Blansko

Blansko
Town
View on the town
Flag
Coat of arms
Country Czech Republic
Region South Moravian
District Blansko
River Svitava
Elevation 276 m (906 ft)
Coordinates CZ 49°22′N 16°39′E / 49.367°N 16.650°E / 49.367; 16.650Coordinates: CZ 49°22′N 16°39′E / 49.367°N 16.650°E / 49.367; 16.650
Area 50.56 km2 (20 sq mi)
Population 20,800 (2015)
Density 411 / km2 (1,064 / sq mi)
First mentioned 1136
Mayor Ivo Polák
Timezone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 678 01
Location in the Czech Republic
Wikimedia Commons: Blansko
Website: www.blansko.cz

Blansko (Czech pronunciation: [ˈblansko]; German: Blanz) is a town in Blansko District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Blansko is the biggest town in Blansko District to which it lends it's name. Blansko is situated in the valley of the river Svitava. The centre of Blansko is 276 metres above sea level, with the majority of the city situated on a slope above the left bank of the Svitava. Blansko currently occupies an area of 18.29 km2 (7.06 sq mi) and has approximately 20,800 inhabitants as of 2015. The town is notable for the proximity of the Moravian Karst.

History

Blansko was mentioned for the first time as the site of a dispute between Jindřich Zdík, the bishop of Olomouc and Prince Vratislav of Brno regarding the construction of a church in the village on the right bank of the Svitava in 1136. In 1277 the Bishop of Olomouc at the time, Bruno von Schauenburg founded a village on the left bank of the Svitava. Originally known as 'New Blansko' it became the core of the modern city. After the founding of New Blansko, the villages went through a succession of feudal owners. In 1526 the two villages were merged to form Blansko.

From 1698 the Gellhorn family founded the first ironworks in Blansko. After 1766 it belonged to the Salm family, who patronized many artisans and scientists, including Josef Dobrovský. Blansko also underwent significant expansion in tandem with the ironworks under the guidance of Hugo František Salm. In 1905, Franz Joseph I of Austria granted Blansko the status of City, and produced a commemorative certificate which contained the situation in Blansko at that time as relating to industry, education, associations etc. In 1918 Blansko was connected to the Brno-Česka Trebova railway line. In 1949 Blansko became the capital of Blansko District.

Blansko today still has many factories though the significance of the town as an employer locally has dropped. Many manufacturers are still operational in Blansko including: mechanical engineering concern ČKD Blansko, measuring instrument manufacturer Metra Blansko and a Českomoravsky Beton cement factory.

Parts of town

Sights

Interesting places

Memorial devoted to the Battle of Zborov

Notable Persons

In addition to the natives of the city there are also other personalities who stayed there for some time and have some link to the city:

At the church of St Martin there is a memorial plaque for Caroline Meineke, who was supposed to be the first wife of William IV of the United Kingdom. She spent the last years of her life at the Chateau in Blansko, where she died in 1815.

References

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blansko.
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