Strážnice (german: Straßnitz) is a town in
Hodonín District
Hodonín District ( cs, okres Hodonín) is one of seven districts (''okres'') within South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Hodonín.
The main river of the district is the Morava, which geographically divides the ...
in the
South Moravian Region
The South Moravian Region ( cs, Jihomoravský kraj; , ; sk, Juhomoravský kraj) is an administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia (an exception is Jobova Lhota which trad ...
of the
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
. It has about 5,400 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an
urban monument zone.
Etymology
The name is derived from ''stráž'' (i.e. "guard") and refers to the original function of the castle which was built here in the 13th century.
Geography
Strážnice is located about northeast of
Hodonín
Hodonín (; german: Göding) is a town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 24,000 inhabitants.
Administrative parts
Hodonín is made up of only one administrative part.
Geography
Hodonín is located about southeast ...
. It lies in the
Lower Morava Valley
The Lower Morava Valley ( cs, Dolnomoravský úval, Jihomoravská pánev; sk, Dolnomoravský úval; german: Nieder March Talsenke) is a geomorphological formation (special type of valley) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is formed by the ...
. The river
Morava flows along the northwestern border of the municipal territory. The highest point is a contour line at above sea level. The river Velička flows into the Morava through the northern part of Strážnice. The town is located on the
Baťa Canal
Baťa Canal (in Czech ''Baťův kanál'' or ''Průplav Otrokovice-Rohatec'') is a navigable canal on the Morava river in the Czech Republic. The water canal was built during 1934-38 and today it serves mainly for recreational cruises.
History
R ...
.
The southern part of Strážnice lies in the Bílé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area, even though it is not part of the
eponymous mountain range. The municipal territory briefly borders
Slovakia
Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...
in the south.
History
The area has been inhabited since time immemorial. Items from the Neolithic
Linear Pottery culture
The Linear Pottery culture (LBK) is a major archaeological horizon of the European Neolithic period, flourishing . Derived from the German ''Linearbandkeramik'', it is also known as the Linear Band Ware, Linear Ware, Linear Ceramics or Inci ...
have been found here.
The first written mention of Strážnice is from 1302. A water castle guarding the Hungarian border was built here after 1260. In the 13th century, Strážnice was acquired by the lords of Kravaře. Petr Strážnický of Kravaře contributed to the prosperity of the town and expanded the Strážnice manor After the town was severely damaged in the
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars or the Hussite Revolution, were a series of civil wars fought between the Hussites and the combined Catholic forces of Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, the Papacy, European monarchs loyal to the Cat ...
, it recovered and expanded during the rule of Jiří of Kravaře.
[
In the early 16th century, the Strážnice manor was bought by the ]Zierotin
The House of Žerotín or House of Zierotin was a Czech noble family in the Lands of the Bohemian Crown, one of the oldest and most illustrious noble families from Bohemia and Moravia. The family was first mentioned around the year 1200 as ''B ...
family. During their rule, Strážnice achieved its greatest prosperity. The town was fortified and the old castle was rebuilt to a Renaissance residence. At the beginning of the 17th century, it was one of the most populated and most important Moravia
Moravia ( , also , ; cs, Morava ; german: link=yes, Mähren ; pl, Morawy ; szl, Morawa; la, Moravia) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia.
The me ...
n towns.[
In 1605, Strážnice was burned down by ]Stephen Bocskai
Stephen Bocskai or Bocskay ( hu, Bocskai István; 1 January 155729 December 1606) was Prince of Transylvania and Hungary from 1605 to 1606. He was born to a Hungarian noble family. His father's estates were located in the eastern regions of th ...
and his army and many people were killed. During the Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history
The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (80 ...
, the town further suffered and was repeatedly ravaged. In 1628, Strážnice was bought by František Magnis and the catholicization of the town began. A large fire in 1652, plague epidemics in 1680, and another Hungarian raid in 1683 caused the decline of the manor and the town lost its former significance.[
]
Demographics
Sights
The Strážnice Castle was rebuilt to its current Neorenaissance form with Neoclassical elements in the mid-19th century. Today the castle houses the National Institute of Folk Culture. There is a permanent exposition of "Folk instruments of the Czech Republic" and a historical library with more than 13,000 books. The castle is surrounded by a large English park
The English landscape garden, also called English landscape park or simply the English garden (french: Jardin à l'anglaise, it, Giardino all'inglese, german: Englischer Landschaftsgarten, pt, Jardim inglês, es, Jardín inglés), is a sty ...
with the longest plane
Plane(s) most often refers to:
* Aero- or airplane, a powered, fixed-wing aircraft
* Plane (geometry), a flat, 2-dimensional surface
Plane or planes may also refer to:
Biology
* Plane (tree) or ''Platanus'', wetland native plant
* ''Planes' ...
