Uherský Brod
In the picturesque area of fertile Slovácko, in the southeastern part of Moravia and in the direction south of Zlín we find Uherský Brod, a town with about 18,000 inhabitants and a charming surrounding landscape, offering views of the panorama of the White Carpathians and Vizovice Highlands.
Information for visitors
Interesting facts Uherský Brod
History of the town
In the place of today's Uherský Brod, there used to be a settlement, which bore its name Na Brodě thanks to its location at the ford across the river Olšava. It stood here as early as the 10th century and it was probably a border fortress between Hungary and Moravia, as evidenced by the fact that customs was collected here.
Historical sources are first mentioned in Brod in connection with the year 1131, and in later years the settlement began to grow. In 1272 it was Přemysl Otakar II. promoted to a royal city, whose guard function was performed by a castle, which was also built at this time. The designation Uherský Brod first appeared in the sources in 1275.
However, the locals were constantly in danger due to raids by Hungarian troops, so they were not too taken aback by the Hussite struggles, in which Uherský Brod was an important base.
Further blows to the town were inflicted by the conflict between the Hungarian king Matyáš Korvín and Jiří z Poděbrad, then by the Bočkajovce invasions at the beginning of the 17th century, the plague epidemic, fires and other catastrophes. The turn for the better did not occur until the second half of the 18th century, when the city's construction grew. The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was built, and the Church of St. John the Baptist and the town hall completed.
The city also underwent extensive changes in the second half of the 19th century in connection with industrial development. There was a district governor's office, a railway was introduced here and cultural institutions were built. Uherský Brod ceased to be a district town in 1960, however, even today Uherský Brod is one of the most industrial towns in the entire Zlín Region.
Sights and interesting places
The oldest landmark in the city is the church of Master Jan Hus, which underwent the last reconstruction in 1920. In addition, in Uherský Brod you can also see the church on Masaryk Square, the town hall and especially the Dominican monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary from the 14th century. There is also a chateau, which now houses an exhibition commemorating the personality of Jan Amos Comenius.
Author: Andrea Štyndlová