buildings on the square. It was opened to the public in 1995. It focused on collecting, preserving and cataloguing collection items related to Strážnice and the immediate surroundings. Currently, the museum houses more than 10,000 collection items. The museum is managed by the local Museum and Local History Association, which has 70 members and is financed by the town of Strážnice.
The museum has exhibition spaces on the ground floor, first floor and in the stone-built basement. There are permanent exhibitions on the first floor focusing on nature, history, associations and culture of Strážnice including its surroundings. The ground floor is used for short-term exhibitions. Since 2012, the reconstructed museum underground with a historical stone cellar has also been used as an exhibition space. The variety and attractiveness of the short-term exhibitions ensure the constant popularity of visitors. Artists, collectors, travellers, prominent personalities and associations present themselves in the museum. There are also natural history exhibitions and exhibitions for children. In twenty years, the museum has presented more than 100 exhibitions, which have been visited by more than 50,000 visitors.
Váté písky is a unique biotope, situated between the railway stations Rohatec and Bzenec-Přívoz. It is often called the Moravian Sahara. It is located only along the railway line for 5.5 km and its widest part measures about 60 m.
The Váté písky National Nature Reserve is a unique example of an open sand community with a specific composition of plant and animal species in the Czech Republic. The pine forests, planted into the original oak stands at the end of the 19th century, were bound by the local shifting sands, which threatened the surrounding fields.
The most important sites of sand-loving flora and fauna from across the country lie here. A number of bird species live here (e.g. the woodlark, the wood hoopoe and the woodlark). A wealth of dry-loving mosses and lichens grow in the sparse vegetation. A number of rare species of armyworm beetles have also been found here, and the fauna of winged beetles, especially martens, stinging bees and bees, is rich. It is possible to see the praying mantis and several dozen species of spiders.
The origin of this phenomenon is explained in various ways. According to some, at the end of the ice age, winds from somewhere piled up a ten to twenty metre layer of sand. In reality, however, the sands come from the sediments of the Morava River, which were later uprooted from the Morava and in places reach a thickness of up to 30 metres. There is also a perfect in-line trail in part of the National Park.
The Váté písky Nature Trail begins and ends near the Bzenec train station, in the parking lot of the nature trail (GPS: 48.9415025, 17.2912781). In the parking lot you will also find a monument to Jan Bedřich Bechtel – the man who managed to reforest the local area.
The six-stop trail introduces visitors first to the way of forest management, to the raising of pine trees and finally to the extraction of sand for building purposes. It takes you through the local pine and sand forests, through Rohanská aleja, to the train line (where the wind-blown sands are most prominent) and then to the edge of the quarry where the sand is extracted. Entry to the quarry itself is forbidden. After that, you have to go back the same way until you reach the turning to the blue marker, where you can finish the trip by walking on the other side of the forest. NS will lead you to the car park (or to the train) again. The total distance is 8 km.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
In the town of Bzenec in the Hodonín region of South Moravia lies the large pseudo-Gothic Bzenec Castle. The castle is not open to the public, but visitors can see the adjacent English park, which has a very old lime tree, the Bzenec lime tree, estimated to be over 900 years old.
The castle is a four-winged two-storey building with corner polygonal turrets. The main façade is distinguished by a balcony portico on pillars. A terraced garden with a park adjoins the castle. At present, the castle grounds are used by wineries, which also use the extensive Renaissance cellars under the castle. Wedding ceremonies are also held at the castle.
Originally, a fortified late Gothic fortress with a moat and a wall stood on the site of today’s castle. This was gradually rebuilt into a Renaissance castle during the 16th century. The chateau was rebuilt in Baroque style in 1709-1710 according to a project by the architect Domenico Martinelli at the time when Count Erdman of Pruskov was the owner of the Bzenec estate. In the 1850s, the castle was completely demolished and replaced by a new English Gothic-style castle built in 1853-1855 at considerable expense.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The existence of the Jewish community in Bzenec is reminded to this day by the preserved Jewish cemetery. The cemetery contains over 900 tombstones, among which are valuable stones of Baroque and Classicist type. The Jewish cemetery includes a ceremonial hall built in 1909. After the outbreak of the Second World War it was used only for storage. In the 1980s, it was converted into an interfaith mourning hall, but it was never used for this purpose. In 2019, the original facade was restored, including the Hebrew inscription “House of Eternity”. The Jewish cemetery grounds are owned by the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic.
Jewish settlement in Bzenec has been documented since the 14th century and has been documented in writing since 1585. A synagogue of unknown age was demolished in 1859-1860. In 1863 a new synagogue was built according to the project of Ludwig Förster, which was demolished in 1958. A ceremonial hall in eclectic style was built in the cemetery in 1909.
The chapel of St. Florian and St. Sebastian, also called the Florian of Bzenec, was built in 1703. At the end of the Second World War, the building was undermined and destroyed by retreating soldiers of the German army. The tower was rebuilt in 2018. The tower has a new lookout tower with a wide view of the surrounding area.
Its founder was Count Erdman Pruskovský of Pruskov, who had the entire structure built on the site of the original Gothic castle. The chapel became a prominent landmark of Bzenec, but due to its location on top of the hill it was often damaged by storms and lightning. It was closed in 1783 during the Josephine reforms. It was renovated at the expense of the town in 1852 and its external appearance changed in the 1860s. On 15 September 1915, lightning set fire to the roof, which was completely destroyed by the subsequent fire.
The real disaster for “Florianek” was the end of the Second World War. The chapel was mined and destroyed by the retreating soldiers of the German army in order to prevent its use as an observation post and a prominent landmark in the area by the advancing Allied armies.
Repairs began in 2017 after more than seventy long years. The building was designed to match the surviving building plans from 1916 in shape, composition and location. The unveiling of the restored chapel took place in 2018. The only difference is that a lookout tower has been built in the tower, which offers a view not only of the town but also of the wider surroundings.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
There is a record of the church, the parish administration and the first priest of Bzenec as early as the first half of the 13th century – the court chaplain Absolon. This can be judged from the charter of Queen Constance from 1235. At that time a small church still stood on the site of the present church.
In 1695, this church was no longer sufficient for the needs of the Bzenec parish and at the urging of the parish priest Horg, Count Jiří Kryštof Proskovský had a new church built. The construction was completed in 1702.
Interior of the church – the church is dominated by the main altar with a column retable from the first half of the 18th century with the image of the baptism of Jesus Christ. The statues of the Evangelists Matthew and John are placed near the columns, the statues of Luke and Mark are perched on the brackets of the extension. The wooden carvings of St. Peter and St. Paul are connected to the main altar. Other furnishings also date from the 18th century. Some parts of the interior of the church come from the ruined chapel of St. Florian and Sebastian and from the chapel that was located in the grounds of the castle.
In the course of time, the church in Bzenec has been the target of the elements several times. For example, in 1825, lightning struck the roof of the church, which pierced the vault, damaged the organ and knocked down one of the angels at the cross under the choir. Similarly, the church has also suffered from wars that have taken place over time.
The origins of the church of St. Lawrence in Vracov can be remembered as early as the 13th century. The early Gothic church was built in the style of Burgundian-Cistercian architecture. The presbytery, dating from 1240, has been preserved in its original state. In 1565, the church underwent its first major reconstruction, which mainly concerned the nave. The church underwent another reconstruction at the beginning of the 17th century, when the tower was rebuilt and two bells were hung in it. During the Baroque reconstruction of the church in 1734, six new windows were broken into the nave. At that time, the church took on roughly the form that has survived to the present day. The sculptural decoration is the work of Ondřej Schweigl (1735-1812). The stained glass windows date back to 1935. The early Gothic church is one of the oldest buildings in the surrounding area.
The Pieta above the Holy Sepulchre, at the side entrance to the church, was built by sculptor Josef Hladík in 1943. Behind the church, on its south side, a modern Stations of the Cross with stained glass windows and a statue of Jesus Christ were built in 2003-2004.
The interior of the church bears Baroque and more recent modifications. Above the main altar is a painting of St. Lawrence. On the sides are statues of the two patron saints, Cyril and Methodius. The two side altars serve as pedestals for the statues of the Divine Heart of the Lord and St. Joseph. The sculpture of Our Lady of Heaven is in the side chapel. The pulpit and baptismal font are wooden, neo-Gothic. The Stations of the Cross is a copy of Führich’s Stations of the Cross.
Velehrad is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Moravia. The history of this place began more than 800 years ago, when the first 12 Cistercian monks came to the valley of the Salaška River to build their monastery near the village of Veligrad (today’s Old Town). It was on the basis of its location that the monastery got its name and soon became the bearer of a much older spiritual tradition, which dates back to the 9th century, when the Slavic heralds Constantine and Methodius came to Moravia. Thousands of pilgrims have been flocking to Velehrad for centuries, and Pope John Paul II joined them in 1990.
The founders of the monastery were the Moravian margrave Vladislav Jindřich with his brother Přemysl Otakar I and the bishop of Olomouc Robert. The construction of the church was probably started between 1210 and 1215. Like most Cistercian churches, it adopted the patrocinium of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (the co-patronate of Cyril and Methodius was added in 1932 by a decree of Pope Pius XI. The title of basilica was given to the church in 1928 by the decree of Pope Pius XI).
The original Romanesque-Gothic basilical building was built according to the building traditions of the Cistercians, which were characterized by the beauty of simple lines and modest decoration. The ninety-nine-metre-long building was laid out on the plan of a Latin cross. The eastern side was closed by five apses. The church has not survived in this form due to the tragic events that befell the Cistercian monastery throughout history. In 1421, the Moravian Hussites burnt down the abbey in Velehrad. The monastery decayed for 150 years. It was not until the second half of the 16th century that Abbot Ekard of Schwoben took on the difficult task of restoration. However, the church lost its medieval appearance only as a result of a huge fire that broke out in the monastery in 1681. As a result of this disaster, the church was radically rebuilt. The building was shortened by the church front with a Romanesque concession portal and replaced by a new one dominated by two towers. The side aisles of the basilica were rebuilt with pilastered transepts, creating 14 separate side chapels, 10 of which have altars and under-floor crypts. The 100-metre high Renaissance tower was taken down from the crossing of the aisles and replaced by a dome with a low tower called a lantern. The basilica is now 86 metres long. Despite the radical changes, the church has retained the character of a Romanesque-Gothic building in its proportions and plan.
In 1784 the monastery in Velehrad was dissolved by Joseph II. The monastery property was dismantled, the monastery grounds changed owners and the monastery church became a parish church. The building was very dilapidated and there were no funds for its maintenance. The church was rebuilt in the context of the growing cult of Cyril and Methodius, and was restored during the Cyril and Methodius millenniums in 1863 and 1885. Further development was secured by the arrival of the Jesuits to Velehrad in 1890. During their administration, the building was secured against the ingress of moisture in the 1920s and 1930s. The discovery of Velehrad’s underground, which was opened to the public before the outbreak of the Second World War, was related to this. Between 1935 and 1938 the interior of the church was restored. The coming to power of the totalitarian regimes prevented the development of the pilgrimage site for decades, although the most necessary repairs (e.g. the static securing of the vault and the replacement of the roof and roofing) were carried out.
The Jesuits returned to Velehrad in 1990 and Pope John Paul II came to Velehrad. Since then, a gradual material and spiritual renewal of Velehrad has been taking place, and the project Velehrad – the centre of cultural dialogue between Western and Eastern Europe represents its culmination.
Žeravice was one of the main settlements of the Bohemian or Moravian Brothers, as they called themselves. Many of them moved in around 1538 under the Podstatsky lords of Prusinovice after the great persecution of the Brethren in Bohemia. The lords and holders of Žeravice not only allowed them to live there, but were also very sympathetic to them. Especially the Zástřizls were followers of their teachings.
There are records of the local activity of the Bohemian brothers already in 1515 and 1517, when Vilém of Víckov gave them material gifts such as fields, meadows, vineyards and forest and many benefits.
Important fraternal synods (meetings) were transferred from Bohemia to Moravia and many of them were held in Žeravice. The most memorable for the development of the Unity of the Brethren was the synod held in 1616, at which the “Order of the Czech Brethren of the Church” was established. At this synod, the 24-year-old Jan Amos Komenský, later the last bishop of the Unity of the Brethren and a great teacher of the nations, was ordained a priest on April 24.
The Jan Amos Komenský Memorial was built in the place where the Czech Brothers’ Choir used to stand. It was formerly a Catholic church, which passed into the hands of the Brethren by the favour of the lords of Žeravice.
In 1971, a commemorative plaque was placed on the wall of the house and unveiled. During the reconstruction of the memorial in 1974, torsoes, probably of a church text, were discovered on the walls of the niche.
Tours of the memorial can be arranged in advance at the municipal office tel. +420 518 626 022.
The first mention of Žeravice is in the predicate of Sudomir of Žeravice from 1235, who is the oldest known owner of Žeravice. In 1358, Racek of Zborovice sold a manor and two parts of the village together with vineyards and a fortress to Alšík, called Kužel. In 1385-1401, most of the village belonged to Mrakeš Kužel of Žeravice. In 1503 the village was promoted to a town by Tas of Ojnice. Žeravice was in the Kužel family and their descendants until 30 June 1597, when a purchase contract was concluded between Vilém Nekš, the owner of Žeravice, and Václav Morkovský of Zástřizl, the owner of the Buchlov estate, under which Žeravice belonged and shared its fate from that time on. In 1540, under Prokop Podstatský, a small manor house was built in the area of the former fortress to replace the former manor house on the market square, which Prokop donated to the citizens of Žeravice at the town hall. The foundation stone of the church was laid by its patron Hanuš Dětřich Petřvaldský in 1722. With his material and financial contribution it was completed in 1729. The church was benedicated on 23 September 1738 in honour of the Centenary of St. John. Marie Crescencia of Petřvald, the daughter-in-law of the founder and widow of his son Sigismund of Petřvald, née Schrattenbach, who lived in the castle opposite the church in Žeravice until her death, and died there on 17 June 1775, contributed greatly to the church. She is buried in a tomb in the middle of the church. The church burnt down in the great fire of Žeravice in 1775 and was rebuilt on 5 August 1776. It was reconsecrated on 10 October 1803 together with the main altar. In 1886 the area around the church was landscaped. The Žeravice castle was converted into a school in 1947.
The Baroque church of St. Havel, built above the village on the site of the original wooden church, which was destroyed by fire, is a significant landmark and historical monument of the village. Construction began in 1774 and was financed by Jan Dětřich Petřvaldský of Petřvald. This is evidenced by the stone lining with the emblem of the Lords of Petřvald (a peacock and a column) above the main entrance to the church. The church was benedicted – blessed in 1691.
The church building is centrally oriented on the plan of an isosceles cross, whose transverse arms were shortened and rounded into niches inside. A raised dome rises above the cross of the arms. A chapel of the soul was gradually added to the south aisle. On the west side, the building is supported by a frontal prismatic tower, 38 m high, covered with a pear-shaped roof.
The interior of the church dates mostly from the 18th century and is dominated by the main altar with the relics of St. Procopius the Martyr, St. Urban and St. Theodora with an altarpiece of St. Havel, the patron saint of the church. The decoration of the church is complemented by two side altars of St. John of Nepomuk and St. Andrew the Apostle and a wooden pulpit dating from the 17th century. This is balanced by the baptistery opposite. The painted windows and the twelve-register organ, which was made by the Nový Jičín organ builder Karel Neusser in 1889, will certainly attract you. The painting of the church dome, which was done in 1906 by the painter Josef Kubíček from Uh. Hradiště, is also worth noticing. In the cycle of figures in the dome, he depicted the work of St. Cyril and St. Methodius on Mount St. Clement near Osvětimany.
