Kroměříž

Kroměříž (Czech pronunciation: [ˈkromɲɛr̝iːʃ]; German: Kremsier, Polish: Kromieryż) is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. The town's main landmark is the Baroque Kroměříž Bishop's Palace, where some scenes from Amadeus and Immortal Beloved were filmed. The adjacent Lustgarten, or Pleasure Park, is one of the World Heritage Sites.

The city's National Museum is home to The Flaying of Marsyas, a late painting by Titian.

History

The town was founded in 1260 by Bruno von Schauenburg, bishop of Olomouc. Bruno chose Kroměříž to become his see and he also made his castle the centre of his dominion which consisted of more than 60 vassals from the whole of Moravia. Kroměříž is referred to as a market village in a document by Přemysl Otakar II from 1256, but in 1266 it is already called a town. Bruno also established what was to become the famous Archbishops Palace. The town was badly damaged in Thirty Years' War, was plundered twice by Swedish troops (1643 and 1645), after this Black Death came. Bishop Karl II von Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn rebuilt the city and palace after the war. Constitutive Imperial Congress was sitting in Kroměříž in 1848.

Notable people

• Heinrich Ignaz Biber (1644–1704), composer and violinist
• Václav Talich (1883–1961), conductor
• Jaroslav Koutecký (1922–2005), chemist
• Karel Kryl
• Jan Milíč z Kroměříže (d. 1374), ideal predecessor of Jan Hus; initiated the practice of preaching in the Czech language in Prague.
• Martin Miller, (1899–1969), actor
• Josef 'Pepča' Stejskal Graphic designer, poet, surrealist
• Miloslav Gajdos, composer and double bassist

Kroměříž is also a birthplace of Max Švabinský (born September 17, 1873, died February 10, 1962), one of the most important Czech painters of the last century. A permanent exhibition called Max Švabinský Memorial can be seen in the Museum of Kroměříž Region (Czech: Muzeum Kroměřížska), located in the lower part of Big Square (Velké náměstí), near the entrance to the Bishop's Palace (Gallery - Titian´s Marsyas).

Twin towns — Sister cities

Kroměříž is twinned with:

• Châteaudun, France
• Nitra, Slovakia
• Krems an der Donau, Austria
• Piekary Śląskie, Poland
• Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania

External links

• Official website
• Kroměříž guide
• FULLSCREEN QTVR virtual tour of Kromeriz
• UNESCO listing for Kroměříž