Uničov | |
|---|---|
 Town hall | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Uničov Location in the Czech Republic | |
| Coordinates:49°46′15″N17°7′17″E / 49.77083°N 17.12139°E /49.77083; 17.12139 | |
| Country |  Czech Republic |
| Region | Olomouc |
| District | Olomouc |
| Founded | 1213 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Radek Vincour (ODS) |
| Area | |
• Total | 48.27 km2 (18.64 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 248 m (814 ft) |
| Population (2025-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 11,237 |
| • Density | 232.8/km2 (602.9/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 783 91 |
| Website | www |
Uničov (Czech pronunciation:[ˈuɲɪtʃof];German:Mährisch Neustadt) is a town inOlomouc District in theOlomouc Region of theCzech Republic. It has about 11,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as anurban monument zone.
Uničov consists of nine municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):[2]
The name Uničov is derived from the personal name Unič. At the beginning of the 13th century, a town was founded on the site of the original village, which is the cause of the Latin nameNova civitas and German nameNeustadt, both meaning 'New Town'. The German adjectiveMährisch (i.e. 'Moravian') was given in the 18th century to distinguish it from other places with the same name.[3]
Uničov is located about 21 km (13 mi) northwest ofOlomouc. It lies in a flat agricultural landscape of theUpper Morava Valley lowland. TheOskava River flows through the town. The western tip of the municipal territory extends into theLitovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area.
Uničov is one of the seven royal Moravian towns. It was founded around 1213 by the MargraveVladislaus III, the brother of KingOttokar I of Bohemia. It receivedMagdeburg rights in 1223 and was granted further privileges by Ottokar's successor KingWenceslaus I in 1234. The town was to become a centre of ore and precious metal mining, but the deposits were not so plentiful. The town therefore reoriented itself to trade and crafts, and in 1327 it was fortified.[4]
Until theHussite Wars, town administration of Uničov was controlled by German colonizers. In 1422,Hussite forces under the command ofSigismund Korybut occupied the town and got rid of the German administration. After the accession of the Hussite kingGeorge of Poděbrady in 1458, the town became a centre of the new confession until it fell to his rivalMatthias Corvinus in 1479.[4]
A part of theHabsburg monarchy from 1526, Uničov prospered until theBattle of White Mountain in 1620. For participating in the Bohemian rebellion, the town was divested of its privileges by EmperorFerdinand II and made a subject of the AustrianHouse of Liechtenstein, a verdict that however was overruled a few years later.[4]
The citizens nevertheless suffered severely in theThirty Years' War, when in 1642 the town was occupied bySwedish troops. In 1643, a large fire further damaged Uničov. The Swedes did not leave the town until 1650. The town recovered only slowly from the consequences of the war and had economic problems. Uničov became a small rural town.[4]
After theSeven Years' War, EmperorJoseph II met here with thePrussian kingFrederick the Great in 1770, a rapprochement of the former enemies that would lead to theFirst Partition of Poland two years later.[4]
AfterWorld War II, the remaining German population wasexpelled. In 1948, the construction of a large engineering plant began, which led to the migration of new residents to the town.[4]
Historical population | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: Censuses[5][6] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The main commercial activity of Uničov nowadays takes place at the engineering-metallurgical complex UNEX. This heavy engineering company is worldwide known for its production ofbucket-wheel excavators.[7]
Uničov lies on a railway line heading from Olomouc toŠumperk.[8]
The town hall is landmark of the town square, located in the middle of the square. It was built in the late 14th or early 15th century and originally served as a market house. The town hall was rebuilt several times and lost its Gothic character. Gradually a 45 metres (148 ft) high tower and a chapel (now a ceremonial hall) were added. In the 19th century, it was rebuilt to its current pseudo-Renaissance form.[9]
In the middle of the square is also a 22 metres (72 ft) highMarian column, one of the most significant inMoravia. It was completed in 1743.[10]
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary comes from the first half of the 14th century. It is a significant example of Gothic and late Renaissance architecture. The church burned down a total of eight times and was therefore repaired and modified many times. it has two towers, one of them being octagonal.[11]
The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a remnant of aMinorite monastery complex that was abolished in the 19th century. In addition to the baroque rebuilt part, the original gothic part is also visible. Today it serves as a concert hall.[12]
Vodní branka ("water gate") is an architecturally valuable Renaissance building that was part of the town fortifications and served as armory. Today it is the town museum.[13]
Bieruń-Lędziny County, Poland
Dubno, Ukraine
Jelšava, SlovakiaLędziny, Poland
Roccagorga, Italy
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