Znojmo

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Znojmo
City
St Nicholas` Church
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Czech Republic
Region	South Moravia
District	Znojmo
Little District	Znojmo
River	Dyje
Elevation	290 m (951 ft)
Coordinates	48°51′20″N 16°2′56″E / 48.85556°N 16.04889°E / 48.85556; 16.04889
Highest point
- elevation	321 m (1,053 ft)
Lowest point
- elevation	210 m (689 ft)
Area	65.93 km2 (25.46 sq mi)
Population	35,177 (As of 2005[update])
Density	534 /km2 (1,383 /sq mi)
Founded	1222-1225
Mayor	Petr Nezveda (ODS)
Postal code	669 02
Location in the Czech Republic
Wikimedia Commons: Znojmo
Website: www.znojmocity.cz

Town Hall tower

Znojmo (Czech pronunciation: [ˈznojmo]; German: Znaim) is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, near the border with Lower Austria, connected to Vienna by railway and road (80 minutes).

The city is situated on a rock outcropping on the steep left bank of the Dyje River, and retains a number of examples of its medieval architecture. The Gothic Church of St. Nicholas and the Late Gothic Town Hall tower are the most recognizable landmarks. St Nicolas` Church was built in 1348 by Emperor Charles IV, and the town hall, with its 75 m (250 ft) tower, dates from around 1446. Overlooking the Dyje River valley, on the edge of the medieval city, there is Znojmo Castle, dating back to 11th century, founded by Přemyslid dukes.

The royal city of Znojmo was founded shortly before 1226 by King Ottokar I on the plains lying in front of Znojmo Castle. It is here that Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor died in 1437. In terms of world history, Znojmo is best known for the armistice concluded here in 1809 after the Battle of Wagram between Napoleon and the archduke Charles. It is also notable for being the (alleged) birthplace of Leopold Loyka, the driver of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand's car when Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo 1914, an event which triggered the First World War.

Birthplace of the sculptor Hugo Lederer and writer Charles Sealsfield, it also has a special co-operation relation with Harderwijk in The Netherlands.

77 Wonders of Znojmo

As the ancient world had its seven preeminent wonders Znojmo boasts its own jewels. But to name only seven would not do justice to the many other marvels of this town. Locally the people refer to the 77 wonders of Znojmo.

Religious buildings (16)
1. The Ducal Rotunda of the Virgin Mary and St Catherine
with the oldest fresco in the Czech Republic

Znojmo Rotunda

the oldest fresco in the Czech Republic

2. St Nicolas’ Deanery Church
the city's most dominant church
3. Archangel Michael’s Church
The consecration to Archangel Michael located at the highest point of Znojmo.
4. St Hippolytus’ Church and the Monastery of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star
containing "The Finding of the Holy Cross", which was painted by the Austrian painter F. A. Maulbertsch (1724-1796)
5. The Virgin Mary and St Wenceslas’s Basilica at Louka
virtually an encyclopaedia of architectural styles under one roof
6. Dominican Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross
Where a fragment of the Holy Cross used to be kept
7. St John the Baptist’s Church and the Capuchin Monastery
founded under the surveillance of the Roman Emperor Ferdinand II
8. St Wenceslas’s Chantry
unique two storey chapel

St Wenceslas’s Chantry

9. St Elisabeth’s Church and the former burgher hospital
the witness of much strife
10. St Rastislav’s Church
Neo-Renaissance styled with some Art Nouveau influences
11. The Way of the Cross and St Anthony of Padua’s Church
perched on the beautiful slopes of the Granice Valley
12. The Flogged Saviour’s Church (Dyje)
contains one of the most beautiful Baroque frescoes in Europe
13. Louka Abbey
a massive Premonstratensian monastery steeped in history

Louka Abbey

14. Minorite Monastery
its buildings include a beautiful 13th century cloister
15. Dominican Monastery
decorative Vienna Baroque style
16. Jesuit College and Grammar School
school of Procopius Divisch (the inventor of the lightening rod)

Fortifications (8)
17. Znojmo Castle
marriage place of the famous Duke of Bohemia, Borivoj II
18. Znojmo Town Hall Tower
the absolute icon of Znojmo and a symbol of the city’s rich past,
19. City Walls
consisting of several rows of walls and ditches, only broken by the four city gates.
20. Znojmo Catacombs
greater than 20 km long covering the whole of the entire medieval city

Catacombs

21. Prague Gate
the V.I.P. entrance to the City
22. Wolf Tower
the Vienna Gate

Wolf Tower

23. Thick Tower
upgraded in the 16th century
24. Hradiště Walls
built after the 30 Years’ War to try to prevent repetitions

Residences of the nobility (9)
25. Deblin Chateau
a seat of country nobles
26. House of Art
the first Renaissance palace in Znojmo
27. The House of Understanding and City Mint
a late Gothic treasure

