Slavkov u Brna (; historically known in German as Austerlitz) is a town in
Vyškov District
Vyškov District ( cs, okres Vyškov) is one of seven districts (''okres'') within South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Vyškov.
Complete list of municipalities
Bohaté Málkovice -
Bohdalice-Pavlovice -
Bo ...
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. It has about 7,000 inhabitants. The town gave its name to the
Battle of Austerlitz
The Battle of Austerlitz (2 December 1805/11 Frimaire An XIV FRC), also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the most important and decisive engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle occurred near the town of Austerlitz i ...
which took place several kilometres west of the town. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an
urban monument zone.
Etymology
The German name ''Austerlitz'' is derived from Latin ''Nova sedes'' (i.e. "new settlement") which has gradually evolved over history through the names ''Novosedeliz'' (1237), ''Nausedlicz'' (1322), ''Neusserlicz'' (1343), ''Nausterlitz'' (1460) and ''Austerlitz'' (1611). The Czech name ''Slavkov'' is derived from Slávek (colloquial name of Bohuslav), who probably owned a manor house here. The Czech name was first documented in 1361. In 1918, Slavkov was renamed Slavkov u Brna ("Slavkov near
Brno
Brno ( , ; german: Brünn ) is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava and Svratka rivers, Brno has about 380,000 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in the Czech Republi ...
") to distinguish from other places with the same name.
Geography
Slavkov u Brna is located about east of
Brno
Brno ( , ; german: Brünn ) is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava and Svratka rivers, Brno has about 380,000 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in the Czech Republi ...
. It is situated on the border of three geomorphological regions: the northeastern part of the municipal territory lies in the
Litenčice Hills
Litenčice (german: Litentschitz) is a market town in Kroměříž District in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 500 inhabitants.
Administrative parts
The village of Strabenice is an administrative part of Litenčice.
Geograph ...
, the northwestern part lies in the
Dyje–Svratka Valley
The Dyje–Svratka Valley ( cs, Dyjsko-svratecký úval, german: Thaya-Schwarza Talsenke) is a geomorphological feature (a special type of vale) in South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic.
History
The Dyje–Svratka Valley has been a natura ...
, and the southern part extends into the
Ždánice Forest. The highest point is the hill Urban at above sea level. The Litava River flows through the town.
History
At the end of the 12th century, Margrave
Vladislaus III gave the area to the
Teutonic Order. The first written mention of Slavkov is from 1237 in a deed of
Wenceslaus I. It was originally a market village with a fortified stronghold and a church, located at the crossroads of trade routes. The Teutonic Order founded a
commandery here.
[
From 1396 to 1407, Slavkov was held by ]Jobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia ( cs, Jošt Moravský or ''Jošt Lucemburský''; german: Jo(b)st or ''Jodokus von Mähren''; c. 1354 – 18 January 1411), a member of the House of Luxembourg, was Margrave of Moravia from 1375, Duke of Luxembourg and Elector of ...
. In 1407, it was returned to the Teutonic Order, but after the defeat of the Order in the Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwald, Battle of Žalgiris or First Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410 during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respec ...
, Slavkov was confiscated from them in 1411.[
In the 14th century, a Jewish ghetto was established near the commandery. The merger of the Christian and Jewish communities created a strong economic agglomeration, which was promoted to a town by King ]Wenceslaus IV
Wenceslaus IV (also ''Wenceslas''; cs, Václav; german: Wenzel, nicknamed "the Idle"; 26 February 136116 August 1419), also known as Wenceslaus of Luxembourg, was King of Bohemia from 1378 until his death and King of Germany from 1376 until he ...
in 1416. The town was strongly fortified and had four gates.[
The town often changed owners until 1509, when the noble family of Kaunitz assumed control for more than 400 years. They made it the main seat of the family.
]
Demographics
Sights
On the site of the old fortress was built a Renaissance residence at the end of the 16th century. The Slavkov Castle
Slavkov Castle (also known as Austerlitz Castle) is a Baroque palace in Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic. The town and the castle are chiefly known for the Battle of Austerlitz.