Under the ceramic pavement, which was laid in the 19th century, there is a crypt in the space behind the chancel, the entrance to which is walled up. Local priests, officials from the Buchlov estate and monks were buried in the crypt.
The parish of Osvětimany with the church was under the patronage of the local vladyks, who resided in the local fortified fortress. In later years, it was under the patronage of the lordship of Buchlov. At present, it falls under the Roman Catholic deanery in Uh. Hradiště, the Archbishopric of Olomouc. The parish of Osvětimany includes the villages of Vřesovice, Medlovice, Újezdec, Hostějov and the solitudes of Dolní and Horní Osvětimanské paseky and Medlovské paseky.
The Osvětimany water reservoir is located on the southern edge of the Chřiby Nature Park, 1 km northwest of the town of Osvětimany.
The dam in Osvětimany is hidden in the picturesque valley of the Klimentský brook, on which the Klimenstský pond lies less than a kilometre upstream. The 10.5 hectares of water attracts people for swimming, canoeing and fishing. Fishermen can also use the freezer boxes in the recreation centre.
For sunbathing, there are beautiful small beaches, especially on the left bank of the lake, along which a blue marked hiking trail winds from Osvětiman to the Koryčany Chapel. A kiosk stands just above the dam, where you can buy refreshments in the summer season.
The reservoir built on the Klimentský brook between 1980 and 1985 on 6.6 hectares was originally used for irrigation, fishing and recreation. It held 312 400 m3 of stored water. No major maintenance has been carried out for thirty years. The concrete of the combined structure was damaged, particularly on the guide side of the structures, on the walls of the spillway, the valve shafts and waste galleries and on the walls of the outlet. CR Forestry started managing the reservoir in 2011 and the reconstruction was completed in November 2017. The reservoir is now an ideal habitat for plants and animals tied to the aquatic environment. An example is the specially protected species of the painted bivalve. This was relocated to the nearby Sovína reservoir during the reconstruction and returned after the reservoir was filled in Osvětimany.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
A highland fortified hillfort and one of the oldest pilgrimage sites, which is deeply connected with Moravian history. The evidence of the Great Moravian highland fortified settlement with preserved relics of fortifications, inhabited at the latest since the mid-9th century, is a cultural monument.
The hillfort on the hill of St. Clement was known in prehistoric times, archaeological excavations have shown a settlement lasting from the 9th century to the end of the 15th century. The conveniently situated and well-protected location on the old trade route that connected Pomerania with Brno was already used by settlers during the Great Moravian Empire (9th century). According to later tradition, they even built a church here, where the relics of St. Clement were kept until St. Constantine and Methodius brought them to Rome.
The hillfort is located approximately 17 kilometres west of the Staré Město and was built on one of the wooded hills in the south-western part of the Chřiby Mountains, near the former old merchant road that connected the Central Moravia region with Brno and is surrounded by many legends, the most famous of which is connected with the Cyril and Methodius tradition. Probably a church and a monastery used to stand here. In 1421 the church complex was burnt down by the Hussites and since the 16th century the place has been deserted. Today, you can see the remains of the ramparts and ditches fortifying the entire fortress.
The oldest part is the eastern chancel from the 9th century. At the end of the 9th century, a nave was added to the chancel, and other remains of masonry found date back to the Middle Ages. This spiritual centre disappeared at the beginning of the 10th century. The site was abandoned until the 14th century. It was not until 1358 that St. Clement’s Hill was donated to the Augustinians of Brno. They built a chapel and a rectory here, which was destroyed by the Hussites in 1421.
The pulpit is a solitary rock on the ridge of the Chřiby Mountains made of sandstone rocks with a beautiful view of the surroundings. The pulpit covers an area of 9 x 3.5 m and is about 8 m high. On the northern side the rock drops sharply into the Stupava valley.
It is a sandstone rock, medium to coarse-grained, light brown in colour, with quartz, orthoclase, muscovite and biotite as its basic components.
The shelters may have been carved in the Middle Ages. On the top is a landscaped area resembling a pulpit. The iron two-armed cross dates from 1972.
The name “Pulpit” was given to the rock in connection with its appearance and from the carved steps and cross on the top.
From the cliff you can see across the Kyjovka valley to the opposite ridge of the Chřiby Mountains and below Kazatelna you can see the ruins of Cimburk Castle under repair.
It is said that it was used as a pulpit, first by the Moravian Archbishop Methodius and later by the Augustinians from the nearby monastery of St. Kliment. More recently, the use of the rock by some of the medieval sects has been considered.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The extensive ruins of a Gothic castle are located on a hill above a water reservoir about 5 km from the village of Koryčany. It was built between 1327 and 1333 and abandoned in 1720. The first rescue works were carried out in the 1930s and another in 1940.
Over the centuries, the castle has undergone several reconstructions and repairs. At the end of the seventeenth century, it lost its fortification significance and began to serve as a hunting lodge and accommodation for forestry staff.
The last chapter of the living history of one of the most beautiful Moravian castles closed in 1709. Since then the castle has been deserted. Gradually it began to decay and people tried to save it in the 1930s and 1950s.
Now the castle hosts several interesting events during the season. There is also a guided tour along the shieling wall under the watchtower. This viewpoint is secured by a wrought-iron railing. It offers a beautiful view of the Chřiby panorama. The castle is cared for by the Polypeje civic association, which strives to preserve, document and make the monument accessible.
In 2021, the restoration of the former first gate began at the castle. This is one of the oldest parts of the castle dating back to the first half of the 14th century. The gate has disappeared in the later period and is walled up. The entrance to the castlebdue is moved to the place where the treasury is now. Work on the former gateway is expected to last until September 2024.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
About 3 kilometres northwest of Buchlovice, the majestic Buchlov Castle stands on a high hill, visible from afar. The castle is an example of medieval fortress architecture and the castle interiors document the development of residential culture from the 15th to the 19th century.
The origins of the castle date back to the first half of the 13th century. It was founded by the Bohemian king as a strategic defensive fortress and an administrative centre with judicial powers under the so-called hunting law. The visitor circuit includes Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque rooms with an exposition of the lifestyle of the castle owners from the 14th to the 19th century; the collections include an extensive collection of medieval panel paintings, a remarkable Baroque family gallery, an armoury, a library, the natural history collections of the travellers and naturalists Leopold and Bedřich Berchtold and a somewhat mysterious Egyptian mummy. The tour of the castle ends with a visit to the lookout tower. A visit to the castle can be combined with a visit to the tomb of the owners in the nearby Chapel of St. Barbara.
You can choose from many possible tours at Buchlov: Buchlova Castle area – without a guide, I. and II. castle courtyard, thematic exhibitions in the entrance room. The castle grounds plus a guided tour without a guide. Buchlov in the Changes of Time – with a guide, black kitchen, armoury, library, Gothic and Renaissance rooms, natural history collections and the Berchtold family museum, Egyptological collections, observation tower. With crayons around Buchlov Castle – a children’s tour with a guide and accompaniment.
The otherwise inaccessible castle parkland and other areas can be visited on a special tour called the Buchlov Spiral. On the trail, you will follow the traces of the castle’s structural development, which was also affected by fires or conquerors. This tour itinerary is selective, limited by the number of people and is intended primarily for those interested in learning about medieval architecture and the history of historical buildings. The guide is a professional employee of the National Historical Institute, ÚOP Kroměříž. Another extraordinary tour is Following the footsteps of the Buchlov Mord.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Chapel of St. Barbara, popularly called Barborka, stands on the site of a former early Gothic church dedicated to the same patroness. The chapel served mainly as a family tomb for the owners of the Buchlov estate, but the judges of the hunting law and hermits of the Order of St. Francis are also buried here.
The chapel stands on Modla Hill, popularly known as Barborka, on which the early Gothic church of St. Barbara stood from the 13th century, but it soon fell into disrepair. During the reign of Hanuš Zikmund of Petřvald, the owner of the Buchlov estate, a new chapel was built in 1672-1673 to be part of the Trinitarian monastery. Gothic architectural elements from the original church were used in the new construction, which were also found in the southern retaining wall of the so-called hermitage. However, only the foundations of the actual monastery on the north side of the sanctuary were built.
The early Baroque building with a cruciform plan and three altars is topped with a dome. The main altar included a late Gothic statue of a Madonna, which is now in the collections of Buchlov Castle. The most valuable exhibits of the chapel decoration are the tombstones of buried nobles. The early Baroque architecture is completed by the main portal with the coat of arms of the builder and his wife Anna Maria Serényi, geometric and floral ornaments carved in stone on the windows and balustrade of the gallery.
Two pilgrimage services have always been held at the chapel, originally on the feast of St. Barbara and on the second Sunday after Easter. In 1784 the chapel was closed. In the 19th century, the pilgrimages to Barborka were restored and nowadays they take place on the feasts of the Holy Trinity and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Břestek Rock natural monument consists of rugged sandstone rocks with forest cover located on the southern slope of Komínek Hill.
The reason for the establishment of the protected area is the protection of an important geomorphological formation with a relict occurrence of Scots pine and the original forest community of Carpathian sedge oak woodland. A small fissure cave is located at the upper edge of the reserve. Interesting plant species include mountain garlic, northern spleenwort, mountain honeysuckle, great stonecrop, and common pitcher plant.
Traces of prehistoric settlements from both the earlier and younger Stone Age have been discovered in the vicinity of the Břestek Rock.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
In the settlement of Chabaně, a part of the village of Břestek, in the Chřiby Nature Park (about 8.5 km from Uherské Hradiště) grows one interesting monumental tree. The giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum) was probably planted here 150 years ago by Count Sigismund II. Berchtold.
The giant sequoia belongs to a group of conifers that flourished in the Mesozoic, in the Cretaceous period. It is a member of the Taxodiaceae family.
Today, the redwood is 32 metres tall and has a trunk circumference of 612 centimetres. It is a monumental tree of the Zlín Region. It was registered among the memorial trees on 7 December 2001.
Originally three seedlings were planted, all of them took hold, but only one has survived to the present day. Sometime in the 1970s (1972) it was strike by lightning, which knocked off its terminal part. It was cut almost lengthwise in half. Fortunately, over time it grew back and one of the shoots replaced the original terminal. There were many years of efforts to grow and plant new seedlings from its seeds, which only Mr. Klecek succeeded in doing, so that a redwood – junior is growing next to it.
It is a species of evergreen giant tree that is one of the largest in the world. It can grow up to 100 metres tall in the right conditions, but in the Czech Republic it is only 20 to 45 metres tall. The trunk is columnar, broadened at the bottom, with a thick, reddish-brown, longitudinally furrowed, spongy bark that is up to 50 cm thick. The crown is initially conical, later loose and irregularly rounded. Cones are ellipsoid to ovate, 5 to 8 cm long, 4 to 5 cm wide, reddish-brown. They mature in the second year but often remain on the tree for several years. The oldest specimens are estimated to be 4,000 years old; the documented age according to the rings is 2,500 to 3,000 years. It is native to the montane forests of North America (California), on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, and is cultivated in our parks. It was imported to Europe in 1853 to 1854, to Bohemia in 1855. The site is free to visit, no entrance fee is charged.
The national cultural monument is located in the southern part of the town of Uherské Hradiště called Sady (Derfla), near the road to Kunovice, on the so-called Sady promontory. In the years 1959–1963, archaeological research was carried out here under the leadership of Vilém Hrubé (from the Moravian Regional Museum in Brno), during which the remains of an unfortified courtyard of a church-power character were discovered.
It was here that some of the first Christian missionaries came sometime at the end of the 8th century. They came from Aquileia on the Adriatic coast and from Salzburg, a little later from Passau. Probably, with the knowledge of the local prince, they built a church on the Sadian promontory, which in the above-ground mass may have had the form of a cross, above the center of which rose a massive quadrangular tower. The church was plastered, painted, provided with a cast mortar floor and covered by a roof made of clay fired components. This architecture certainly dominated the wider area. It was implemented sometime at the turn of the 8th and 9th centuries, i.e. before the creation of Great Moravia. It was one of the first brick churches north of the Danube.
The complex of several brick sacral buildings, built in three construction phases, occupied a dominant position, visible from afar. First, in the first third of the 9th century, a church was built on the plan of a Greek cross. In the direction of the west, in the 1960s and 1970s, years of the same age, a hall church with a semicircular end was added. It is sometimes interpreted as a chapel with two side entrances, and its origin is most likely linked to the newly arrived builders of the Byzantine mission. Apparently, in the third quarter of the 9th century, a burial chamber and a chapel were added to the northern perimeter wall of the church with a cruciform layout, and the creation of a brick partition in the western church also belongs to the same phase. In this context, the possibility arises that the western church became a place of teaching for catechumens, while the chapel with the burial chamber was used to store the burial of a prominent Moravian (the grave of Prince Svatopluk?). The richest of the local graves was the grave of the “Princess of Sadia”, located very close to the church. A baptismal font (baptistery) was also built to the west of the entire complex.
Outside, but also inside the church buildings, 87 burials from the 9th century were discovered, often in coffins and with rich donations. The cemetery area with the church was separated on the north side by two walls from a group of twelve log buildings, where craftsmen and their families lived and worked in the workshops. There was also a well. On the opposite side stood an extensive 36 m long and 6 m wide hall structure of log construction – a meeting place and perhaps also a place for priests to teach. A paved road ran between the precincts. Considering the overall situation on the Heights of St. Methodius (Sadská víšín), as well as the finds originating from here – a lead cross with a Greek liturgical inscription (ZOE-IESUS-CHRISTOS-FOS-NIKA), writing instruments – styles, etc. – the location is often associated with the place of work of representatives of the Byzantine mission.
The original Great Moravian burial ground from the 9th and early 10th centuries was followed by Mladohradište burials from the 11th–12th centuries. century. Almost 900 people found their final resting place here. 70 coins also come from the Mladohradište cemetery. Most of them were denarii of Olomouc princes Ota I. Šlíčný, Svatopluk, Ota II. Černý and Soběslav from the second half of the 11th to the first third of the 12th century, which fulfilled the function of the so-called gifts to Charon the ferryman on the way of the deceased to the underworld. The chapel, which, based on a written source from 1247, is often attributed to Marian consecration, was definitively abandoned together with the cemetery during the 13th century.
In archaeological sources, this location is known as Uherské Hradiště – Sady “Špitálky”. The first archaeological discovery was made here already in the middle of the 19th century, the Moravské noviny reported on it on October 10, 1849: “… on the front hill, when you go from Hradiště to Kunovice, in a delightful landscape… a farmer from Derfle was picking stones from his field to build a cottage. But no sooner had he begun to dig than he came upon a neat wall, and after breaking through it he found a skeleton with an earthen pot. He tore out the stone and buried everything else.” The site became of interest to archaeologists in the post-war period. A fundamental turning point then occurred in 1958, deep plowing disturbed the archaeological situation and not only human bones but also fragments of mortar, roofing and worked stones came to the surface. On the basis of these facts, the following year, Vilém Hrubý started extensive archaeological research that lasted until 1964.
Source: www.slovackemuzeum.cz
In 1949, while collecting gravel from the terrace profile on the right bank of the blind arm of the Morava River in the position “U Stohu”, just behind the Sugar Factory in Staré Město, three skeleton graves without charity were excavated. Soon afterwards, not only several other skeleton graves with alms were destroyed during machine gravel extraction, but also the entire southern half of the foundations of the Great Moravian church. The same year, a rescue excavation was started by the Institute of Archaeology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences in Brno under the direction of Josef Poulik. During the research in 1949-1950, a skeletal burial site was uncovered with a total of 42 graves with rich equipment (spurs, iron knives, silver and gold earrings and buttons, coffin fittings, a circular plaque with a carved relief of a rider with a falcon, etc.). Given the nature of the burial site, it is most often assumed that the church may have been owned by an important family of the Great Moravian elite, whose members were also buried here. It is possible that the church was part of a larger ownership unit, perhaps a manor house, situated in a strategically important location.
