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Since time immemorial, fertile Southern Moravia has been densely settled and intensively cultivated. People have left behind remarkable traces of their activity here: ostentatious palaces, churches and chapels, ponds, water and windmills. All architectural styles can be found here, from Romanesque to functionalism. The Romanesque St. Catherine's Rotunda (rotunda sv. Kateriny) in Znojmo is one of the oldest testimonies to the country's history. Over the ages, the figures of ancient rulers of the country, the Premyslids, including the legendary Premysl the Ploughman (Premysl Orac), have looked down upon visitors from the rotunda's walls. Among oldest preserved churches in the Czech Republic is the remarkable Romanesque church in Reznovice.
The Gothic and medieval concept of life and the world is depicted on the Porta coeli (Heaven's Gate), a marvellously decorated portal of the monastery of the same name in Predklasteri u Tisnova. A monumental ruin of a castle in Boskovice, ruins of a cloister in Dolni Kounice, and a remarkable complex of a fortified church in Kurdejov are other testimonies to medieval life.
The Renaissance is exquisitely represented by Bucovice Castle, with a preserved Renaissance garden. Rosice Castle used to serve as the main seat of Charles the Elder of Zerotin, regional commissioner and one of the greatest intellectuals of the period before the Battle of Bila Hora. Moravsky Krumlov Castle bears witness to the wealth and taste of Moravian lords, even after centuries.
The Baroque style fascinates with its splendour and sumptuousness - the castle in Vranov nad Dyji makes a deep impression with its dominating position above the Dyje valley, Valtice Castle testifies that the wealthy family of Lichtenstein used to reside within its walls, the castle in Austerlitz (Slavkov u Brna) with a narrow and long courtyard of honour represents a high form of this style. An example of a more modest, but more comfortable and congenial chateau, is in Rajec nad Svitavou, which brings to mind French summer residences. Baroque architecture in Southern Moravia reached a peak in religious buildings: a pilgrimage church complex in Krtiny designed by Jan Blazej Santini is a unique example of the harmonic combination of building and landscape.
A unique example of the Empire style utilised for a religious building is the church in Slavkov. Empire manors in Boskovice and Lysice reflect the new era and style of thinking brought into life and architecture with the 19th century. Dramatic industrial development left behind many technical monuments: testimonies to the development of iron production can be found mainly in the surroundings of Adamov and Blansko. The remains of a railway viaduct near Ivancice are a token of the times of "foot galloping, steam-driven"(from a poem by Jan Neruda). One of most frequently visited sights in the Czech Republic, Lednice Castle, received its definitive romantic appearance in the 19th century during a Neo-Gothic reconstruction.
Brno made its mark in the world's history of architecture when the Tugendhat villa, one of the best-known buildings designed by German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, was built in the 1930s. The entire area of the Brno Trade Fair Complex as well as many other buildings in the city provide exquisite examples and demonstrations of the then modern style of functionalism. Construction activities have not ended, which is shown by interesting churches built at the end of the 20th century in Senetarov and Hustopece.
The present appearance of Southern Moravian cities and towns was formed over the course of centuries. There, too, one can find proof of various ages and styles; this process is shown best by historical town reserves such as Znojmo, Brno and Mikulov. An outstanding mark in the history of many towns was made by their Jewish citizens. Visitors may stroll along the narrow lanes of the recently renovated Jewish quarters in Boskovice or Mikulov, the headquarters of the Moravian national rabbinate for the last three centuries. |
