Znojmo

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Znojmo

Panorama of Znojmo

Flag

Coat of arms

Location of Znojmo in the Czech Republic

Coordinates: 48°51′20″N, 16°2′56″E

Znojmo

Founded

1055

Mayor

Pavel Balík (KDU-ČSL)

Area

- City

65,93 km²

Elevation

290 m

Population

- City (2005)

35 177

Postal code

669 02

Website: http://www.znojmocity.cz/

Town Hall tower

Znojmo (German: Znaim) is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, near the border with Lower Austria.

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 city hall's Gothic tower are the most recognizable landmarks. The Church of St. Nicholas was built in 1348 by the emperor Charles IV, and the city hall, with its 75 m (250 ft) tower, dates from around 1446. There is also an ancient castle atop a nearby hilltop.

The present town of Znojmo was founded in 1226 by King Ottokar I on the site of the ancient capital of the tributary margraves of Moravia, which had been destroyed in 1145. Znojmo is best known to history for the armistice concluded here in 1809 after the Battle of Wagram between Napoleon and the archduke Charles.

It also has a special co-operation relation with Harderwijk in The Netherlands.

[edit] Rotunda

Rotunda of St. Catherine (Rotunda sv.Kateřiny

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