According to the preserved remains of the foundations, the church had a rectangular nave, which was closed on the eastern side with a semicircular closure and on the western side it passed into a narthex (nartex). The interior of the nave was divided by 6 supports. At the north-eastern corner of the church the remains of a smaller building with a recess, perhaps a baptistery, were found. A similar depression was found at the south-west corner of the nartex. The temple was 18.5 m long and approximately 8 m wide. Its foundation masonry is preserved only in negative form. Stake pits and traces of wooden fencing were found along the south and west sides of the church. In terms of location, it stood in a strategic place, at the site of the road and the gate of the so-called outer fortification. Given the absence of finds typical of the second half of the 10th century, it is obvious that it disappeared immediately after the fall of Great Moravia.
During the archaeological research in 2020, a Late Eneolithic grave of a culture with corded pottery was also newly documented at the site, which consisted of ceramic vessels and fragments of copper hair spiral ornaments. Most of the archaeological objects found in the newly investigated area are related to the settlement of the site in the Early to Late Bronze Age. However, the presence of the carriers of the ash field culture was already demonstrated here during the research in 1950. The newly identified Bronze Age objects were mainly concentrated in the south-eastern part of the study area.
Source: www.slovackemuzeum.cz
Vranov u Brna is a well-known and widely visited Marian pilgrimage site whose history dates back to the 13th century. It is located in the middle of beautiful countryside about 12 km north of Brno in a place that used to be called “Moravian Switzerland”.
The centre strives to create a pleasant environment for any kind of spiritual, cultural and educational events. You can also stay at the centre in the so-called House of Reception, which has a total of 81 beds with private bathrooms. In the House of Reception, the Paulans also offer all-day meals in the dining room for about 80 guests with a beautiful view of the garden and access to the terrace. The dining room also includes a small self-service bookstore of the Carmelite Publishing House.
The pilgrimage site of Vranov near Brno is shrouded in a veil of legends. As early as the 13th century, the village was founded in thanksgiving for the healing of the nobleman William, the High Marshal of the Moravian Kingdom, who suffered from blindness. On the site of the former wooden church, Maximilian of Liechtenstein had an early Baroque church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary built in 1617-1633, with frescoes by J. J. Etgens, according to the plans of the Jesuit J. Mario and the Brno builder J. K. Erna. The church houses the Vranov crib made of lime wood with a mechanical drive and a musical automaton. Under the church nave is the crypt of the Princes of Liechtenstein, completed in 1820 with an Empire tomb. At the same time, there is a convent of the Friars Minor of St. Francis of Paula, abbreviated as “Paulans”, who provide the spiritual administration of this pilgrimage site and parish.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
In Vranov u Brna, a new monastery complex of the Order of Friars Minor, the so-called Paulans, was built in the 17th century on the old Marian pilgrimage site with a Franciscan monastery. It included the parish church of St. Barbara and the new Marian church, whose crypt is the family tomb of the Princes of Liechtenstein.
The pearl of pilgrimage sites in the Czech lands is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Vranov u Brna. As early as the 13th century, the village was founded in thanksgiving for the healing of the nobleman William, the High Marshal of the Moravian Kingdom, who suffered from blindness. In a short time, the reputation of the healing effects associated with the worship of the Virgin Mary in this little church spread so much that in 1243 or a little later in 1269 a small monastery was established near the church to care for the church and the needs of the increasing number of visitors. Between 1622 and 1633 a new monastery complex of the Order of the Friars Minor of St. Francis of Paula was built here by Maximilian of Liechtenstein and his wife Katherine of Boskovice.
The monastery complex also included the parish church of St. Barbara and the new Marian church, the crypt of which has been the family tomb of the Princes of Liechtenstein ever since. During the reign of Emperor Joseph II, the monastery was dissolved and gradually demolished from 1784 onwards. In 1787, the Church of St. Barbara was destroyed and only the Marian church with the crypt and the west wing remained until the completion of the monastery. Around 1820, the tomb was no longer sufficient, so Prince John Joseph I decided to enlarge it and completely rebuild it. The princely architect, Johann Karl Engel, conceived the tomb as an Empire-style tomb in an antique style with daylight through semicircular windows. All members of the ruling branch of the family who died between 1633 and 1989 are buried here. The burial of Franz Joseph II in 1989 was the last, since then he has been buried in a new tomb in Vaduz, where the family moved in 1938 due to the conditions in Nazi Europe. The tomb is open on special occasions, such as Church Night.
The Convent of the Friars Minor of St. Francis of Paula provides the spiritual administration of this pilgrimage site and parish. The Paulians have also established a Spiritual Centre here, which offers accommodation services and various events of a spiritual, cultural and educational nature.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The church was built in Adamov between 1855 and 1857 according to the design of the Viennese architect Josef Kieser. Together with the church a rectory, a school building and a cemetery were built.
It is a 26-metre long and 10-metre wide neo-Gothic church lacking a sacristy. The classic church tower was replaced by a tower with two niches for bells above the main entrance portal.
The church in Adamov, together with the above-mentioned buildings, was built without external plaster, which made it fit into the overall context of the similar character of the Hamer buildings in Adamov.
There are two altars in the church. The main one is carved of wood, closed with an oil painting of St. Barbara in the middle, St. James, the foster father and St. John the Baptist on the wings. The side altar depicts the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and comes from the Lower Austrian Cistercian monastery in Zwettl. It is a late Gothic masterpiece from 1516 to 1525 made of lime wood. The altar is over 7 metres high with 59 figures.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
In front of the Church of St. Barbara in Adamov in Blansko you will find a tap embedded in the wall. Here you can refresh yourself with water from a spring that was discovered near the rectory. The name of the spring is related to the inscription on the Svetel altar. The locals came across the water during the recent renovation of the area in front of the church and the nearby rectory.
This important technical monument can be found in the Josefské valley near Brno. The central part of the Moravian Karst was an important iron mining area with a tradition of prehistoric and early medieval Slavic metallurgy.
In 1748, under Franz Joseph of Liechtenstein, a blast furnace replaced a similar furnace in Adamov, which was more than a hundred years older. Since the Middle Ages, a hammer mill (the so-called Althamr, mentioned in 1506) has been working near the smelter in the position opposite the Jáchymka Cave. In 1712, ponds were built on the Křtinský Brook (formerly Říčka) to provide power to drive the water wheels of the hammer, the glassworks and later the ironworks.
The blast furnace produced liquid iron in continuous operation, which was either cast into moulds or forged for further forging. The preserved blast furnace was rebuilt several times during its operation and worked until 1877. An exhibition depicting the history of the local iron industry is installed in the storey building of the former model factory. There are also a pair of lime kilns, brick loading ramps, residential buildings and a tavern called the Switzer. The smelter site was designated a technical reserve in 1971, the only one of its kind in the entire state.
Experimental smelting in replicas of Slavic iron furnaces and demonstrations of old crafts are held in the open space several times a year. The building of the former Swiss Inn is used by the Brontosaurus movement.
The valley of the Křtinský brook was therefore an industrial area, where three mills for the production of gunpowder, a glassworks, a hammer mill, a sawmill, a mill and the František ironworks were operating. The area of the Old Ironworks near Adamov, one of the oldest preserved ironworks from the Industrial Revolution, is managed by the Technical Museum in Brno.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Jáchymka is a tunnel-shaped cave, through which the Křtinský brook used to flow in the past. The cave is named after the hermit Joachym, who is said to have lived there at the beginning of the 19th century. It is passable and accessible all year round.
The Jáchymka Cave in the Josefské údolí valley is a passable 3-storey cave in which ice stalactites – the so-called ice dwarfs – grow out of the ground and the rock ledges of the cave in winter (mostly in the second half of February) due to the influence of the rockfall.
In earlier times, stone caves served as temporary settlements for prehistoric hunters. At the beginning of the 20th century, bat guano was mined here for the production of fertiliser.
The cave is located in the national nature reserve Bull Rock in the central part of the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area.
A marked hiking trail passes through the peripheral part of the cave. The cave is freely accessible at your own risk. Guided tours take place only a few times a year.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Bull Rock is located in the central part of the Moravian Karst, in the lower part of the Křtiny valley, between the towns of Adamov and Křtiny. The high white rock with a fissure and several holes in the lower part is shrouded in legends and still hides many secrets.
Discover a mysterious place of prehistoric ritual murders, oozing with negative energy that can discourage sensitive individuals from exploring the cave’s bowels. The name Bull Rock, which is probably related to the cult of the bull, was earned long before the bronze bull statue was found here in 1869. In 1871-1873, Dr. Jindřich Wankel uncovered a so-called Hallstatt burial associated with human sacrifices. This was the burial of a noble personage in the 5th century BC, whose wives, family and horses must have followed him into the realm of the dead, as in the land of the Scythians.
The dead great man was brought to the cave, magically illuminated by the dim light of day, in a wooden chariot. Along with him, the armed men dragged forty young girls and the Grandmaster’s servants into the cave. While the pyre caught fire with the dead man, the women and their families were led into the bowels of the cave. None of them escaped a cruel fate – they were killed in a very brutal manner. The girls’ severed hands were found on a stone altar. Other women had their heads cut open or chopped off. The corpses fell over each other and their torturers left them lying where they had collapsed. The horses, too, did not escape the bloody orgy. They were hacked to pieces and their limbs scattered around the cave.
The horrific scene was eventually covered with grain by the performers of the ceremony. There are a number of legends associated with the rock, which are perhaps a memory of a terrifying prehistoric ceremony that has not fully disappeared from the minds of the people.
Chanting, screams and cries are said to be heard in the vast cave system, and lights appear where there are no people. On dark nights, spectacular processions are said to emerge from the caves and return to the depths at dawn. When one approaches Bull Rock and concentrates just a little, one can feel the negative energy coming from the cave opposite. If he approaches the cave, the unpleasant feeling grows stronger and is intense enough to stop the newcomer. The negative energy emanating from Bull Rock comes from ritual sacrifices, prehistoric mass killings. The energy comes from two places. One source is in the bowels of the cave and the other is in the rock window. From both places you can feel the despair and disgust of the killed victims, the involuntary violent departure from life and human despair.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Church Cave is located in the Moravian Karst in the valley of the Křtinský Brook, which created it.
People have been using the cave in the Josefské údolí valley since prehistoric times and it got its name from the shape of its passages.
At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, the cave was artificially modified as part of the creation of the Vranov-Křtina area. Paths were created to the cave from the bottom of the Křtiny valley so that a carriage could drive directly into the cave. Stone benches were created inside the cave.
Its main dome resembles the inside of a small church, which gave it the name of the cave. In addition to the main part, there are several side passages and windows, thanks to which you can explore the cave even without flashlights.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
An important monument of Baroque architecture, a place of pilgrimage with the Church of the Virgin Mary designed by Jan Blažej Santini. It is Santini’s largest building on the plan of a Greek cross. The complex is masterfully set in the landscape. One of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Moravia.
The pilgrimage site, masterfully set in the landscape, was built according to the project of J. B. Santini (1677-1723). At the beginning of the pilgrimage tradition in the Middle Ages stood a Gothic statue of the Madonna, today placed on the main altar.
The whole area consists of the church, the ambulatory and the Chapel of St. Anne. This complex, together with the parish buildings and the castle, is located in the middle of the small village of Křtiny, which lies about 20 km northeast of Brno. This area is also known as the Gateway to the Moravian Karst, which extends north of here. The pilgrimage season always begins after the Feast of the Ascension (usually in May) and ends on the third Sunday in October.
Interesting is also the local chime in the church courtyard, which can play hundreds of melodies. It consists of 27 bells and is one of the largest in Central Europe. Most of the bells in Křtiny are named after saints – the smallest weighs nine kilograms, the largest 364 kilograms. The unusual musical instrument is controlled by computer. The chimes are played at 6pm for 6 minutes on Saturdays and at 12pm for 6 minutes on Sundays.
Křtiny, known as the Pearl of Moravia, has many other interesting and mysterious features besides the beauty that catches our eye at first sight. For example, the vast ossuary in the underground of the church. The crypt is trapezoidal in plan, 1.4 m – 2.9 m wide and 9.5 m long in the main axis. The crypt was accessed by four to five passages, mostly leading to previously unknown walled spaces under the terrace of the staircase. The height of the crypt is 2.8 m to 4 m. A 1 to 2.2 m high layer of loosely mixed human bones was discovered in this space, completely covering the bottom. The most remarkable feature of the ossuary was the discovery of twelve human skulls, marked with a black design in the shape of a laurel wreath and a symbol in the form of the letter T on the forehead.
Where did so many skeletal remains come from? There was a cemetery around the former small Bohemian church that stood in the centre of the present church, which had to be closed for the construction of the new church. The Křtina ossuary contains bones from perhaps the 13th century to the first quarter of the 18th century. The ossuary contained remains from tombs or crypts of the original churches. The remains of almost a thousand people are therefore found here. The bones are sorted by type and stacked in niches that were created at the beginning of this millennium. The ossuary is accessible on major pilgrimages and by appointment. Services are also held here, especially on the Feast of the Souls. For this purpose, the ossuary is equipped with an altar and several wooden benches.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Křtiny Castle provides its guests with conference services (congress hall, ballroom, lounges), accommodation, catering and other services according to customers’ wishes.
There are modern double rooms with quality furniture, private shower and toilet, LCD TV, on-line internet connection, view of the Church of Our Lady of Křtiny or the surrounding forests and peace and quiet for relaxation. The total capacity of accommodation is maximum 50 persons in 23 double rooms with possibility of 4 extra beds.
The non-smoking castle restaurant with a children’s corner is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. You can taste game specialties from the surrounding forests. There are 12°Lobkowicz (each castle has a prince) and 11°Klášter. The restaurant also offers university wines from the Žabčice Agricultural School. You can also enjoy the excellent Hautsbrandt Academia coffee (100% arabica) in several variations. For moments of fun, various board games (cards, dice, bottle….) are available for rent. Even dogs are welcome here, as long as they can behave themselves.
The Křtiny Castle Social and Educational Centre also offers a wide range of services for companies – it organizes educational and teambuilding events, conferences, meetings and more, including comprehensive services.
History of the castle. The building of the castle in Křtiny, the former residence of the Premonstratensians from Zábrdovice in Brno, is a monument listed in the State List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic, together with the local church of the Name of the Virgin Mary. The whole complex is associated with the Czech builder and architect of Italian origin, Jan Blazej Santini – Aichl (1677 – 1723). According to his design, a Baroque church was built on the traditional spiritual site between 1718 and 1750, its decoration of the exterior walls already transitioning into the Rococo style. The interior decoration was done by leading Moravian artists of the time, especially Jan Jiří Etgens and Ondřej Schweigel. Santini’s church was built on the site of two original churches – a Romanesque (called Bohemian) and a Gothic (German) church.
