Bruntál

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Bruntál
View of the restaurant "Terezka" at the Place of Peace
Coat of arms Flag
Bruntal coat of arms Bruntal flag
Basic Statistics
Status City
Name Bruntál
Region Moravian-Silesian
District Bruntál
Municipality with
expanded powers		 Bruntál
Municipality with
delegated power		 Bruntál
Historical territory Moravia/Silesia
Area 29.337 km²
Population 17,631 (2004)
Population density 601 / km²
Latitude 49°59' N
Longitude 17°28' E
Elevation 409 m
Postal code 792 01
Number of basic
urban units		 3
Number of city
districts		 3
Number of cadastral
areas		 3
City council
address		 Městský úřad Bruntál
Nádražní 20
792 01 Bruntál
Mayor Leos Gregovský
(ODS)
Official Web site www.mubruntal.cz/
E-mail posta@mubrusntal.cz
Position of the city
Map of the Czech Republic which highlights Bruntal

Bruntál (-Czech, German: Freudenthal, Polish: Bruntal) is a city located near the western boundary of Moravian-Silesian Region. A suitable position in the middle of the Jeseníky Mountains provides an ample number of touristic opportunities to the city. The cultural importance of Bruntál lies in a possession of a baroque castle and many historic buildings.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Bruntál is situated between the Hrubý Jeseník mountains and the rolling hills of the Nízký Jeseník mountains. The city lies in a valley surrounded by several hills (Uhlířský vrch, 672 m; Vodárenský vrch, 599 m; Zadní Zelený vrch, 563 m; Kozinec, 639 m). The Black Creek (Černý potok) with its tributaries, the Oak Creek (Bukový potok), the Mare Creek (Kobylí potok), and the Waterworks Creek (Vodárenský potok), run through Bruntál. The Mare Pond (Kobylí rybník) is located in the middle of the city. The Oak Pond (Bukový rybník), with a surface area of 5 ha (Czech Fishing Union 2006), lies almost 1 km northwest of the city. A dam reservoir the Slezská Harta, 870 ha of sheet in size (Povodí Odry 1998), is located approximately 5 km southeast of the city. There are many residues resembling volcanic activity which took place in the Quaternary era. Uhlířský vrch (672 m), Venušina sopka (655 m), Velký Roudný (780 m), Malý Roudný (770) and others belong among extinct volcanos. These volcanoes are a part of the Slunečná Highlands (Slunečná vrchovina). The Slunečná Highlands is 16 km long and it lies southwards from Bruntál to Moravský Beroun, it includes the highest mountain of the Nízký Jeseník mountains, Mount Slunečná (800 m).

[edit] Geology

Bruntal belongs to the Czech Massif which is the main geologic structure in the Czech Republic. Bruntal lies in the Moravian-Silesian Unit which is a preplatform unit formed until the end of the Variscan orogeny (Hercynian orogeny). Bruntal is a part of the region consisting foremost of sedimentary rocks formed during the Mississippian Epoch of the Carboniferous period. In terms of Czech geology, this geologic period is called kulm. The mentioned region stretches from Brno to Krnov.

The main geologic formations distributed across the city and its surroundings are turbidites. The most common rock in the area is slate. In the west of the city slate enriched by apatite and zircon can be found. In the east of the city lighter forms of slate occur. Fluvial sands and rubble together with deluvial sediments of clay and sand origin lie along the rivers and creeks. Eluvial sediments prevail in the west part of the city.

The most remarkable geologic site in the surroundings of the city is the Uhlířský vrch. Originally, the Uhlířský vrch was a stratovolcano (compositive volcano) formed by both explosive and effusive eruptions, thus it is composed of pyroclastic rocks. 40-80 % of the mentioned pyroclastic rocks consist of lapilli, 10-50 % consist of volcanic bombs, the rest is made from volcanic ash (Zapletal 1995). In addition, it is possible to perceive a frequent occurrence of metamorphic xenoliths dated back to the Mississippian Epoch of the Carboniferous period. The colors of the pyroclastic rocks vary from brown to yellow. The older effusive eruptions resulted in an occurrence of nepheline basalt and nephelinite. The effusive phase is approximately 2.4 ± 0.5 million years old (Zapletal 1995) and therefore it dates back to the Pliocene (also called Pleiocene) and Pleistocene Epoch.

[edit] History

The only source referring to the founding of the city is the Unicov Charter issued by Czech king Přemysl I Otakar (1155-1230) in 1223. There it is stated that the city of Bruntal was the first city in Bohemia that had been granted Magdeburg Rights ten years before the issue of the charter. Possession of these rights shows the importance of the city because Magdeburg Rights are considered as one of the most remarkable set of Germanic medieval city laws. The reasons leading the king Přemysl I Otakar to pursuit a founding of a new city were two-fold. The northern border of Moravia had faced many attempts of colonization under auspices of the Bishops of Breslau (Wrocław) so the necessity to prevent these actions was obvious. Also a discovery of ore deposits in the surroundings of Bruntal contributed to establishing the city. These facts have made historians assume Bruntal was founded by Vladislav Jindřich, the Margrave of Moravia, in 1213.

