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Valtice

Coordinates:48°44′27″N16°45′18″E/ 48.74083°N 16.75500°E/48.74083; 16.75500
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Valtice
Valtice Palace
Valtice Palace
Flag of Valtice
Coat of arms of Valtice
Valtice is located in Czech Republic
Valtice
Valtice
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates:48°44′27″N16°45′18″E/ 48.74083°N 16.75500°E/48.74083; 16.75500
CountryCzech Republic
RegionSouth Moravian
DistrictBřeclav
First mentioned1192
Government
• MayorAleš Hofman
Area
• Total47.85 km2(18.47 sq mi)
Elevation
192 m (630 ft)
Population
(2024-01-01)[1]
• Total3,593
• Density75/km2(190/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+2(CEST)
Postal code
691 42
Websitewww.valtice.eu
Official nameLednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape
Criteriai, ii, iv
Reference763
Inscription1996 (20thSession)

Valtice(Czech pronunciation:[ˈvalcɪtsɛ];German:Feldsberg) is a town inBřeclav Districtin theSouth Moravian Regionof theCzech Republic.It has about 3,600 inhabitants. It is known as part ofLednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape,a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as anurban monument zone.

Administrative parts

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The village of Úvaly is an administrative part of Valtice.

Geography

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Valtice is located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) west ofBřeclavand 50 km (31 mi) south ofBrno.It lies on the border withAustriaand borders the Austrian municipality ofSchrattenberg.Valtice lies in theLower Morava Valleylowland. The highest point is the hill Chrastiny at 292 m (958 ft) above sea level.

History

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Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Valtice Castle, then part ofDuchy of Austriaand called Feldsberg, was probably founded in the 11th century.[2]The first written mention of the village of Feldsberg is in a 1192 deed (asVeldesperch); held by the Lords ofSeefeld,it was located close to the border withMoravia.Probably between 1192 and 1227, Feldsberg became a town. In 1270, lords of Seefeld died out and the estate, divided into six parts with different owners, changed hands several times. Between 1387 and 1395, theHouse of Liechtensteingradually acquired the entire estate.[3]

During theHussite Wars,the Liechtenstein were on the side ofSigismund.In 1426, the town was burned out by theHussites.[3]The town was again devastated by the troops of theBohemiankingGeorge of Poděbradyin 1458 as well as in theAustrian–Hungarian Warby the forces of KingMatthias Corvinusin 1480. The renewal and prosperity occurred in the first half of the 16th century, during the rule of Hartman I of Liechtenstein.[4]

In the mid 16th century, the citizens converted toProtestantism;however they were subjected to the measures of theCounter-Reformationunder the rule ofKarl I of Liechtenstein,who himself had converted toCatholicismin 1599. During theThirty Years' War,the town was again plundered by the troops under the command ofGabriel Bethlenin 1619, by the troops ofHenri Duval Dampierrein the same year, and later conquered bySwedishforces under GeneralLennart Torstensson.[3]

After the war, the town became the principal seat of the Liechtensteins. PrinceKarl Eusebiushad rebuilt the castle and had built a new parish church, finished in 1671. He also issued an order to establish forests east from the town. His descendants continued his work. His son and later his nephew had extended the castle and had the monastery of theBrothers Hospitallersbuilt. The overall appearance of the town changed greatly between 1648 and 1781.[3]

Until the end ofWorld War I,the town belonged toLower Austria.According to the 1919Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye,the town and its surroundings were annexed by newly establishedCzechoslovakiaand was renamed Valtice. The main reason was the requirement that the entire Znojmo–Břeclav railway line, a branch of the formerEmperor Ferdinand Northern Railway,remain inside Czechoslovak territory. The Liechtenstein princely family lost its privileges with the collapse ofAustria-Hungary.Valtice served as the Liechtenstein's residence continuously until 1939. The town was occupied byNazi Germanyupon the 1938Munich Agreementand incorporated into theReichsgau Niederdonau.AfterWorld War IIthe remaining German population wasexpelledand the castle was confiscated by the Czechoslovak government; all claims for restitution have been rejected.[4][5]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
18692,946
18803,435+16.6%
18903,659+6.5%
19003,742+2.3%
19104,059+8.5%
YearPop.±%
19213,959−2.5%
19304,125+4.2%
19503,432−16.8%
19613,314−3.4%
19703,495+5.5%
YearPop.±%
19803,583+2.5%
19913,554−0.8%
20013,630+2.1%
20113,652+0.6%
20213,525−3.5%
Source: Censuses[6][7]

Economy

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Town hall

Valtice lies in the centre ofMikulovská winesubregion. The town is known as a centre ofwine making in Moravia.Both the National Wine Centre and the Wine Salon of the Czech Republic reside in the Valtice Château.

Transport

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The I/40 road fromBřeclavtoMikulovpasses through the town.

Valtice is located on the Břeclav–Znojmorailway line. It is served by two stations and stops:ValticeandValtice město.[8]

Culture

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The annualValtice Wine Marketwine exhibition is held in the châteauriding hallat the beginning of May.

Sights

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Temple of Diana

Valtice contains one of the most impressiveBaroqueresidences ofCentral Europe.It was designed as the seat of theruling princes of LiechtensteinbyJohann Bernhard Fischer von Erlachin the early 18th century. Together with the neighbouring manor ofLednice,to which it is connected by a 7 km (4 mi) long lime-tree avenue, Valtice forms theLednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape,a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.[9]

The main features of the Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape located in Valtice are the castle surrounded by anEnglish parkwith acolonnadein theNeoclassical style,and the Temple ofDianafrom 1812 designed byJoseph Hardtmuth.

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^"Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024".Czech Statistical Office.2024-05-17.
  2. ^"Valtice".Valtice Castle.Retrieved2021-11-27.
  3. ^abcd"Historie města"(in Czech). Město Valtice.Retrieved2021-11-27.
  4. ^ab"History".Valtice Castle.Retrieved2021-11-27.
  5. ^"Czech Republic: The former Liechtenstein possessions of Lednice-Valtice".Minor Sights. 2014-09-25.
  6. ^"Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011"(in Czech).Czech Statistical Office.2015-12-21.
  7. ^"Population Census 2021: Population by sex".Public Database.Czech Statistical Office.2021-03-27.
  8. ^"Detail stanice Valtice"(in Czech).České dráhy.Retrieved2023-06-21.
  9. ^"Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape".UNESCO.Retrieved2023-08-27.
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