The Křtiny Castle and its park were completely renovated between 1994 and 2012 and will be used by students and teachers of all Mendel faculties, other universities and institutions, the professional and general public, the inhabitants of Křtiny and visitors to the region.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Memorial of Great Moravia in Stary Město, built over the foundations of the first discovered stone building with proven Great Moravian origins in our territory – the church “Na Valách”, has been a national cultural monument since 1969 and is therefore given substantial protection and care by the state and the Zlín Region. At the same time, space is created for the timeless cultural and historical values of this site to be made accessible to the broadest layers of society, especially the young generation, by specific museum methods and procedures, as an important source of information about the first state formation of the Western Slavs – Great Moravia and its advanced culture. Since the memorial has not undergone any significant renovation and modernisation since its opening in 1969, it was renovated in 2008-2009, culminating in the installation of a modern multimedia exhibition at the end of 2009, which corresponds to current exhibition trends and the needs of domestic and foreign visitors.
On 16 January 2010, the memorial was reopened to the public. In contrast to the seasonal operation before the reconstruction, the memorial will be open all year round. The project was implemented by the Moravian Slovakia Museum in Uherské Hradiště as the administrator of this national cultural monument and a contributory organization of the Zlín Region.
The multimedia exhibition replaced the old and somewhat outdated exhibition from 1985. It uses two dozen life-size mannequins to model scenes of the life and work of our ancestors on the Great Moravian hillfort. Here you can see replicas of period clothing, shoes, precious jewellery, working tools and other finds from archaeological excavations that have been going on in the Staré Město for more than a century. The authors of this exhibition doc. PhDr. Luděk Galuška, CSc., from the Moravian Museum and Mgr. Miroslav Vaškových, Ph.D., from the Moravian Slovakia Museum, in cooperation with architect Svatopluk Sládeček, have left the foundations of the Great Moravian church in the centre of visitors’ attention and have illustrated the methods of archaeological work on the adjacent burial ground.
The Zlín Region participated in the financing of the restoration of this important national cultural monument together with a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the EEA and Norway Grants. Support for the construction of the exhibition was provided by the Moravian Museum in Brno.
The space of the Memorial of Great Moravia has been expanded since 2022 by the addition of a new building of the Cyril and Methodius Centre. The building with three modern expositions, an archaeological workplace, depositories and a place for laboratory processing of findings was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (Integrated Regional Operational Programme) within the framework of the project Revitalisation of the National Cultural Monuments of Great Moravia (2018-2022). Along with the construction of the Cyril and Methodius Centre, the national cultural monuments (archaeological sites with the remains of Great Moravian churches) in the administration of the Moravian Slovakia Museum were also modified.
Source: www.slovackemuzeum.cz
A natural attraction of the Drahanská vrchovina with valuable biotopes of plants and animals. The nature park was established in 1984, it extends into the cadastre of the municipalities of Olšany and Račice-Pístovice. It was established in 1984 as a rest area and in 1992 as a nature park. Many protected plants grow here and protected animals live here. On the southern exposures and on the hilltops, some of the more thermophilic plant species can be found, such as the honey locust, anemone and others. You can encounter poisonous vipers, traps of ant larvae and numerous slipper and carpenter beetle species. Among amphibians, the spotted newt lives here.
The nature park has a very rich network of small streams, springs and wells. Some wells have drinking water (Habrová, Koretinka, Wiehlova, Pod Hádkem, V Srdci and others). There are three nature streams in the park area: the Říčka, the Malé Říčka and the Hostěnický Brook, and several small ponds.
The Říčka River meanders through a picturesque landscape past many interesting places (Ochozská Cave, Bakery …) then through the Marian Valley to the confluence with the Litava River near Měnín. The valley is suitable for hiking and cycling, the terrain is very mild.
We meet in the former Jewish part of town, the part called “On the Lawns”. Our church-congregation was originally a Jewish synagogue. The beginnings of Jewish settlement in Rousínov are probably related to the expulsion of Jews from the Moravian royal towns in 1454, here from nearby Brno.
The original synagogue was supposed to have been built in 1591, was later rebuilt several times, and in its present late classical form dates back to 1842 (see the memorial plaque on the western gable of the building). It served its purpose until the beginning of the occupation, in 1842. In 1949 it was adapted for its liturgical needs by the Czechoslovak Hussite Church. The Jewish cemetery is located on the south-eastern edge of the Jewish quarter, with an entrance through two wrought-iron gates at the end of Trávníky Street. The cemetery is flat, of irregular elongated shape, with an area of 5964 m2, and is enclosed by a solid stone brick wall. The tombstones are densely set in irregular rows, with the inscription generally facing north-east. Among the monuments stand out richly decorated late Baroque stones with Jewish symbolism (hands of kohen, Levite vessels, crowns, lions, stags, hearts, flowers, etc.). The oldest legible tombstone dates from 1695, but the cemetery itself is much older – it was certainly founded not long after the Jewish community was established. With their integrity and historical significance, the immovable monuments of the village of Rousínov are among the most valuable artefacts of their kind in Moravia.
Now, for almost seventy years, the former synagogue, the Cyril and Methodius congregation, has served as spiritual home. The four-century-old synagogue continues to be a dignified meeting place. The pews and the Lord’s Table are the work of local parishioners, the Rousínov furniture makers. The realistic relief behind the Lord’s Table was created in 1950 and is preserved in its original state. The large painting of the Lord’s Last Supper is a gift from the local Kalab family to their church in 1929. In winter the congregation is heated by direct-fired heaters in the pews.
Rousínov was in the older times attached to Rousínovec, where the rectory is mentioned in 1398. However, the chapel of St. Mary Magdalene was built in Rousínov soon afterwards, probably in the 15th century. In 1511, the vicar of Olomouc, Řehoř of Levenberk, confirmed the presentation of Jan Hadel as the rector of the chapel of St. Mary Magdalene in Rousínov. This chapel was built on the site of the present church in the middle of the square and was originally surrounded by a cemetery. However, a separate Catholic rectory could not be established because there were many non-Catholics in Rousínov. And so, despite the Thirty Years’ War, only this little church with a clock on the tower remained. The bell called “Middle” with the date “1581” was hung on the tower. In 1610, the Lutheran pastor Tomáš Prajs was mentioned in Rousínov. It was only during the war in 1626 that the town council requested that a Catholic parish priest be appointed, but their request was not granted for a long time. It was not until 1696 that an independent parish was established in Rousínov with a new parish district for Rousínov and Kroužek. These villages were excluded from the parish district of Rousínovec. The new first parish priest was invested on 13 September 1696 and was Antonín Kirchsteiner. As the existing church was dilapidated and unsuitable, a new church in Baroque style with three altars was built with the permission of the Bishop’s Consistory of 17 March 1699. The old cemetery around the church was abandoned and abolished and in 1706 a new cemetery was established outside the town in front of the Brno gate, which was later enlarged. The parish priest received a regular salary from the municipality.
Since the foundation of the rectory and the building of the church, the Kounic family, as holders of the Slavkov estate, were the patron saints. In 1727-1728, the chapel of St. Florian was built at the opposite end of the square at the exit of the town towards Vyškov as a protector of the town against fires, from which Rousínov suffered many times and by which its original architectural character was also considerably destroyed. The rectory was not rich. The parish building was built outside the church on the north side of the square in a row of houses and was not extended until the 19th century. The registers were established immediately after the parish was established in 1697. The Rousínov parish belonged to the deanery of Vyškov until 1 January 1787, when it was annexed to the newly established deanery of Slavkov.
The foundation masonry of the local church was discovered in 1911 by Jan Nevěřil, professor of the Divinity Faculty in Olomouc. He managed to uncover a continuous floor plan of the building, which he described as a church from the “early Christianity in Moravia”. However, this dating seemed too bold at the beginning of the 20th century. Only a revision research carried out in 1953-1954 by archaeologist Vilém Hrubý from the Moravian Museum in Brno confirmed Nevěřil’s hypothesis. During the research, the entire floor plan of the church and the surrounding skeletal burial ground were uncovered again. On the basis of the grave finds, we can date the construction of the church and the beginning of burials to the early to first third of the 9th century. It is therefore one of the oldest church buildings in Moravia. The smaller church was built of sandstone rubble masonry joined with mortar. It had a rectangular plan with a rectangular end. Four supports were built into the church, the function of which cannot be precisely determined. The walls of the church were plastered and painted: inside with several shades of colour, outside with grey-brown paint. Around the church, 40 skeleton graves dating from the first half of the 9th to the middle of the 10th century were also excavated.
Those buried here belonged to the common people of the settlement, as well as members of the Great Moravian nobility. Their status is evidenced by the accompanying grave inventory: buttons (ornaments and clasps of the shawl), iron spurs or ornamental arms (belt ends) influenced by Eastern (Avar) artistic motifs and Western (Carolingian) influence. Among the unique finds is a pendant with an ancient gem, i.e. a jewel made of cut precious stone.
After the demise of Great Moravia in the early 10th century, the church was probably abandoned, but settlement in the village below continued. At the beginning of the 13th century, the “empty and deserted” building became the property of the Cistercian order, which founded a (Velehrad) monastery nearby. It was probably then that the church was repaired and the tower was built. Until the consecration of the Velehrad basilica, the church was used as a so-called “provisional church”. The church finally disappeared at the beginning of the 1780s. The building material was then used, for example, for the construction of stone cellars, outbuildings or paving the inn yard in the village of Modrá.
In 1999-2000, a hypothetical reconstruction of the Great Moravian church was built in Modrá, located in close proximity to the archaeologically investigated foundations of the church.
Source: www.slovackemuzeum.cz
The name of this pilgrimage site “Lutrštek” probably originated from the German “lauter Steg”. The chapel was built in 1867-1877 (consecrated on 17 September 1877) from the alms of pilgrims who came to the nearby well and entrusted themselves to the protection of the Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows. Several people were healed at the well.
The presbytery was enlarged in the 1930s. In the 1970s, repaired by P. Caha, new organ. After 1990 again repaired, 1999 painting of the facade, 2002-2004 dehumidification and ventilation of the masonry and floor, new marble tiles, plastering, wiring, painting in the interior. 2014-2017 exterior plastering, painting, stone plinth, doors, confessional roof. 2017 preparation of new liturgical arrangements (stone altar, ambo), planned implementation 2020-2021, including repair of the chapel and well under the church.
The pilgrimage site called Lutršték stands on a hill northwest of Němčany. According to legend, a well with miraculous water has always been located on this spot, thanks to which several blind people regained their sight. In gratitude for the healing, a small chapel with a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows was built near the spring. The rumour of the miraculous water at Lutrštek spread quickly and more and more pilgrims began to arrive. In 1867-1877, a church dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows was built from the donations of pilgrims. The single-nave building has a rectangular plan, an offset presbytery and a tower. The main altar is decorated with a painting of the Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows. There is a statue of Christ the King and two stone crosses in front of the church.
The most valuable such building in Bučovice is the parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It rises on a park-like hill above Svoboda Square and its classicist entrance facade with a pair of high towers is perhaps a greater landmark of the town than the building of the Mannerist castle.
After four years of work, the church was completed in 1641 and given its Baroque appearance by the architect Giovanni Giacomo Tencalli. After about 100 years, the church underwent its first structural changes. The year 1826 saw the start of the larger ones – the side aisles were “glued” to the church and in the second third of this century the main interiors of the church were embellished with stucco figural decoration. The author was J.Schubert. (Before that, however, a very distinctive classical entrance with a characteristic double tower was added to the church.)
The area in front of the church is decorated with sandstone statues of saints. In addition to the statues of Saints Cyril and Methodius, there are both “Saints” Jan – Sarkander and Nepomuk, and the statue of Saint Florian completes this stone community.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Bučovice Castle is a unique example of Renaissance architecture in the Czech Republic. The rich Mannerist interior decoration and the fountain in the courtyard are unique. The castle is a unique building of the Italian Renaissance north of the Alps.
Also remarkable is the arcaded courtyard with 90 columns, which are richly decorated with a total of 540 reliefs depicting war motifs, coats of arms, fantastic animals and creatures, mascots and musical instruments. You can also take a look at the permanent exhibition on the Swedish siege and the restored 200-year-old account room of the Liechtenstein estate.
A unique feature is the so-called Rabbit Room, which is decorated with unique motifs of an inverted world. These are scenes from the world of the hares that took over the world from humans: the attack of the hare cavalry against the human infantry, the battle of the hares with the dogs, the celebration of the hare victory, the hunt for humans and the feast of the royal hare couple.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The basilica of San Clemente is one of the most fascinating churches in Rome, not only because of its wonderful art but also for the fact that here in the different layers of this complex, one can witness the growth of the city of Rome down the centuries. The church is situated about 300 meters from the Colosseum, on the road that leads to the Lateran Basilica. It nestles in a valley between the Caelian and Oppian hills. The church takes its name from Pope Saint Clement, the third successor of St Peter, who died around the year 100 AD.
Up to about 165 years ago, it was generally held that the present church was the ancient church of Saint Clement mentioned by Saint Jerome in the 4th century. Writing about St Clement, he wrote that a church in Rome preserved the name and memory of St Clement up to his own day, – nominis eius memoriam usque hodie Romae extructa ecclesia custodit. However, in 1857 Father Joseph Mullooly, the prior of San Clemente, realised that the ground level was much deeper in the past, excavated under the present church and discovered the original 4th century basilica underneath the present one. Digging underneath this ancient church, he uncovered another, even deeper, complex of buildings of the 1st century.
Subsequently other excavations were carried out, especially when in 1912-14 Father Louis Nolan built a drainage tunnel between San Clemente and the Colosseum to carry away water that was flooding the lower levels. These excavations, revealed the remains of buildings destroyed in the fire of Nero in 64 AD.
More recent excavations have uncovered the baptistry and the sacristy of the lower church. The baptistry area is monumental in size, with a great baptismal font and some very fine frescoes. The sacristy or secretarium has the remains of a 6th century marble floor. These discoveries are significant contributions to our understanding of the liturgy in 6th century Rome.
How did all these ancient buildings become buried so deeply? In the 1st century, the street level in the area of San Clemente was some 20 meters below that of the presentday. After the fire of 64 AD, the ruined buildings were abandoned, filled with earth and used as the foundations for new structures. These buildings were at a level more or less corresponding to that of the floor level of the Colosseum today.
Source: basilicasanclemente.com
The Stations of the Cross in Bukovany is a set of 14 non-traditional concrete artefacts built between 1999 and 2009. Their author is sculptor and artist Lubomír Jarcovják from Šarov u Zlín.
The former mayor of Bukovany, Zdeněk Slováček, approached the artist Lubomír Jarcovják in 1999 with the idea of creating a sacred-themed work of art in the area around the village. In the end, they agreed that it would be a larger work with a deeper meaning, a Stations of the Cross, processed in an unconventional way and placed in the open countryside. The destination was a sloping plot of land, surrounded by forests and fields with a view of the countryside, on the border of the cadastres of three villages – Bukovany, Ostrovánek and Nechvalín in the Hodonín district. According to the artist’s proposal and with the organizational, financial and personal support of Zdeněk Slováček and other friends from the artistic and non-artistic field, individual objects symbolizing the 14 stations of the cross of Jesus Christ were created over a period of 10 years.
Concrete was chosen as the basic material for the individual artefacts of simple, geometric shapes. Additional materials used by the artist are wood, iron, glass or artificial resin. The basic concrete parts were cast in formwork made of rough planks, giving them the characteristic appearance of raw material. The maximum height of the artefacts is 3.4 m and the distance between them is 22 m. From a spiritual and philosophical point of view, the emphasis of the Way of the Cross in Bukovany is on expressing the two fundamental themes of ‘damnation’ and ‘grace’. By setting it in the open landscape, the work has acquired, in addition to its artistic and moral significance, a general human meaning.The blessing ceremony of the Way of the Cross in the village of Bukovany took place on 6 June 2010.