The House of Understanding and the City Mint

28. Daun Palace
a majestic Baroque palace extended by Counts von Daun
29. Goltz Palace
the largest palace in the city
30. Althan Palace
a monumental Baroque palace
31. Ugart Palace
November 17, 1805 Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte spent two nights
32. Chaplain’s House
an authentic-looking Late-Gothic palace
33. Tower-like Gothic house No 464
the oldest preserved burgher house made from stone in Znojmo

Pre-Modern and Modern Architecture (9)
34. Villa Krammer and its rocky garden
the hanging gardens of Znojmo
35. Villa Mareš
sensational modern architecture
36. Villa Weinberger
neo-classicist architecture
37. Svoboda Houses
the largest historic building in Znojmo
38. The Virgin Mary Square
influenced by the Place de l´Étoile in Paris
39. Znojmo Civic Society House
Neo-Renaissance Znojmo Civic Society House built in 1881
40. City Theatre
the austere Neo-Renaissance style facade contrasts with the lavish golden Neo-Rococo stuccoes and velvet upholstery interior.

City Theatre

41. The District Court House
a spacious monumental quadratic Neo-Classicist palace
42. “Dyje” Department Store
a controversial piece of architecture from the Communist era

Monuments (6)
43. Kopal’s Memorial
commemorating the victory of the Emperor’s troops in Italy
44. Saint Clement Maria Hofbauer’s House
Clement Maria Hofbauer (1751-1820), patron saint of Warsaw and Vienna, trained here as a baker
45. Vrbka’s Stone
in memory of Anton Vrbka (1860-1939), famous historiograph

Vrbka's Stone

46. Procopius Divisch’s Memorial
inventor of the lightening rod
47. Victory Memorial
a controversial monument commemorating the end of World War Two
48. Battle of Znojmo 1809 Memorial in Dobšice
commemorating the last triumph of Emperor Napoleon

The Green Belt
49. City Park
the lungs in the heart of the city

City Park

50. Caroline’s Gardens
subtropical flora below the city on a steep slope
51. Granice Forest Park
a forested Canyon

Granice Canyon

52. Jubilee Park
the pride of the Czechs in Znojmo
53. Cow Mountain
facing historic Znojmo on one side and renowned for its old vineyards on the other
54. Podyjí / Thayatal - Dyje Valley National Park
the Czech Republic's smallest and newest National Park

National Park Podyji

Belvederes or View Points
55. Granice Valley from Premyslovcu Street
a view of the coutryside from the center of the city
56. Southern Access Pathway at Znojmo Castle
an old path in the heart of the city
57. Northern Passageway through Znojmo City Walls
built in 2001 to access breathtaking views of the Granice Valley
58. Znojmo skyline from the north
silhouetted by the Alps in the far distance
59. Znojmo skyline from the west
rising out from the river canyon

Znojmo skyline from the west

60. Znojmo skyline from the southwest
a view, which has captivated the hearts of many painters
61. Znojmo skyline from the south-east
where the enemy hordes would observe the city
62. Na Vyhlídce Street
from where Znojmo's first Major would enjoy his view
63. King’s Throne
where the King of Poland made haste to help Vienna
64. Sealsfield’s Stone
famous writer Charles Sealsfield (1793-1864), sat and mused

Technical Structures (8)
65. Veteran Car Museum (formerly Municipal Waterworks)
positioned on the site of the city’s oldest mill

Veteran Car Museum

66. Brewery at Znojmo Castle
an Icon of Znojmo Castle
67. Northwest Railway Bridge across the Dyje Valley
the highest bridge in southern Moravia
68. Red Bridge across the Leska Valley
ninety metres long and twenty-five metres high made from red brick
69. Tunnels in the railway embankment between Dobšice and Suchohrdly
marvels of technical architecture
70. Cross Cellar in Přímětice
the world's largest cellar shaped as a cross

World's largest Cross Cellar

71. Stone Aqueduct between Znojmo and Citonice
supplies the city drinking water
72. Municipal Swimming Pool in Louka
a daring modern project in front out Louka Monastery

Romantic spots (5)
73. The Cholera Chapel in Hradiste
built as a thanksgiving for saving Hradiste from the cholera epidemic
74. Good Samaritan Spring
legend says that the Samaritan will reward anybody with good intentions who stops here for a while, saying a little prayer.
75. "Watering Hill"
Napajedla Street where the cows were driven to drink from the river
76. Dyje Quarter and the valley below Znojmo
A romantic riverbank for ideal walks
77. Old Town
Stare mesto, With dwellings for menservants and the city’s executioner

Znojmo Old Town

Znojmo Old Town

Rotunda

The only remains of the castle used by the Přemysl dukes is the Romanesque rotunda, the interior of which is covered with 11th-century frescoes depicting biblical scenes and illustrating the life of Přemysl.

Gallery

Panorama of Znojmo

Old Town of Znojmo

The subterranean labyrinth

Column commemorating the plague

External links

• Accommodation in Znojmo
• Znojmo City website
• Znojmo City (tourist website)
• Znojmo Tourist Information Centre