alley in Central Europe
Central Europe is an area of Europe between Western Europe and Eastern Europe, based on a common historical, social and cultural identity. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) between Catholicism and Protestantism significantly shaped the area' ...
founded in the first half of the 19th century. Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both ) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ...
s, a summer cinema, lakes, a dendrology
Dendrology ( grc, δένδρον, ''dendron'', "tree"; and grc, -λογία, ''-logia'', ''science of'' or ''study of'') or xylology ( grc, ξύλον, ''ksulon'', "wood") is the science and study of woody plants (trees, shrubs, and lianas), ...
path with educational boards are located in the park.
The Jewish cemetery was founded in the mid-17th century. It is about 1,500 gravestones in an area of about . The neighbouring synagogue was built in 1804, after the old synagogue of unknown age was destroyed by a fire. In 1870, the synagogue was reconstructed. After it was severely damaged in 1941 and then used as a warehouse, it was returned to the Brno Jewish Community in 1991 and renovated. Today it is a part of Strážnice Museum and contains various Jewish-related expositions.
The roads leading to neighbouring towns of Veselí nad Moravou
Veselí nad Moravou (, german: Wessely/Wesseli (an der March)) is a town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 11,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument z ...
and Skalica
Skalica (german: Skalitz, hu, Szakolca, Latin: ''Sakolcium'') is the largest town in Skalica District in western Slovakia in the Záhorie region. Located near the Czech border, Skalica has a population of around 15,000.
Etymology
The name is deri ...
are flanked by massive century bastions from the late 16th century. They are the remains of gates built as part of fortifications of the town from the threat of Turkish invasions.
Strážnice is known for the ethnographic open-air museum called Strážnice Museum of the Villages of South-east Moravia. It was opened in 1981. It presents traditional village buildings in subregions of the cultural region of the Moravian Slovakia
Moravian Slovakia ( cs, Slovácko, older ''Moravské Slovensko'') or Slovácko is a cultural region in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic, Moravia on the border with Slovakia and Austria, known for its characteristic folklore, music, wi ...
.
Notable people
*John Amos Comenius
John Amos Comenius (; cs, Jan Amos Komenský; pl, Jan Amos Komeński; german: Johann Amos Comenius; Latinized: ''Ioannes Amos Comenius''; 28 March 1592 – 15 November 1670) was a Czech philosopher, pedagogue and theologian who is considere ...
(1592–1670), philosopher and pedagogue; lived and studied here in 1604–1605
*Jan Evangelista Purkyně
Jan Evangelista Purkyně (; also written Johann Evangelist Purkinje) (17 or 18 December 1787 – 28 July 1869) was a Czech anatomist and physiologist. In 1839, he coined the term '' protoplasm'' for the fluid substance of a cell. He was one of t ...
(1787–1869), anatomist and physiologist; worked here as a pedagogue
*Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk Tomáš () is a Czech and Slovak given name, equivalent to the name Thomas.
It may refer to:
* Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1850–1937), first President of Czechoslovakia
* Tomáš Baťa (1876–1932), Czech footwear entrepreneur
* Tomáš Berdych ( ...
(1850–1937), politician and the first president of Czechoslovakia; studied here
*Joseph Tomanek Joseph Tomanek (16 April 1889 – 31 December 1974) was a Czech-American artist who practiced in Chicago. He was influenced by Bouguereau.
Early life
Joseph Tomanek was born on 16 April 1889 in Strážnice, Austria-Hungary (modern-day Czech Repub ...
(1889–1974), Czech-American artist
Twin towns – sister cities
Strážnice is twinned with:
* Skalica
Skalica (german: Skalitz, hu, Szakolca, Latin: ''Sakolcium'') is the largest town in Skalica District in western Slovakia in the Záhorie region. Located near the Czech border, Skalica has a population of around 15,000.
Etymology
The name is deri ...
, Slovakia
Gallery
Kostel Nanebevzetí P. Marie ve Strážnici.JPG, Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Strážnice - kostel sv. Martina.jpg, Parish Church of St. Martin and White Tower
Straznice pomnik Komenskeho.jpg, Statue of J. A. Comenius
Strážnice - nádraží (2).JPG, Train station
Strážnice - park.JPG, Château park
Synagoga ve Strážnici.JPG, Synagogue
Židovský hřbitov ve Strážnici.JPG, Jewish cemetery
References
External links
*
The open-air Strážnice Museum of the Villages of South-east Moravia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Straznice
Cities and towns in the Czech Republic
Populated places in Hodonín District
Moravian Slovakia