The Chapel of St. John Paul II is located in the village of Bukovany near the South Moravian town of Kyjov in the Hodonín district. The construction was started in September 2012 and consecrated on 20 October 2013 by the Archbishop of Olomouc and Metropolitan of Moravia Mons. Jan Graubner. It is dedicated to Pope John Paul II, whose canonization was expected at the time of the completion of the construction and took place on 27 April 2014. A drop of his blood, which was absorbed into a part of his clothing during the autotransfusion after the assassination in 1981, was incorporated into the altar in the chapel (as the main relic).
The architectural design of the chapel was created by Jaroslav Vlach from nearby Kyjov. The construction was financed by Josef Kouřil, a native of Bukovany. He himself also lives in Kyjov, but many of his ancestors lived in the village.
The inhabitants of Bukovany, who used to commute to Kyjov for worship, also contributed to the financing of the building. At the time of the chapel’s consecration, they had already raised nearly one million crowns among themselves, which was used to purchase the organ, artwork and other interior furnishings. The land on which the building is being built is owned by the municipality, but after its completion it was to be donated to the Bukovanská kaple association.
Although the chapel is to be administered by the Catholic Church, members of other faiths will be able to use it. Kouřil envisages that the building will also be used for concerts and exhibitions.
Neither the church nor the chapel has stood in Bukovany for almost 800 years. Local residents have twice organized public collections for the new sanctuary, but neither time did they manage to raise enough money.
The mill is an impressive landmark above the village of Bukovany, where the beauty of traditional Moravian Slovakia is right in the palm of your hand. Bukovany Mill is a 15-metre high lookout tower in the style of a Dutch-style windmill. From the observation gallery 11 metres above the ground you can see the Kyjov region, the White Carpathians and, if the weather cooperates, you can also see the Kobyla hill near Bratislava. The lookout tower is connected to popular wine bike trails, so feel free to come on two wheels. And count on the fact that the kids won’t want to leave…
The interior of the mill hides a sales gallery with an exhibition of utilitarian ceramics from the Moravia Slovakian subregion. On the second floor, visit the museum exhibition of Slovak cuisine from the first half of the 20th century. There you can be transported back to the times of your great-grandmothers. There is a hotel with a restaurant in the mill area, where they offer traditional Moravian Slovak and Old Bohemian cuisine prepared with honest ingredients. A ready-made heavenly manna! And choose from a fine selection of Moravian wines to go with your meal.
There are also pleasant activities waiting for you from a different barrel – mini golf, archery, a walk on the massage path, which will relieve tired feet. And the list does not end there. Children will enjoy pony rides and free range with the friendly goats, sheep and donkeys.
The whole area is built in the traditional style of Moravian Slovakia with stylish rustic interiors with a unique atmosphere. Regular gastronomic and cultural events are held here.
The Basilica of Saint Praxedes commonly known in Italian as Santa Prassede, is an early medieval titular church and minor basilica located near the papal basilica of Saint Mary Major, on Via di Santa Prassede, 9/a in rione Monti of Rome, Italy. The current Cardinal Priest of Titulus Sancta Praxedis is Paul Poupard.
Dedicated to the second-century saint Praxedes, who with her sister Pudentiana, was said to have provided comfort and care to Christians persecuted in the Roman Empire.
The church incorporates mosaic decoration that mark it among the oldest churches in Rome. A church near this site was present since the fifth century, but the church in its current place and general layout was commissioned by Pope Hadrian I around the year 780 to house the relics (bones) of Saint Praxedes (Italian: S. Prassede) and Saint Pudentiana (Italian: S. Pudenziana), the daughters of Saint Pudens, traditionally St. Peter’s first Christian convert in Rome. The church was built atop of the remains of a 4th-century ancient Roman Thermae, privately owned by the family of Pudentiana, and called Terme di Novato. The two female saints were murdered for providing Christian burial for early martyrs in defiance of Roman law. The basilica was enlarged and decorated by Pope Paschal I in c. 822.
Pope Paschal, who reigned 817–824, was at the forefront of the Carolingian Renaissance started and advocated by the emperor Charlemagne. They desired to get back to the foundations of Christianity theologically and artistically. Paschal, thus, began two, linked, ambitious programs: the recovery of martyrs’ bones from the catacombs of Rome and an almost unprecedented church building campaign. Paschal dug up numerous skeletons and transplanted them to this church. The Titulus S. Praxedis was established by Pope Evaristus, around 112. While on a pilgrimage to Rome with his father around 855-856, the young and future English king Alfred the Great was reportedly deeply impressed and inspired by the church’s beauty.
The inscriptions found in Santa Prassede, a valuable source illustrating the history of the church, have been collected and published by Vincenzo Forcella.
The church contains the oratory of San Zenone.
The church provided the inspiration for Robert Browning’s poem “The Bishop Orders His Tomb at Saint Praxed’s Church.”
The Holy Pilgrimage Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Thessaloniki was founded by the blessed Metropolitan Panteleimon II Chrysofakis of Thessaloniki, amidst odes and odes, on 17 June 1981, on a plot of land at the junction of the streets of Megalo Alexandrou and General Kallidopoulou.
The inauguration was held on 26 March 1983 and the opening on 12 May 1985 by the same Bishop, in the presence of the then President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Christos Sarzetakis, who also preached the opening of a Theological Conference dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodios. Since then, the church has had a dynamic presence in the ecclesiastical, scientific and cultural events of the city and beyond, with the celebration of sacred services, the organization of or participation in International Scientific Conferences and Workshops and the establishment of an Ecclesiastical Choir.
Important milestones in the history of the church are the visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in 1997, and the election of the first priestly superior of the church, Archimandrite Ioannis Tassias, as Bishop of Lagada on 10 May 2010.
The parish church of St. Wenceslas is a single-nave Gothic building from the second half of the 15th century, Baroqueised in the 18th century, with a presbytery and a square tower, situated on an elevated site on the eastern edge of the historic centre of the town.
The tower of the church used to be a separate spire. Its foundation is evidenced by a preserved inscription from 1543. The church acquired its present appearance during the mid-19th century reconstruction, when the nave was extended by about 10 metres and connected to the tower. A Marian chapel was also added on the south side.
The oldest church bell dates from 1666, the largest from 1672 (900 kg) and two bells from 1956.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Tišnov Lookout Tower, also known as the Klucanina Lookout Tower or Klucanina, is a lookout tower on Klucanina Hill (410 m above sea level) in Tišnov. The brick lookout tower stands at an altitude of 402 m above sea level. Its total height is 29 m and 133 steps lead to the highest, third, viewing platform at 25 m.
The Klucanina lookout tower was built in 2003 thanks to the enthusiasts from the civic association Rozhled na Tišnov. It stands on the site of a former wooden lookout tower from 1934-1947, which was built by the agile Club of Czech Tourists in Tišnov. When it was closed in the 1950s due to poor technical condition and later collapsed, only a 3-meter high stone base remained on the top until the beginning of the new millennium, which was used in the construction of the current tower.
The tower can be reached from the Tišnov hospital by following the blue hiking trail. It has two galleries and an outdoor platform just below the top, from where you can see as far as Sýkoři or Babí Quarry. There is also a nature trail for the youngest visitors.
Klucanina Hill (415 m) also boasts natural attractions, namely the rare flowers of the slipperwort – one of the most beautiful and rare European flowers ever.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The ruins of a small castle Trmačov are located on a hill south of the village Hluboké Dvory.
The castle, which was the seat of princely families, was founded at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries and was first mentioned in 1350. Trmačov probably disappeared during the Bohemian-Hungarian wars.
As early as 1481 the castle is mentioned as deserted. A tower torso about 6 metres high, modest remnants of the palace and walls have been preserved from the bergfrit-type castle.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The pilgrimage site of Saint Clement is located on the site of a former Romanesque church on a hill between the villages of Lipůvka and Nuzířov. According to historical sources, the church of Saint Clement stood west of Lipůvka as early as the 13th century and was a parish church.
The so-called dead road led to it, which was used by funeral processions. In 1787, the church was abolished by decree on the basis of Joseph II’s reforms, and in 1793 it was demolished by order of the parishioners for reasons of public safety, so that it could not harbour unfair elements. The stone from the church was used in the construction of the cemetery wall at the church of Saint Cecilia. On the tree-covered elevation, the layout of the original church is still visible and there are two crosses made of stone and a wooden cross of Saints Cyril and Methodius. On the feast of the Holy Saints Cyril and Methodius (it was they who found the remains of St. Pope Clement and brought them to Rome, where St. Cyril rests in the Basilica of St. Clement), processions head here and pilgrims gather to celebrate Holy Mass in the open air.
The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major has dominated over the city of Rome for 16 centuries as the Marian shrine par excellence and the cradle of artistic civilization. Located at the summit of the Esquiline Hill, it is one of Rome’s four Papal Basilicas. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary indicated and inspired the construction of her abode on the Esquiline Hill. She appeared in a dream to the aristocrat, Giovanni, and to Pope Liberius, asking for the construction of a Church in her honour, in a place that She would miraculously reveal. The Miracle of the Snows is recalled each year with a solemn celebration. During the liturgy, a shower of white petals falls from the ceiling, creating an almost perfect union between the congregation and the Mother of God.
The Basilica houses the most important Marian icon, the Salus Populi Romani. Tradition attributes the image to Saint Luke the Evangelist, the Patron Saint of painters. Pope Francis entrusts his Apostolic Journeys to the protection of the Salus Populi Romani, which he visits before every departure and after every return.
The relic of the Holy Crib, the manger in which Baby Jesus was laid to rest, highlights the importance of Saint Mary Major as the “Bethlehem of the West”. The first Christmas night Mass was celebrated here and Pontiffs have been keeping this tradition alive for centuries.
Among the Basilica’s most important relics are the remains of Saint Matthew and Saint Jerome.
Seven Popes are buried in the Basilica.
The many treasures housed in the Basilica make Saint Mary Major a place where art and spirituality blend in a perfect pairing, giving visitors the unique emotions that transpire from man’s great works of art, inspired by God.
Constantine (Cyril), together with his brother Methodius, went to Rome to defend the Old Slavonic language as the language of worship before the Pope. Their mission was successful, and the Pope granted their request in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. In this church in 867, Pope Hadrian II, in the presence of Saints Cyril and Methodius, placed the Slavonic service books on the main altar, thus approving them and allowing their use. After the consecration, the new priests celebrated the Slavonic liturgy in several Roman churches.
The formerly dilapidated Mitrovsky farm in Bystřice nad Pernštejnem has been transformed into a new ecological centre, which is a paradise of interactive entertainment and knowledge for the whole family. Only in Eden will you experience an engaging journey through time on the past-present-future line. You can touch and experience everything.
In the Horácká village you will get to know the life of our ancestors and try out various folk crafts – become a weaver, potter or carpenter for a while. Each of the seven cottages is dedicated to one of the traditional crafts. So you can visit weavers, grandmothers of spices, beekeepers, potters and millers and actively participate in their lives. In the mill you can taste baked buns and in the courtyard you can take a peek into your grandmother’s pet garden.
The Manor Farm exhibition offers a glimpse into the carpenter’s shop, the blacksmith’s shop, the green pharmacy, the brewery and the interactive Soil exhibition, where you will engage all your senses and learn all about the traditional use of farmland and everything related to soil through fun elements. Examples of the life and work of ordinary people in the Highlands are complemented by the Manor House, which offers a glimpse into the life of the nobility.
The classic picture of the past is also illustrated by the Animal Farm, where children will get to know the animals. There is even an equestrian area. At the farm, you can buy homemade eggs, for example, and then after the action-packed trip you can treat yourself to the best omelette at home. Children will love the donkeys that were rescued from Slovakia.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
One of the most visited Moravian castles is Pernštejn Castle, which attracts tourists from the surrounding area. It has stood on a rock above the town of Nedvědice for nearly eight centuries and has never been conquered in its entire history.
Take a trip back in time to the origin of the famous bison head with the bison’s nostrils, which used to be on the coat of arms of the Lords of Pernštejn for centuries. It is easy to forget that you are in the 21st century when visiting Pernštejn.
At the castle, you can visit the standard tour of the main palace, which covers about a third of the total area of the castle, or you can book a special tour in advance. The booked tour includes a comprehensive interpretation of the history of the Pernštejn family and a more detailed tour of the otherwise forbidden interiors of the castle. For example, you will see a tour dedicated mainly to the 19th century at the castle, which includes fully furnished interiors from the Mittrowsky period. Another tour covers the complete structural and historical development. It includes a visit to the cellars and attics. One of the routes also includes a tour of the chapel, sacristy and climbing the tower. In the undercroft you will find a modern car park. The old one upstairs in front of the castle has been closed and parking is prohibited. The car park is about a 10-25 minute walk from the castle.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
There is a monastery Porta Coeli in Předklášteří near Tišnov, where a community of Cistercian sisters still lives today. In the monastery grounds there is the Podhorácké Museum, where visitors can see several permanent exhibitions.
Porta Coeli (translated as Gate of Heaven) is a Cistercian women’s monastery from the 13th century. During the Hussite Wars of 1428-1436, Porta Coeli was devastated. During the invasion of Swedish troops in 1619-1625, the monastery did not escape conquest. And during the reign of Joseph II in 1782, the monastery was even converted into a textile manufactory. It was reopened 100 years later, when the Cistercian nuns from the Marienthal monastery were sent here.
From then on, the convent did well until 1950, when the activities of the nuns were stopped by the communist regime. The Velvet Revolution brought the monastery back to life, when Porta Coeli began to function again. The last major renovation here took place in 2019-2020. In 2022, the confessional, the side altar of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Baroque basin in the sacristy were restored. Thanks to the project, valuable artistic elements of the church furnishings, which is a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic, have been preserved and restored.
During a guided tour of the monastery, the participant will get acquainted with the most interesting places such as the Romanesque-Gothic Basilica of the Assumption with its famous portal. The tours take place at approximately half-hour intervals. A video tour of the Gothic core of the monastery can be seen in the museum.
There are four permanent exhibitions and numerous seasonal exhibitions in the museum. These will captivate the perceptive visitor not only with the exhibits on display, but also with the atmosphere of a classical museum environment in the interiors of the Baroque building of the former provostry.
The oldest exhibition of the Brno Museum of Paleontology and Mineralogical System, located in period showcases in the corridor of the museum, was supplemented in 1998 by the regional section Minerals in the Tišnov region. The counterbalance to these are two historical exhibitions: the bourgeois residential interior from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries from 1999 and the History and Present of the Porta Coeli Monastery from 2004.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The present castle was probably built on the site of a hillfort. The first demonstrable building on the hill was a stone residential tower and rotunda from the 11th century, when the castle served to protect the Kingdom of Hungary and the western borderlands. At the end of the 13th century, it came into the possession of the knight Matúš Čák Trenčanský, a prominent oligarch who controlled a large territory and became the legendary “Lord of the Váh and Tatras”. His building activity can be traced mainly in the extension and extensive modification of the 11th century block residential tower, to which he added a heavily fortified residential palace. The tower, called Matúš’s tower, is the dominant element of the whole broad silhouette of the castle.
After Matúš’s death, the castle belonged to the monarch until the end of the 15th century. The so-called Upper Castle was extended by King Louis of Anjou with a new palace and fortifications. Sigismund of Luxembourg gave the castle to his wife Barbara, for whom he had a new palace and chapel built in the first third of the 15th century. All these buildings have been partially renovated and are now used for museum purposes. The middle of the 15th century was marked by the fortification of the castle, especially because of the Hussite expeditions, which were also heading to Slovakia at that time. At the end of the 15th century, Štěpán Zápolský acquired the castle together with the town and began extensive reconstruction.