The mining of noble metals contributed to emerging of the city significantly, which was reflected by the first appearance of Bruntal coat of arms dated back to 1287. The city became a center of local crafts and trade. In addition, endowing with Magdeburg Rights Bruntal was the highest appellate jurisdiction for even Olomouc until 1352. Originally, Bruntal belonged to the domain of Moravian Margraves but in 1269 Bruntal was in part transferred into possession of Dukes of Opava and finally they took control over the whole Bruntal territory in 1318. Between 1385 and 1467 (1473) Bruntal was severally mortgaged and sold. Finally, the Lords of Vrbno gained Bruntal into their domain.

The first person of the House of Vrbno was John of Bruntal and Vrbno, reigning from 1576 to 1577. His heirs, who had not reached their legal age at the time of death of their father, were given the domain of Bruntal in 1506 by the Princess Barbara of Opava, Ratiboř, and Krnov upon a condition of being a close ally to the Principality of Krnov. But the Lords of Vrbno preferred ties with the Principality of Opava and therefore they managed to gain an approval from Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia in 1523 which granted an embodying of Bruntal domain into the Principality of Opava. The most important owner of Bruntal domain was Hynek The Older of Vrbno reigning from 1582 to 1596 who enjoyed a respect from the emperors Ferdinand I (1526-1564), Maximilian II (1564-1576), and Rudolf II (1576-1612). The last Lord of Vrbno was Hynek The Younger of Vrbno reigning from 1613 to 1614.

Intensive mining backed by the Lords of Vrbno led to a founding of several neighbouring towns (e.g. Andělská Hora about 1550, Vrbno pod Pradědem in 1611). In addition, many kinds of industry took place at these times (e.g. smithery at Suchá Rudná in 1405 and Mezina in 1567, 7 timber mills in 1579). In May 1617 Bruntal was bought by the last Lord of Vrbno John IV of Vrbno, who joined the Uprising of the Estates and gained a rank of the Director in 1619. His close ties to the "Winter King" Frederick V, Elector Palatine, who was John's guest in February 1620, posed him into a very dangerous circumstances after the Battle of White Mountain in1620. He was forced to leave his Bruntal possessions and escape from the country in 1620. The emperor Ferdinand II (1619-1637) confiscated Bruntal domain and gave it to his brother Karl I of Austria (1619-1624) who was the Grand Master (Hochmeister) of the Teutonic Order.

Bruntal domain together with other properties of the Teutonic Order was under the direct administration of the Grand Master and therefore a lieutenancy was established in 1625. The Thirty Years' War damaged the city significantly and after that conflict, Bruntal has never archieved its previous importance again. During the 18th century many disasters challenged the city (e.g. the plague in 1714 and 1739, the great fire in 1748 and 1764). Neverthenless, many new baroque buildings were built during this period. Other improvements took place in Bruntal, a new post office was established in 1748. Development of industry could be perceived in Bruntál during the 19th century. In terms of textile industry, Bruntal belonged to the most important cities in Silesia. In 1885, a public hospital was opened as the first in Czech Silesia. In addition, many new high schools were established during the second half of the 19th century. During Austro-Prussian War in 1866, Bruntal was occupied by Prussian Army and Bruntal castle served as a hospital for soldiers.

After the World War I, German-led uprising took place in Bruntál but it was suppressed by Czech Army in December 1918. Between 1919 and 1924, the possessions of the Teutonic Order in Bruntal were put under the state administration. Within the First Republic of Czechoslovakia, Bruntal belonged to the cities with significant preponderance of German inhabitants, only a very small Czech minority lived in Bruntal at that times. Not surprisingly, German nationalism gained many sympathizers among German inhabitants of Bruntal, which was reflected in an attempt for uprising in September 1938. After signing Munich Agreement on September 29, 1938, Bruntal was occupied by German troops. Bruntal was liberated by Soviet army (Red Army) on May 7, 1945. In 1946 the possessions of the Teutonic Order were confiscated in accordance with the Decree of the President Edvard Beneš and transferred to the Czechoslovak Republic.

[edit] Twin Cities

Twin towns
City Region/Country External link
Büdingen Hesse/Germany http://www.buedingen24.net
Castellerano RE/Italy http://www.comune.castellarano.re.it/
Opole Opole Voivodship/Poland http://www.opole.pl
Plungé Samogitia/Lithuania http://www.plunge.lt/
Štúrovo Nitra Region/Slovakia http://www.sturovo.sk/

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Vencálek, Jaroslav et al. 1995. The Northern Moravia and the Czech Silesia [Severní Morava a České Slezsko]. Český Těšín: Olza.
  • Zapletal, Jan. 1995. 38 - Uhlířský vrch u Bruntálu. In: Jiří Zimák, Jaromír Demek, Ilja Pek, and Jan Zapletal, The Guide for Geologic Excursions. Middle and Northern Moravia and Silesia [Průvodce ke geologickým exkurzím. Střední a severní Morava a Slezsko]. Olomouc: Vydavatelství Univerzity Palackého, s. 39.

[edit] External links

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