Tovačov (german: Tobitschau) is a town in the

Přerov District Přerov District ( cs, okres Přerov) is a district (''okres'') within the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the city of Přerov. List of municipalities Bělotín - Beňov - Bezuchov - Bohuslávky - Bochoř - '' Brodek ...

in the

Olomouc Region Olomouc Region ( cs, Olomoucký kraj; , ; pl, Kraj ołomuniecki) is an administrative unit ( cs, kraj) of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western and central part of its historical region of Moravia (''Morava'') and in a small part of t ...

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 2,400 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Administrative parts

The village of Annín is an administrative part of Tovačov.

Geography

Tovačov is located about west of Přerov and east of

Prostějov Prostějov (; german: Proßnitz) is a city in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 43,000 inhabitants. The city is known for its fashion industry. The historical city centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an Cultural ...

. It lies in the

Upper Morava Valley Upper may refer to: * Shoe upper or ''vamp'', the part of a shoe on the top of the foot * Stimulant, drugs which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both * ''Upper'', the original film title for the 2013 found fo ...

. It lies at the confluence of the Morava and

Bečva The Bečva (; german: Betschwa, also ''Betsch'', ''Beczwa'') is a river in the Czech Republic. It is a left tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A ...

rivers. Mlýnský náhon, one of the Morava's branches, flows right through the town. The area is rich in water bodies. There is a set of four fish ponds on the Mlýnský náhon, Hradecký Pond is the largest water body in Tovačov. In the vicinity of the confluence, there are four artificial lakes created in the 1950s after gravel mining. Together they have an area of more than .

History

The first written mention of Tovačov is from 1203. Shortly after its founding, it became an important crossroads of trade routes leading along the rivers. The most notable owners of the Tovačov estate were the Cimburk family (1349–1502), the Pernštejn family (1503–1597), the

Salm family The House of Salm was an ancient Lotharingian noble family originating from Salmchâteau in the Ardennes (present-day Belgium) and ruling Salm. The dynasty is above all known for the experiences of the Upper Salm branch which came to be located ...

(1600–1715), and the Küenburg family (1763–1887). The first ponds were founded here in 1464 by Jan Tovačovský of Cimburk. During the rule of the Pernštejns, another ponds were founded. The ponds were damaged in the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, lasting from 1618 to 1648. Fought primarily in Central Europe, an estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died as a result of battle ...

and abolished in the 18th century. They were partially renewed after the World War II. Tovačov is the site of a minor battle in the Austro-Prussian War. On 16 July 1866, the Prussians defeated the Austrians in the Battle of Tobitschau.

Sights

The town can be characterized as the oldest Renaissance urban establishment in the country. The town square was founded in 1475. Among the most valuable monuments is the town hall with a Renaissance portal. The fountain on the town square is from 1692. The main landmark is the Tovačov Castle. It was originally a fortress from the second half of the 11th century and later a water fortress, rebuilt by the Cimburk family in the 15th century. The castle tower was finished in 1492 and is high. Its Renaissance portal from the same year is the oldest Renaissance monument north of the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Swi ...

. The synagogue from the 15th century and the Jewish cemetery belong to the oldest in the Czech Republic. Today the former synagogue serves as a prayer houses of the

Czechoslovak Hussite Church The Czechoslovak Hussite Church ( cs, Církev československá husitská, ''CČSH'' or ''CČH'') is a Christian church that separated from the Catholic Church after World War I in former Czechoslovakia. Both the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and ...

. There is the Memorial of the Battle of Tobitschau near Hradecký Pond.

Notable people

* Sidonie Grünwald-Zerkowitz (1852–1907), Austrian writer, poet and fashion designer *

Hugo Kauder Hugo Kauder (9 June 188822 July 1972) was an Austrian-Jewish composer, pedagogue, and music theorist. He defied the atonal trend of his generation with his uniquely harmonic, contrapuntal style. His legacy of over 300 works, many yet to be publish ...

(1888–1972), Austrian composer and pedagogue * Klement Slavický (1910–1999), composer * Rudolf Bereza (1942–2014) dissident

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tovacov Populated places in Přerov District Cities and towns in the Czech Republic