At the beginning of the 16th century the castle became a target of Turkish expansion. Despite Zápolský’s building and fortification works, the castle was captured in 1527 by the troops of King Ferdinand I, led by General Katzianer. Between 1540 and 1560, the restoration and expansion of the extensive fortifications began, making Trenčín Castle, together with Spiš Castle and Děvín Castle, one of the most extensive castles in Europe. At the same time, artillery defences were built according to the design of Italian architects and the buildings were modernised according to contemporary trends. The silhouette of the castle also changed. The high Gothic roofs were replaced by horizontal Renaissance attics in the shape of swallow tails, which were a typical Italian feature of the 16th century. In 1790, a fire spread through the town and affected the castle. In the mid-19th century, the damaged buildings were preserved to prevent further decay. Since the late 1950s, the castle has been undergoing a very complicated (especially due to its location) complex restoration and reconstruction of its fortifications. The repaired objects are gradually used for museum purposes or are part of the permanent exhibition.
The Basilica of Aquileia, dedicated to the Virgin and to Saints Hermacoras and Fortunatus, has an architectural history whose roots go back to the years immediately following 313 A.D. when, thanks to the Edict of Milan that put an end to religious persecutions, the Christian community was able to freely build its first building of worship. In the centuries that followed, after the destruction of this first church, the seat of the bishopric, the people of Aquileia rebuilt it four times, superimposing the new constructions on the remains of the previous ones (phases: Theodorian, first half of the 4th century; Post-Theodorian North, mid-4th century; Post-Theodorian South, end of the 4th century or after the mid-5th century; Massentian, 9th century; Popponian, first half of the 11th century; Marquardian intervention to reconstruct the roof, from the ogival arches to the roof, 14th-15th century).
Today’s Basilica is in Romanesque-Gothic form. The interior, majestic and solemn, is permeated with an intense spirituality, refined over the centuries. The floor consists of a marvellous polychrome mosaic from the 4th century, brought to light by archaeologists in the years 1909-12; the elegant wooden ceiling in the shape of a ship’s keel dates back to the 15th century; between the floor and the ceiling, therefore, more than a thousand years of art-historical events are enclosed. The floor is the largest early Christian mosaic in the western world (a good 760 m²): it alone would be enough to repay the pilgrim for the long journey to Ecclesia Mater, a World Heritage Site. The mosaic was partially ruined by the installation of the columns in the right aisle; this occurred at the end of the 4th century or, according to a different opinion, after the middle of the 5th century. The foundations of the columns are visible because in the early 20th century the medieval red and white tiled floor, dating back to the time of Patriarch Popone or Poppo (1031), was removed in order to expose the precious early Christian mosaic.
From the entrance we can observe the mosaic floor. The mosaic covered the South Hall of Theodore, one of the three main rooms that made up the bishop’s seat erected at the time of Emperor Constantine. Theodore, in fact, recalled in the epigraph inserted in the floor (in the Fishing Scene), had built a cultic complex perfectly suited to the liturgical needs of the time. Having purchased the urban area where some warehouses stood, he demolished them and erected a U-shaped complex: two parallel rectangular halls (South Hall and North Hall), connected by a transversal, also rectangular; between the two parallel halls, to the east of the transversal, were the baptistery, service rooms and the entrance to the whole complex. Of the complex, the following can be seen in the Basilica: the mosaic of the South Hall, part of the earthenware of the Transversal Hall, part of the mosaic of the entrance corridor; in the Crypt of the Excavations, the remains of the mosaics of the North Hall, the rest of the earthenware of the connecting hall and the floors of the service rooms; the remains of the primitive baptistery with an elliptical basin are not visible. According to some scholars, the South Hall served as a catechumen, while the North Hall was reserved for the celebration of Mass; others believe the opposite. The connecting hall served both as a changing room (before Baptism by immersion) and for the conferring of the sacrament of Confirmation.
Castle Nové Město na Moravě is the seat of the Horácké Gallery. The Renaissance castle was built in the second half of the 16th century. Later, it was marked by new trends – Baroque in the 18th century and Neo-Renaissance in the 19th century.
The Castle in Nové Město na Moravě was built on the site of the original fortress by Vilém Dubský of Třebomyslice in 1589. The ground plan and vaults on the ground floor have been preserved from this building.
The castle now houses the Horácká Gallery. The gallery also houses a plaster original of the statue called “Wounded” by J. Štursa. Opposite the castle, in front of the artist’s birthplace with a memorial plaque, a bronze sculpture of a copy of the sculpture was unveiled in 1965 as a memorial to the victims of the Second World War.
In its collection programme, the Horácká Gallery focuses on documenting the works of the most important personalities of regional art in confrontation with Czech art. The extensive collections of the estates of J. Lauda, J. Mařatka, V. Makovský, L. Martínek, K. Pokorný, J. Stursa and other artists were acquired by donation or bequest. The collection includes a concentrated collection of metallurgical glass from the 1960s and 1970s, originating from the production of the well-known glassworks in Škrdlovice near Žďár nad Sázavou.
The permanent exhibition of the Horácké Gallery presents a representative selection of the collections of our institution. The leading representatives of the realistic line of modern Czech sculpture are represented here with their important works. You have a unique opportunity to see the works of such sculptors as Vincenc Makovský, Josef Mařatka, Josef Václav Myslbek, Karel Pokorný, Jan Štursa and others. The sculptures and reliefs of these tribal artists chronologically map the beginnings, maturation periods, peaks and late stages of their artistic work. The installation of sculptures is complemented by paintings by artists who were mostly lifelong connected to the region, whether they were born and lived here or developed a warm relationship with the region and its people during their lifetime. That is why today we can admire the beauty of the Highland landscape thanks to the canvases of Oldřich Blažíček, Josef Jambor, Alois Podloucký and others.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Horácké Museum in Nové Město na Moravě, housed in the old Renaissance town hall from the 16th century, was founded in 1892 as the second oldest museum in Western Moravia. Its exhibitions focus on folk culture in the northern part of the Moravian Highlands.
The entire ground floor of the museum houses an exhibition of folk culture called Time of Generations, which presents the most typical manifestations of folk culture in the northern part of Moravian Horácko. A great emphasis is placed on folk production, especially woodworking and textile production. Among the most interesting exhibits are the products of the Highland weavers, contemporary carvings and folk toys, enlarged copies of which are installed for the free use of visitors.
The Nové Město region boasts the first place in the history of skiing in Moravia. Skis began to be used here in the early 1890s. Among other things, the town became famous for the Golden Ski Race of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, the first edition of which took place here in 1934. It is for this reason that another part of the exhibition is devoted to the production of skis and the history of skiing. You can see not only skis sorted from the oldest to modern production, but also diplomas and prizes of successful racers from Nové Město.
In 2021, the son of the first holder of the Golden Ski Bohumil Kosour donated this prestigious trophy to the museum. The precious metal spoon measures nineteen centimetres and was originally a travelling spoon. The Golden Ski of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands originated as a combined race or Nordic Combined, the founders were inspired by the Parsenn Derby for the Golden Ski in Davos, which was ten years older. According to the statutes of the sports club in Novo mesto at that time, the athlete who won the race three times in a row or five times with breaks was to win the golden spoon forever. The first to do so was Bohumil Kosour from Radňovice, the winner from 1939 to 1942 and then in 1949.
The abundance of wood, raw materials and water power created the conditions for the existence of glass and iron production in the region. The exhibition also includes an extensive collection of glass from famous glassworks in Vysočina (Milovy, Křižánky, Fryšava, Herálec), which were founded in the 16th and 17th centuries. The local glass industry reached its peak in the 18th century. Although there were attempts to revive the craft during the 19th century, the last glassworks was finally closed before World War I.
The first hammers, i.e. ironworks, are documented on the New Town estate as early as the 15th century. The most important smelter in the region worked in Kadovo. By the end of the 18th century, its output was the second largest in Moravia. In 1874 it was the last ironworks in the region to close. However, it is still commemorated by cast iron crosses in the cemeteries and in the landscape.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The Catholic Church of St. Kunhuta in Nové Město na Moravě is dedicated to St. Kunhuta. It attracts especially by the valuable sgraffito decoration of the facade by the native of Nové Město, Karel Němec.
The parish church in Nové Město is dedicated to St. Kunhuta, to whom St. Anna was added as a co-patroness in the 18th century. The veneration of this saint was prompted by the saving of the town from a plague epidemic and the preservation of her woodcarving during a devastating fire.
The spiritual tabernacle, which dominates the square in Nové Město na Moravě, is the oldest monument of local history. The first indirect historical mention of the Church of St. Kunhuta dates back to the 14th century, around 1362. The oldest part is the Gothic presbytery, sometime in the mid-15th century a nave was added to it, which had a beamed ceiling until the fire in 1723. In 1499 a new bell tower was added, which was converted into a tower in 1592. The sanctus tower above the presbytery was made in 1673 (by carpenters – Tobiáš Melichar, Matěj Mandelík and Jíra the carpenter) and in 1692 a new cross was put on the great tower. The Black Chapel is adjacent to the north side of the church, the sacristy with the oratory to the south side. The church and the tower were provided with solid plaster by the builder Šmída.
In 1928-29, the academic painter Karel Němec decorated everything with colourful sgraffiti, which fill almost the entire surface of the façade – a total of 520 m2.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Thanks to the archaeological excavations that have existed for over a century in Preslav, today we know that the city dates back decades before it was declared a capital – probably at the beginning of the 9th century, in the time of Khan Krum or Khan Omurtag. As early as the before-the-capital period, Preslav was firmly fortified and well-built. It guarded the nearby Stara Planina passages and at the same time was a residence of The Khan. After the official adoption of Christianity (864), a number of Christian temples were built in Preslav which testify to the numerous populations and the gradual expansion of the city. The powerful fortifications, the important place of the city in the military-administrative system of the state and, last but not least, the Christian tradition, which undoubtedly existed in these places even in the late Antiquity, are the most important reasons that explain Preslavs choice for the new capital city of Christian Bulgaria.
In 893 The Royal Prince Boris I announced the relocation of the capital from Pliska to Preslav and raised Simeon to the throne (893-927) (recognized by the pretentious Byzantine writers as one of the most erudite rulers of his time). According to the third decision of the Council, the Bulgarian language was declared official in the worship service and the state office. Thus, all necessary prerequisites for the development of those events, processes and phenomena, now called “the Golden Age” of the Bulgarian spiritual and material culture, were created.
When telling about Tzar Simeon the Apocryphal Bulgarian chronicles link his name with a large construction activity: “… then Simeon accepted the Bulgarian kingdom… and the great city of Preslav he … built and created in 28 years …”. This is confirmed by archaeological research. Probably in the first years of Simeons rule (or the last decades of the rule of Boris I), the earlier fortress was expanded to the north and around it was built a second – an external fortress wall covering an area of 3.5 km2. Thus, the enlarged space of the earlier aul gained importance in the citadel, also called The Inner City, which was the center of the supreme secular and spiritual power. The area between the two fortress walls (The Outer City) and the nearby surroundings were the real territory of the town. There were boyar mansions and monasteries, crafts and trade districts, as well as residential areas of the ordinary population. In the scriptures of the monasteries there was an intensive literary activity, there were translations from Greek and were created original works in Bulgarian language, and in the workshops of some aristocratic mansions and monasteries and in the production quarters, the craftsmen created exquisite works of the famous Preslav painted ceramics, jewelry, on bone, wood and stone. Archaeological excavations prove that the city continues to develop and reaches its greatest splendor during the reign of Tzar Peter (927-969).
For less than a century, Preslav has become one of the most beautiful and well-developed cities in Europe at the time. With its majestic palaces, temples and representative buildings connected by streets, squares and covered galleries, the Bulgarian capital was worthy of rivaling Constantinople.
Preslavs shimmer is diminishing after the death of Tzar Peter in 969 when the Bulgarian capital was conquered by the Kiev prince Svetoslav. Two years later, in 971, on Easter, Preslav was captured by the Byzantine Emperor Yoan Tzimishi and named the town Yoanopol. After the rebuilding of Bulgarian statehood, in the years of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, the city was an important administrative and metropolitan center and its adjacent territory was called “Petrova Land” as it became the manor of the retreated Tzar Peter II. In 1388 Preslav was captured by the troops of the Ottoman general Ali Pasha.
Today, part of the magnificence of the former capital is preserved in the Archaeological Museum “Veliki Preslav “. The delights of the Preslav palaces and the refined taste of its inhabitants remind of the exquisite examples of Preslav painted ceramics and marble architectural details and the dozens of inscriptions on stone and ceramics testify to the literary and educational activity. In the Treasury of the Preslav Museum you can see the exclusive Preslav golden treasure, which unintentionally brings us back to the words of Yoan Exarch: “… with your own eyes you could worthy wonder on this beauty …”.
The pilgrimage church of St. John of Nepomuk is an extraordinary religious monument on the UNESCO list. It was designed by the architect J. B. Santini in the Baroque Gothic style at the beginning of the 18th century. The church has the shape of a five-pointed star, five exits, five stars and five angels on the main altar. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.
The Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk was built in the Baroque Gothic style in 1719-1722. It is one of the best projects of the architect Jan Blazej Santini-Aichl (1677-1723) and the most original example of the so-called Baroque Gothic. The church is surrounded by an ambit, which is compositionally connected to the central building. Overall, the small central church defies any description. Its shapes, determined by the intricate intersections of six circles in the shape of a five-pointed star, together with the virtuoso play of light and shadow in the interior, the shape’s distinctive character and the purity of the exterior, are reason enough to visit.
According to legend, a crown with five stars appeared over the body of John of Nepomuk, which is why Santini incorporated the five-pointed symbolism into his project. It is based on a five-pointed ground plan, five entrances, five altar niches, twice five chapels around the central space, five stars and five angels on the main altar. This is the symbolism of the five wounds of Christ, but also of the five letters in the Latin word “tacui” (I was silent) and especially of the five stars in the martyr’s halo, which, according to the same legend, appeared in the Vltava River.
The dome depicts the saint’s tongue as an attribute of the undisclosed confessional secret. The same motif can be found in the shape of the broken windows, which resembles a sheathed sword; in other words, his tongue remained hidden in his mouth just like a sheathed sword. Until recently, the building was surrounded by a tall pine forest, but this has been removed so that the church can be seen from a distance, as it was originally.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Let yourself be guided through the story of the former Cistercian monastery from the 13th century and today’s castle of the Kinský family. Are you looking for a place that combines living history with living nature and modern elements? Do you want to take a trip for one or more days that the whole family can enjoy?
The award-winning Museum of the New Generation tells the almost 800-year-old story of a former Cistercian monastery. The unique multimedia elements will literally draw you and your children into the story. Touching and feeling with all your senses is allowed here!
You can experience guided tours of the castle all year round. You will literally be left in awe of Santini’s architectural gems, the prelature with its extensive 18th century ceiling painting, which has not yet had to be restored, or the Basilica Minor with the second longest nave in Moravia.
Explore the grounds of the castle, a former 13th century Cistercian monastery. Through stories and architecture, you’ll learn about what the grounds and life were like.
The family gallery charts the history of the Kinský family, the current owners of the castle, in paintings and period photographs. Find out what Count Radslav Kinský looked like in his childhood and at his wedding to his newlywed wife, the Georgian princess Thamara, or who took part in the historically significant and social events that took place at Žďár Castle.
The Castle Cafe has a new layout, great coffee and delicious desserts from local suppliers. Head here with your computer to “kill” the morning, sit with the kids for a hot drink or relax on the castle terrace in the summer months.
