Hodonín
It is about 50 km southeast of Brno, has about 26,000 inhabitants and is located on the Morava River. We are talking about the picturesque South Moravian town of Hodonín, the birthplace of the first Czechoslovak president Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, a town famous for its quality wine, folklore, traditions and picturesque surroundings.
Information for visitors
Interesting facts Hodonín
History of the town
In the ancient past, two trade routes, bronze and amber, led through the area where the town of Hodonín is located today. Under the name Godonin, the place is first mentioned in historical sources in connection with the period before the middle of the 11th century. In 1228, Hodonín was promoted to a town and the rights were granted to it by Constance of Hungary, the wife of Přemysl Otakar I.
A number of more than significant events have entered the history of Hodonín. One of them dates back to 1323, when a meeting between King John of Luxembourg and Austrian officials took place here, which led to the conclusion of peace agreements. From 1375 Hodonín was owned by the Moravian Margrave Jošt.
The city fell into decline at the beginning of the 15th century, when it was ravaged by the troops of King Sigismund. However, it was he who returned Hodonín all the lost privileges. Partial development also took place during the administration of Jan Kun of Kunštát, who had the castle rebuilt and fortified during the second half of the 15th century, thanks to which the city withstood the repeated siege of Turkish troops, but looting anyway. It succumbed to the troops of Štěpán Bočkaj and later also to wars during the Thirty Years' War.
However, the locals managed to save the devastated city. During the 18th century, the local chateau served as a tobacco factory, and its production helped to repopulate Hodonín. In the 19th century, industry flourished here. Sugar factories, brickyards and a malt house were built, and the spiritual life was not left behind.
Landmarks and important places
Between 1642 and 1643, a Baroque chateau was built in Hodonín, which is definitely worth seeing today. It currently serves as the seat of the Masaryk Museum. Of the sacral buildings, the most interesting is the parish church of St. Lawrence and Chapel of St. Crisis. An interesting building is also the local town hall, built in the spirit of the Nuremberg Art Nouveau. The spa is represented here by a hydrotherapy pavilion and a rehabilitation pool.
Author: Andrea Štyndlová