History
A first castle at the site was erected by the Teutonic K ...
was rebuilt to the current Baroque form by Italian architect Domenico Martinelli
Domenico Martinelli (November 30, 1650 – September 11, 1718) was an Italian architect who worked for Carlo Fontana during 1678. He was an evident figure in the shaping of Baroque style in the North Alps. In 2010 a musical tribute called "Project ...
in the 1680s. It belongs to the oldest preserved noble residences in Moravia. In its historic salon, an armistice was signed between Austria and France after the Battle of Austerlitz
The Battle of Austerlitz (2 December 1805/11 Frimaire An XIV FRC), also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the most important and decisive engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle occurred near the town of Austerlitz i ...
on 2 December 1805. There is a small museum and a multimedia presentation about the battle. The castle includes a French formal garden, part of which was simplified into an English park.[
The landmarks of the town square are the late Renaissance town hall from 1592 and a mansion. Remains of the town walls from the 14th and 15th centuries have been preserved to this day. They are about high.
The parish Church of the Resurrection of the Lord is a late Baroque and Neoclassical building, built in 1786–1789. It has three pulpits. The church was designed by Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf of Hohenberg.
The cemetery Chapel of Saint John the Baptist is located on the site of a hospital from the 13th century. Its current appearance is from 1743. Beneath the church is a vault with the Kaunitz family tomb.
Chapel of Saint Urban on the Urban Hill was built by design of Domenico Martinelli in 1712. It was badly damaged during the Battle of Austerlitz and had to be rebuilt in 1858–1861.
Only the synagogue built in 1858 remains from the Jewish ghetto. There is also a Jewish cemetery.
]
Trivia
Much in the same way that in London, the English have named Waterloo Station
Waterloo station (), also known as London Waterloo, is a central London terminus on the National Rail network in the United Kingdom, in the Waterloo area of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is connected to a London Underground station of t ...
to commemorate their victory at Waterloo, the French gave the name of Austerlitz to one of the major Parisian train stations, the Gare d'Austerlitz
The Gare d'Austerlitz (English: Austerlitz Station), officially Paris-Austerlitz, is one of the six large Paris rail termini. The station is located on the left bank of the Seine in the southeastern part of the city, in the 13th arrondissemen ...
, the neighbouring bridge Pont d'Austerlitz, and the waterfront Quai d'Austerlitz. In the Netherlands, a village named Austerlitz was founded in commemoration of the battle, as was a small town of Austerlitz, New York
Austerlitz is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 1,625 at the 2020 census.US Census Bureau, 2020 Census Report, Austerlitz, Columbia County, New York https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&css ...
.
Notable people
* Abraham Aberle (1811–1841), poet and translator
* František Koláček (1851–1913), physicist
* Peregrin Obdržálek (1825–1891), Catholic priest, writer and humorist
* Lubomír Tesáček (1957–2011), athlete
Austerlitz is a Jewish family name, of which the bearers are nowadays spread worldwide but which indicate and ultimate family origin in the town. The dancer Fred Astaire was born ''Fred Austerlitz'', and thus it could be assumed that his ancestors lived in this town.
Twin towns – sister cities
Slavkov u Brna is twinned with:
* Darney, France
* Horn
Horn most often refers to:
*Horn (acoustic), a conical or bell shaped aperture used to guide sound
** Horn (instrument), collective name for tube-shaped wind musical instruments
*Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various a ...
, Austria
* Pag, Croatia
* Sławków
Sławków is a town in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie (part of historic province of Lesser Poland), near Katowice. It borders the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of around 2 million. Sławków is situated in the Siles ...
, Poland
* Zeist
Zeist () is the capital and largest town of the municipality of Zeist. The town is located in the Utrecht province of the Netherlands, east of the city of Utrecht.
History
The town of "Seist" was first mentioned in a charter in the year ...
, Netherlands
Gallery
Synagoga Slavkov u Brna.jpg, Synagogue
Zámek Slavkov u Brna - nádvoří 1.jpg, Front view of the Slavkov Castle
Church in Austerlitz.JPG, Church of the Resurrection of the Lord
Slavkov-kaple-sv-urbana3.jpg, Chapel of St. Urban
Park Slavkov.jpg, Castle park
References
External links
*
Official website of Slavkov Castle
Jewish Encyclopedia
{{authority control
Cities and towns in the Czech Republic
Shtetls
Margraviate of Moravia