The castle is a lively place where something is always happening. Don’t miss the colourful Easter, the “Gardens Tell” with a two-day programme for the whole family, the summer international festival of contemporary dance, movement theatre and new circus KoresponDance, the Countryside Day, which showcases the nature and living culture that has belonged to Žďár Castle since the 13th century, the autumn Pumpkin Day or the two-day Christmas at the castle celebrating the spirit of Christmas.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Santini converted the original Gothic church into a Baroque form. He inserted the bridge organ emporiums into the front part of the church, modified the altar area and designed the artistic interior decoration.
The construction of the church in the early Gothic style began after 1252 in connection with the founding of a Cistercian monastery in the local area. However, it was not substantially rebuilt until the time of Abbot Václav Vejmluva around 1710. The architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel carried out the building modifications in the Baroque Gothic style. With a length of 76 metres, it is the second longest church in Moravia.
In 2009, the church was awarded the title of Basilica Minor by the Vatican Consilium.
The Baroque Lower Cemetery, built by the architect Jan Blažej Santini Aichel, is located near the Žďár Monastery. In the middle stands a statue of the angel of the Last Judgement.
Like the Green Mountain, the Lower Cemetery in Žďár nad Sázavou is also a testament to the cooperation between Abbot Vejmluva and the architect Santini. This time, however, it was their first collaboration. At the beginning of the 18th century, Žďár was threatened by a plague epidemic and this building was intended to prepare for it. Thanks to the measures, the epidemic did not take place and the cemetery was never used as a plague cemetery. When its capacity was insufficient, it was enlarged.
The cemetery was built near the monastery and has three elliptical chapels. The triangular plan was meant to symbolise the Holy Trinity.
Under Abbot Hennet, this symbolism was broken by the addition of a fourth entrance chapel. In the centre of the cemetery is a statue of the Angel of the Last Judgement by Gregory Theny, which has stood there since the mid-18th century. The cemetery contains original statues from the nearby Baroque bridge over the Stržský Brook.
Roman forum: The Forum, the very heart of the political, administrative and social life of the city, was a square paved in limestone surrounded by public buildings and arcades on at least three sides: to the east and west there were numerous shops, to the south the civil basilica; the monumental arrangement and the evocative decorations with the faces of Medusa and Iuppiter Ammon (Jupiter with ram horns) date back to the first century A.D. The columns of the eastern arm of the portico survived and were raised and integrated with bricks in the 1930s.
Necropolis: The only portion of a necropolis now visible in Aquileia consists of five burial plots alongside a secondary road leading outside the city. The enclosed plots, all equal in width but different in length, belonged to five families from Aquileia.The tombs contained numerous burials made with incineration or inhumation burials dating between the 1st and 3rd century A.D. The burials also contained artifacts, which are recovered and stored at the National Archaeological Museum.
Ancient river port: Today an evocative archaeological walk carried out in the thirties between the area of the basilica and the remains of the river port – the so-called “via Sacra” – follows the ancient water course across the Roman settlement and that was almost fifty meters wide. The western docks, made of blocks of Istrian stone, are visible for about 400 meters, set on two different levels related to the flood tide, with horizontal mooring rings and vertical landing points. On the back there are the storehouses and the paved streets which connected the river to the market areas and the Forum. Boats of different sizes docked there from all over the Mediterranean and today it is one of the best preserved examples of port installations of the Roman times.
Titus Macer’s House: The dwelling extended for about 1500 square meters between two of the paved streets of the city, inside a block that returned some of the most valuable mosaics now exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum and that “of the Good Shepherd” provisionally located at Palazzo Meizlik. The houses feature scraps of walls and floors from different epochs, and namely from the 1st to the 4th centuries A.D. The middle portion of the site is occupied by one residential unit. To the north, some ruins of walls and mosaic floors may be referred to a third dwelling. The recent discovery of an inscribed weight allowed identifying the possible owner, one Titus Macrus. The enhancement of the area involves the reconstruction of the volumes of the ancient domus and an educational path through the rooms of the house.
Domus and Bishop Palace: Visitors will be able to make an exciting journey back in time, deep down into the underground of the ancient city of Aquileia, and watch the house of the 1st and 2nd centuries, as well as a wide portion of the mosaic floor and masonry of the bishop’s palace erected in the 5th century.
Ancient Markets | Pasqualis Area: The excavations carried out in 1953-1954 to the south- western end of the ancient city brought to light two stretches of walls built in the late Antiquity (4th-5th A.D.) and, behind these, three outdoor areas. The uncovered areas visible today, paved in sandstone and re-used material, have been interpreted as market squares, around which traders’ benches were arranged, covered by wooden structures or masonry porticoes.
Roman Domus | CAL Area: Some residential quarters had grown outside the oldest Republican city walls of Aquileia, immediately to the west of its main road, which coincides with today’s SR 352 road. The vestiges belong to a number of dwellings and to different times in the urban development of Aquileia. This bears evidence to the houses being altered, refurbished and grouped together on several occasions over time (from the 1st to the 4th-5th centuries A.D.). The archaeological site of Fondo CAL is overlooked, to the north, by a large apsed hall, now protected under a modern structure, formerly introduced by a columned yard. Originally identified as an early Christian oratory for the presence “of the Good Shepherd” mosaic floor (4th century A.D.), the hall is held today to have been a representation room in the house of a rich owner.
Decumanus of Aratria Galla: The decumanus of Aratria Galla was discovered in the 70s for a stretch of about one hundred meters. From east to west it connected the river port with the Forum and the theater: the civilian basilica overlooked it and you can see the remains in the archaeological area recently acquired by the Aquileia Foundation. The roadway, still intact, was made of trachyte, a volcanic rock from the Euganean hills. According to two twin inscriptions, referred to this street by some scholars, the paving was an act of munificence of a woman, Aratria Galla, hence the name conventionally assigned to the decumanus. When the “zigzag” walls, dating back to the 6th century, were built, the decumanus remained in use, although outside the city walls.
The original Gothic castle in Pribyslav was conquered by the Hussites, but during the siege the commander Jan Žižka himself died. The destroyed castle was replaced in the middle of the 16th century by a Renaissance chateau, later modified in the spirit of classicism. Today the castle houses a firefighters’ museum with extensive collections.
On the outskirts of the town, on a slight hill, stands the Renaissance chateau Přibyslav, built on the site of the original Gothic castle. The castle stood here in the first half of the 13th century, when silver was mined in Přibyslav. In 1424, the Hussites came to Přibyslav with the intention of conquering the town and the castle. However, the victory had a bitter taste for them, because during the siege, Jan Žižka of Trocnov, the commander-in-chief of the field troops, died of a still unexplained illness. Although Přibyslav was devastated, the locals rebuilt the town. A new Renaissance castle was built by Zacharias of Hradec. He was inspired by Italian Renaissance architecture, which is still commemorated by a charming arcaded gallery formed by a Tuscan-style colonnade.
The new castle mansion was expanded in the 18th century with Baroque additions and after several fires it acquired a Classicist appearance. Currently, the chateau is owned by the Association of Firefighters of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, which runs a firefighting museum here. The fifteen rooms of the chateau document fire protection issues and the mission of firefighters in the Czech Republic in a completely unconventional way. There is an exhibition of battalions, four-wheeled horse-drawn sprinklers, a telephone exchange and old fire engines. There are exhibits reminding not only of the rich history of firefighters, but also of the technology used at the same time, tools used for firefighting and fire prevention. In addition to basic equipment, you will also find the oldest telephone exchange, a hose cleaner or a fire alarm.
The exhibition includes a Civil Protection exhibition, a Hall of International Cooperation with CTIF countries and the regional exhibition “Přibyslavsko”.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The current Baroque form of the parish church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist dates from 1750, but the existence of a liturgical building on this site dates back to 1265. Written sources mention the existence of a church dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the Johannites. It was a Gothic building (smaller than its present form), which was severely damaged during the Hussite wars by Jan Žižka’s troops besieging the town and the adjacent castle. In 1750, the then owner of the estate, Karel Maxmilián of Dietrichstein, issued a decree for the construction of a new church; the original Gothic church became the designated site, thus preserving the spiritual significance of the site. On the first of April of the same year, the foundation stone was laid in great glory, and a white marble slab with an engraved inscription with decorations was bricked into the masonry behind the main altar, where it can also be seen by visitors to the church. The consecration ceremony took place three years later, in 1753, and the church was dedicated to the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. In 1767, the whole of Přibyslav was hit by a large fire, which destroyed both the church (roof) and the adjacent Gothic tower. Here the fire was even so massive that the bells were melted. The interior decoration of the church miraculously escaped the fire.
The Baroque building with a cruciform nave has a gabled roof with a sanctum sanctorum, there are two altars in the transept as well as in the longitudinal nave. The ceiling between them is decorated with the Dietrichstein family emblem, the hallmark of which is the conspicuous winemaking knives. Directly opposite the main altar is the organ, which was completely restored as a national technical monument in 2011. Around the church, visitors can see several preserved unique monuments – the grave of the businessman Josef Hess with a tombstone in the form of Jesus Christ by the sculptor Josef Max or the grave of the parish priest Jan Brůžek, a teacher of Karel Havlíček Borovský. The surroundings of the church are also exceptional with other unique sculptures, including the Marian Column created on the initiative of P. Jan Cimbruk in 1998 by the prominent academic sculptor (and former mayor of the town) Mr. Roman Podrázský. The column was consecrated in the same year – it is proud of the fact that it is the only Marian column consecrated in the 20th century! On the way to the adjacent forest park, visitors can also see the Pieta from the Horice sandstone.
The construction of the Gothic tower in Pribyslav began in 1497, because the original tower was damaged during the siege by Hussite troops. It was built as a defensive tower.
The entrance to it is at a height of 7 m, on the first floor. Access from the outside was always by wooden stairs, which could be easily removed in times of danger. The passage to the second floor was made so narrow that it could be easily barricaded or quickly walled up in the event of enemy infiltration into the tower. The interior of the tower – its individual floors – are connected by a narrow wooden staircase, so that the defenders, in the event of an attack, always have the advantage. The staircase is constructed on the right hand – from above – for fencing purposes.
At the foot of the Pribyslav tower, on the right side of the entrance staircase, we can notice a protruding stone projection. It is a former pillory – a place of shame.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
In Přibyslav, not far from Jihlava, there is a museum in the Kurfürst house from the middle of the 17th century, founded in the 1920s.
Visitors to the town museum can look forward to an exhibition entitled “How about a spark – or from flint to lighter”, the first permanent exhibition of lighters in the Czech Republic. There are over 7,000 lighters on display, some of them modern (e.g. the one from the Olympic Games in Sochi), others dating back to the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Those interested can also see the monuments of important native people, an ethnographic exhibition, an exhibition on the history of medieval mining and cultural associations. The exhibition “Grandma’s Room” shows how people lived in the countryside in the 19th century.
The museum also has an information centre.
The neo-Baroque chateau in the core from the second quarter of the 18th century and modifications from the second half of the 19th century was built in two construction stages by the owner of the neighbouring Amylon starch factory. The building is located in its close proximity in the western part of the village in the immediate vicinity of the busy road to Přibyslav. The brick, basemented, two-storey building with a rectangular plan has an articulated neo-Baroque façade with buttresses, gables and added wings. There are a pair of short offset two-storey double-axial wings with a hipped roof on the sides of the north-west facade. Between the wings is a glazed porch added in the first half of the 20th century. The north-east garden wing originally had an open loggia supported by columns and piers at the corners. The loggia, hidden behind overgrown awnings, is now walled up and accessed from the south-east by a five-step stone staircase with low parapets. There is a large semicircular window on the first floor with a pair of rectangular windows on each side. The entire façade is topped with a Baroque volute gable. The south-west elevation is four bays, surmounted by a two-storey three-bay gable with concave sides and a segmental cornice at the apex. The south-east front is twelve bays with a pair of low buttresses. The ground floor is articulated by a banded rustication and partial bossing, with corner rustication and lozenges articulated by rustication on the first floor. The windows are rectangular with variously shaped architraves, sill panels, arches or moulded sills and lintels. The windows in the upper storey of the entrance facade are semicircular, and in the eastern bay they are additionally flanked by pilasters with volute capitals. The inner windows of the storeys have stained glass windows.
In the 1970s, amateur climbers discovered this rock and started training on it. Today, thanks to its 120 climbs, it attracts climbers from all over the country. We are talking about Rozštípená rock near Žďár nad Sázavou, which geologists call a frost log, which is a name for a crack that is formed in fine-grained rune by the action of frost and water. The rock tower is about 10 metres high and separated from the main rock by a two-metre gap.
Complete amateurs are advised to be accompanied by an experienced climber. The rock can crumble and in places slippery. In addition to the traditional climbs to the top, the adventurous can try traversing at low altitude along the walls.
The cleft rock is located in the Protected Landscape Area Žďárské vrchy near Hamry nad Sázavou. The information board calls this place the kingdom of marigolds. It is a plant whose ripe cones are generally called pennies and are used in ornamental dry ties. The permanent inhabitants of the rocks include otters, bats and vipers. Near the rocks, a concrete sculpture by local artist Michal Olšiak is located in a meadow, which represents the head of a mammoth, as if crawling out of the rock. Just a few dozen metres downstream of the Sázava River stands a monument of the Technical Museum in Brno. Šlakhamr is a permanent exhibition of hameristry. Nearby is the quarry, which has the only officially permitted fireplace in the Žďár Hills as a historical meeting place for local tramps.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The monastery was established in the 9th century during the reign of Boris I. It was destroyed in 971 by the Byzantines when they seized Preslav and was repeatedly plundered and devastated by the Pechenegs and the Cumans. According to researchers, the monastery was an important literary centre during the First Bulgarian Empire and of the most important sites of the Preslav Literary School, there the disciples of Cyril and Methodius, Clement of Ohrid and Naum of Preslav had worked. The Patleina Monastery was also an artistic-production centre.
The monastery was established after the Christianization of Bulgaria in the 9th century during the reign of Boris I (r. 852–889). It was destroyed in 971 by the Byzantines when they seized Preslav in the aftermath of the Sviatoslav’s invasion of Bulgaria and was repeatedly plundered and devastated by the Pechenegs and the Cumans in the 11th and 12th centuries during the Byzantine rule of Bulgaria. According to researchers, the monastery was an important literary centre during the First Bulgarian Empire and of the most important sites of the Preslav Literary School, there the disciples of the Saints Cyril and Methodius, Clement of Ohrid and Naum of Preslav had worked.
The Patleina Monastery was also an artistic-production centre. During the excavations of the site carried out between 1909 and 1914, a 10th-century mosaic ceramic icon of Saint Theodore Stratelates was discovered. It has since become one of the symbols of the medieval Bulgarian heritage and is now kept at the National Archaeological Museum. Other artefacts dates from the 9th and 10th centuries excavated at the site include ceramic icons of Saint Philip and Mark the Evangelist, crucifixes, a bronze matrix of an icon of blessing Christ sitting on a throne. The monastery was declared a monument of culture.
In the 1940s a new monastery was constructed on the slope over the medieval site. However, it was never consecrated as it was nationalised after 1944 by the new Socialist authorities and converted into a vacation home.
The dominant position in the upper part of the square is occupied by a corner house with a stone bay window and a turret, today called Havlíček’s House. It was originally called Rolandovský after its owner. However, the latter professed a faith “under both” and emigrated abroad for religious reasons during the turbulent times of the 30-year war. The building was originally a late Gothic house with a preserved vaulted ceiling and Gothic cellars. In the 16th century it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style, which is evidenced, among other things, by the vaults on the ground floor and the wooden painted ceiling on the first floor from the beginning of the 17th century. The last major reconstruction was a neo-Gothic one in 1871 (by F. Schmoranz), carried out in connection with the national celebration of the unveiling of a memorial plaque on the house dedicated to K. Havlíček. The Havlíček family owned the house from 1832 until 1880, when K. Havlíček sold it to the Municipal Savings Bank.
