Slavonice is located on the Moravian side of the South Bohemian Region and is the westernmost town in the historical territory of Moravia. The first written mention of Slavonice dates from 1260. It was originally a settlement and then a market village, which belonged to the Lords of Hradec. In the 14th century the settlement was expanded by two marketplaces: westward (today's Náměstí míru) and eastward (Horní náměstí). The parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, with a dominant municipal tower, stands between these two squares. Construction of the church started in the middle of the 14th century, but the tower was built in 1503–1549.
The town underwent the greatest expansion in the 16th century and the most valuable monuments date back to this period - burgher houses with façades decorated with envelope sgraffiti and a large number of complex figural sgraffiti. The diamond vaults (e.g. Houses No. 461 and 480), the vaulted maashauses (spacious rooms) (e.g. House No. 479), the fresco hall (House No. 476) and the sophisticated labyrinth of underground passages beneath them are all worth seeing. Another valuable monument is the Lutheran House of Prayer from 1568 on Horní náměstí (House No. 517) with frescoes depicting scenes from the Apocalypse.
The medieval town flourished mainly thanks to the craft guilds, the most important of which was the drapers’ guild. Its emblem is still carved by the entrance to the municipal tower, which the drapers had built. To get to the top of the tower, you must climb 176 steps up to the tower keeper’s apartment, through which you will reach the gallery, which affords a beautiful view of both Renaissance squares and the landscape of Czech Canada.
The town declined with the arrival of the new nobility, who came to Slavonice after the death of Zacharias of Hradec (1589). The Thirty Years' War resulted in the looting of Protestant town of Slavonice. Most of the burghers left the town in 1623 and the rest of the inhabitants were stricken by the plague at the end of the 17th century. The town suffered more blows in the form of relocation of the postal route and a major fire – both disasters occurred in 1750. A total of 44 houses and the municipal tower burnt down during the fire.
The textile industry started returning to Slavonice in the 19th century and a new railway connected Slavonice to Telč in 1902. The Town Hall was rebuilt, two new schools were built on the sites of the manor house and the salt warehouse and other Renaissance houses were also rebuilt during the brief period of prosperity before WW I. Some of the medieval fortification walls, including the Austrian Gate, were removed. Of the three original gates, only two have been preserved: the Jemnická Gate (also known as the Znojmo Gate) and the Dačická Gate (also known as the Bolíkovská or Červená Gate).
Most of the inhabitants were of German nationality until the end of WW II. After the war the German population was displaced and Slavonice became part of the border zone. After the political situation calmed down during 1958–1959, Slavonice was excluded from this zone and declared a town monument reservation in 1961. The city has applied to be inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List and holds the title of “Historical Town of 2017,” which is an award for taking care of its cultural and historical heritage.
Slavonice is not only a beautiful historical town, but also an image of the turbulent history of this region. Perhaps its greatest asset is that time has stopped here – time that has preserved Slavonice as a beautiful Renaissance gem.
Did you know that… Slavonice is a city of visual artists and craftsmen? You will find sculptors’ studios and textile and ceramic workshops where you can buy a handmade souvenir in the town.
… filmmakers like the historical centre and the surrounding landscape? Some of the best-known films that have been shot here include Po strništi bos (Barefoot on a Stubble-Field), Valérie a týden divů (Valery and a Week of Wonders), Putování Jana Ámose (Journey of Jan Ámos) and the fairy-tale Trampoty vodníka Jakoubka (Troubles of Water Sprite Jakoubek).
Our tip:
Slavonice also offers an extensive cultural life. The most popular events include the summer film and music festival called Slavonice Fest, the Slavonice Cultural Summer, the Trijunction Celebrations and the Ambush of Bunkers in 1938 (a re-enactment of the battle between the Czechoslovak army and the Sudeten German insurgents in a fortified area 2 km away).
When in Slavonice, don’t forget to visit the underground corridors, the municipal tower and the museum of border fortifications.
Natives and notables:
- Leopold Österreicher (Estreicher, Esterreicher) – (1515–?) – a Slavonic burgher and builder who participated in the construction of the most valuable buildings in Slavonice. He also worked on the castle in Telč and Jindřichův Hradec. You can see his initials LO on the top stone of the entrance portal of the cemetery chapel of the Holy Cross for instance.