Nowadays, the building is owned by the town and houses a museum with an exhibition “In the footsteps of Karel Havlíček in Německý Brod” with personal mementos of the writer and his family.
The green Baroque dome of the dean’s church and the massive Gothic tower dominate the town. The church stands northeast of Havlíček Square. Over the centuries, it has been inseparably linked to the historical development of the town, damaged by fires and war events, and then repaired. The original early Gothic building from the last quarter of the 13th century is the work of the Order of German Knights. The reconstruction is documented in writing only around 1380. During the Hussite wars, the church was greatly damaged, later rebuilt in a reduced form and in the 16th century a Renaissance porch and tribune with paintings from the late 16th century were added. It was rebuilt as a single nave with chapels on the north side with a vaulted ceiling in 1633-1637. The Augustinians brought the new Baroque style to the town and they inspired the Baroque reconstruction of the dean’s church. During the time of Dean John the Baptist Seidl, a dome was built over the presbytery in 1706-1709, a vestry and a chapel at the end of the presbytery were built. This gave the church a completely different layout. The construction was carried out by the local builder T. Schopper. The dome was repaired at the beginning of the 20th century. The last structural repairs to the church date from the 1970s and 1990s. The interior of the church is mainly Baroque, the main, early Baroque altar from the 17th century is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The other altars are from the 17th and 18th centuries, the epitaph of the Stamic family is Baroque, and the pewter baptismal font is from the Renaissance.
From the oldest period, from the end of the 13th century, the square atrium on the north side and the lower part of the square tower with a massive saddle portal on the southwest corner have been preserved.
The town fortifications were built between 1310 and 1350. Only one corner tower – Štáfl’s Bastion – has been preserved from this wall with a section of the wall near the gymnasium. From the late 15th-century parkland fortification wall, the fortification belts with bastions on the eastern side of the town core and in the southern to south-western part of the town by the Sázava River have been preserved. In 1957, a memorial to the painter Otakar Štáfl was opened in the preserved bastion. Here you can see some original objects documenting his life and work, but also Štáfl’s plastic paintings from the life of Karel Havlíček Borovský. The latest renovation of Štáfl’s Bastion was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Štáfl’s birth and opened during the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Havlíčkův Brod Gymnasium.
We invite you to take a walk in this piece of nature in the middle of Havlíčkův Brod, on a pleasant path around the ponds under the treetops. The park of about 25 hectares was founded by the “Future” ornamental association in 1889 in the natural valley of the Cihlářský brook, on which a unique cascade of ponds and small lakes is built. Going upstream, the first pond of the cascade is Obora, then Očko pond, separated from the reconstructed Hastrman by a romantic waterfall, above the ice rink is Rantejch and above the swimming pool is the recreational pond Cihlář. We leave the park and follow the yellow trail to Vlkovsko, where we pass the Hajdovec, Pfaffendorf, Zádušní and Štičí ponds. The cascade ends in the village of Knyk with the so-called Knycky Pond.
You can experience food without added “écs” in the reconstructed part of the Park Future (below the dam of the Hastrman pond), where a refreshment stand is open. It is run by an enterprise called AveKave, a social enterprise that employs people with disabilities. Here you can taste not only good coffee and homemade lemonade, but also small confectionery or bakery delicacies or cold products.
There are monuments to the fallen of World Wars I and II and a monument to Karel Havlíček Borovský on the slope above Hastrman Pond. About 100 m to the north is a wooden Art Nouveau gazebo designed by the famous builder Josef Šupich. The building has been a cultural monument since 2016.
Havlíčkův Brod is one of the towns that boasts a beautiful historic square with townhouses. The centre of the town is a regular square with streets in the corners. The surrounding houses are mostly one-storey, built on elongated building plots. Their Baroque and Neo-Renaissance facades and gables create a nice backdrop around the Baroque plague column and fountain from the beginning of the 18th century. The dominant features of the square are the Havlíček House (now the Museum of the Highlands of Havlíčkův Brod) and the two town halls (the old Renaissance and the new Neo-Baroque ones from 1891). The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is an unmissable building in the historic centre. Due to its well-preserved historic layout and the corresponding spatial and material composition of the buildings, the historic centre of the town was declared a town conservation area.
The former Cistercian monastery, converted into a chateau, on the right bank of the Sázava River is the most important monument of the village of Pohled. It is currently privately owned and is gradually coming to life.
The building of today’s castle in Pohled was built by rebuilding a Cistercian monastery, which was founded sometime after the middle of the 13th century by the daughters of Vitek of Klokot (Katherine, Ludmila and Jitka).
The present Baroque building of the castle, originally a monastic convent, dates from 1689-1690 and is adjacent to the former convent church of St. Andrew on the north side. The convent buildings enclose a square courtyard, with the east and west wings still protruding from the mass of the quadrangle to the south (thus creating a plan resembling the letter H). The Renaissance prelature building is still adjacent to the convent on the west side.
Until the 1980s it was used by the municipality as a school.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
Quality of the architectonic complex of the castle Hradec nad Moravicí situated in a 60-hectare natural landscape park, and precious artistic and historical collections rank the castle to sought tourist targets in the region. It is well known as an important musical centre in which numerous extraordinary events are held every year, dominated by the international interpretation competition called The Beethoven`s Hradec.
The slope of Hradec was permanently settled as soon as about 2 000 B.C. The construction development of the premise itself started with a Slavonic settlement. In its place– after the fire of the Premyslides` principal castle – in the middle of the 13th century king Premysl Otakar II. started building a new, extensive and imposing Gothic castle surrounded by sophisticated fortification system. From 1279 to 1281 his widowed wife Kunhuta kept her court. In the 14th century Hradec was the seat of the Premyslides of Opava and administration centre of the Opava principality. In 1481 it was awarded the town statute and symbol and the right of market.
Since the beginning of the 16th century it has passed through the hands of several feudal lords, Kaspar Pruskovsky of Pruskov being the last one – in 1585 he obtained the assets here as the hereditary property and simultaneously he commenced the reconstruction of the castle premise into a Renaissance seat with a decorative garden and wood park. The new, more contemporary quality of living certainly influenced the level of the family and social life in Hradec. Among others, numerous domestic musicians performed here; the castle band has been known since the 1730s and even operas were performed in the theatre hall.
In 1778 the manor of Hradec passed to the Prussian principal family of Lichnovský of Voštice, who provided for general adaptation of the castle in terms of the contemporary Empire style at the beginning of the 19th century – after the fire in 1796. The extensive alteration of the main residential building was accompanied by extension of the premise with the Neo-Gothic Red Castle with stables, coach rooms and mural wall in the latter half of the 19th century. The castle surroundings were subject to changes, too. The old fortification system was demolished, slopes leveled and a natural landscape park of an excellent composition and dendrological quality was founded. Then the pseudo-Gothic White Tower was added near the garden tract as the last building of the area.
The manor of Hradec was held in sequence by eight princes and counts of the Lichnovský family in six generations. Each of them was an individuality of extraordinary education, interests, capabilities and exquisite contacts. All of this could not but sign the social and representative position of the castle of Hradec as well as the spectrum and level of its collections. Besides sovereigns, dignitaries of European courts, political and social celebrities, the castle hosted also numerous celebrities of the cultural world. Hradec was visited among others by L.van Beethoven, F. Liszt, J. Mánes, G. Hauptmann, H. v. Hoffmannstahl, K. Kraus and Listzs daughter Cosima Wagner. The family of Lichnovský maintained friendly relationships with W.A.Mozart, N. Paganini, A. von Humboldt, V. Hugo, R.M.Rilke, M. Twain, P. Picasso or O. Kokoschka.
In May 1945 the manor was confiscated in favour of the Czechoslovak state and the castle was opened for the public soon. The object has been under major overhaul since 1979, a part of partly reconstructed and restored interiors was made accessible in 1996 again.
The historically highly valued castle complex currently has a wide range of uses. Visitors will find not only interesting sightseeing tours and exhibitions, but also a beautiful and dignified setting for their wedding or castle apartments designed to accommodate guests.
The new Restaurant & Café Castle has found its place in the Castle. It is an ideal place to enjoy coffee and homemade desserts and cakes or choose from a wide range of classic Czech dishes or grilled specialties.
The Castle in Světlá nad Sázavou is open all year round, from Easter 2024 it will be open daily, including Mondays. Our goal is to keep the castle alive!
The castle is closely adjacent to the castle park. The park, originally founded in 1871, covers 16 hectares and, in keeping with the trends of the time, is enriched with a number of so-called romantic buildings – gazebos, stone staircases and benches, the steel-arched Devil’s Bridge or alpinum or water lily pools.
The original Gothic fortress with moats stood in Světlá nad Sázavou as early as the 14th century.
The most important family were the Trčková of Lipa, who had it rebuilt into a hunting castle in the Renaissance style. The Verniers of Rougemont and later the Czernins rebuilt the castle in Baroque style. The castle acquired the Empire style thanks to František Josef Zichy. Other architecturally magnificent neo-Renaissance elements were created by the Kolowrat family of Kraków and the free lords Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz.
At the beginning of the 20th century the castle was the seat of the Land Bank. During the war the castle served the German garrison. In the post-war period a secondary agricultural school was established here. Since 2007, thanks to the Světelska Homeland History Association, the Světelska Museum has been established in the castle.
The Světelska Museum has been housed in the castle since 2007 and was created by the Světelská Homeland History Society.
The exhibition offers the oldest evidence of the founding of the town of Světlá nad Sázavou. In the showcases are exhibited objects found in Světelska from the prehistoric period. Numerous artefacts highlight the long history of many aristocratic families during the seven-hundred-year history.
A significant part of the exhibition is devoted to crafts typical for this region: stonemasonry, glass cutting and Czech garnets.
The early Gothic building of the church dates back to 1318. The dominant feature of the church and the whole town is the tower, which is more than 35 metres high and has been rebuilt several times since the end of the 13th century. The appearance of the tower, which was given to it in 1821, was preserved during its last renovation in 1930.
The bell tower on the top floor houses the rare St. Wenceslas bell from 1569 and the dying bell from 1946, the modern bells of Our Lady and St. Luke by the bell-maker Laetitia Dytrychová from Brodek u Přerova were purchased in 1976.
A return to the life of the people in the area of today’s Vysočina region in the period from the end of the Thirty Years’ War until the abolition of labour in 1848 is presented by the farm museum in Pohled – the Michael’s Farm open-air museum. Come and see what life was like in the time of our ancestors, perhaps on the occasion of an event.
A visit to Michael’s Farm not only introduces you to the way of life, work and customs of the past, but should also make you think about life today. The residential part of the farmhouse consists of a hall, a world room, a black kitchen and a pantry. The farming part consists of a barn, a spinning wheel, a tool shed, cellars for food and potatoes, a well and a barn. Since 1924, the youngest building in the former orchard has stood – a fan house. The overall image of the bygone times is revived by the breeding of livestock of original Czech breeds. Everything here is simply such that a casual visitor from two hundred years ago need not be surprised.
The municipality of Pohleď lies on the right bank of the Sázava River between Havlíčkův Brod and Světlá nad Sázavou. During the year, you can enjoy the celebration of St. John’s Night, the Old Bohemian Easter and Christmas, or the March for the Czech Kingdom.
According to the records in the Registers of the Světel Manor, the Michal family was settled on this farm as early as 1591. Further references come from the inventory of inhabitants after the Thirty Years’ War in 1651. In 1788, Václav Michal bought the farm from the authorities for 195 gold coins and in 1798 it was divided into two halves. One of the holders of this land, Matěj Michal, was also the mayor of the village in 1902-1926.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the entire farm part of the farm was in the use of the local agricultural cooperative and the whole building began to slowly deteriorate. The Michal family owned the farm until 1997. The last owner was Karel Michal. In 2000, the municipality of Pohleď bought the entire building and work began on its reconstruction. In 2003, the entire Michal farmstead and the adjacent land was declared a cultural monument. On 1 August 2004 it was opened to the public.
Source: www.kudyznudy.cz
The first concrete mention of Okrouhlice is found in the books of the Vilémov monastery in 1388. At that time, Abbot Peter sold Okrouhlice and Chlístov to Bernard, who subsequently wrote after Okrouhlice. He or one of his relatives built a fortress above the Sázava River. At that time it was probably a residential tower with wooden annexes. On the west and north, where the houses of the village stood, walls or at least palisades must have been built adjacent to the fortress building. The access road led from the ford around the mill to the fortress.
In 1454 Tomek of Kněnice, the founder of the Okrouhlick family of Kněnice, is mentioned as the owner. Subsequently, the farm was probably divided, because in 1527 Lidmila of Libodršice is mentioned as the owner and briefly Mikuláš the younger of Dobřenice. In the same year Okrouhlice was probably also owned by Václav Okrouhlický of Kněnice, but he is mentioned only a year later. In 1539 Jan Okrouhlický of Kněnice is mentioned as the owner. These frequent changes of owners apparently led to a failure to pay taxes, so that Adam of Dobřenice was forced to mortgage Okrouhlice in 1542. During the Hussite wars, however, the interest gradually declined.
Around 1590 Okrouhlice together with the nearby Světlá became the property of Mikuláš Trčka of Lípa. The village and the fortress were in a very bad condition at that time. Mikuláš Trčka therefore bought the farm and joined it to the Svetla manor. The fortress was retained and the village itself was brought under the manor that stood there and through this it was added to Světlá. It remained in the possession of the Trčka family until 1634, when Adam Erdman Trčka of Lípa was murdered in Cheb.
In 1680, Count Ferdinand of Waldstein apparently had a two-winged castle with St. Anne’s Chapel and a ballroom built on the site of the fortress. He had the surroundings of the castle landscaped into a garden, which was complemented by a gazebo and a pond. It was then separated from the village square by a wall with an outbuilding, the so-called Drábovňa. After his death in 1696, Count Kornel bought the property in Okrouhlice, but in 1708 it was bought by the free lord Michal Asháč Kirchner. In the same year, however, the Imperial Privy Council is also listed as the owner and from 1692 Count Jan Petr Straka of Nedabylice and Libčany, who bought it for 120,000 gold coins. He had the chateau and its surroundings rebuilt – for example, he built a brewery to the north of it on the site of a defunct sheepfold. It is difficult to locate it today, but it probably stood under Hyrš’s farm. At the same time, the chateau’s granary was probably built and in 1848 a fountain in the courtyard with a water supply from the pond on the northern edge of the village.
On 7 January 1861, the castle was hit by fire, which quickly spread to the surrounding buildings. Although it was no longer inhabited by the nobility, the castle was quickly rebuilt using the Straka Foundation. The reconstruction was led by Martin Urban from Německý Brod, as evidenced by a record found in the tower’s poppy. The same record documents the placement of a new metal turret on the repair tower on 6 August 1861. This turret was made by Matěj Skala, also from Německý Brod. The tower was repaired again in 1883. During the repairs, one floor of the tower was taken down, so that the castle no longer reached its original monumentality. Neither the original clock tower nor the stucco was restored. In 1847, the chateau chapel was consecrated, gradually dismantled and for some time served as an office. For a time, the castle housed a shelter for impoverished noblewomen. In the 20th century it was part of the operation of a nearby distillery, it was a branch of the Karlovy Vary Porcelain Company (until 2003)[2] and there were also apartments. Now (2016) the castle is abandoned and its reconstruction is under preparation.