Blansko is a town in Blansko District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Blansko is the biggest town in Blansko District to which it lends its name. Blansko is situated in the valley of the river Svitava. The centre of Blansko is 276 metres above sea level, with the majority of the city situated on a slope above the left bank of the Svitava. Blansko currently occupies an area of and has approximately 20,500 inhabitants. The town is notable for the proximity of the Moravian Karst.
History
Blansko was mentioned for the first time as the site of dispute between Jindřich Zdík, the bishop of Olomouc and Prince Vratislav of Brno regarding the rights to construct a church in the village on the right bank of the Svitava river in 1136. In 1277 Bruno von Schauenburg then Bishop of Olomouc and landlord founded a village on the left bank of the Svitava. Originally known as 'New Blansko' it became the core of the modern city. After the founding of New Blansko, the villages went through possession of various landowners. The two villages finally merged to a single one in 1526. From 1698 the Gellhorn family founded the first foundry and ironworks in Blansko. After 1766 the town belonged to the Salm family, who patronized many artisans and scientists, including Josef Dobrovský. Blansko also underwent vast expansion connected to the growth of ironworks under the guidance of Hugo František Salm. In January 1849 the first train arrived to Blansko on newly constructed Brno-Česka Trebova railway line. In 1905, Franz Joseph I of Austria granted Blansko the status of City. A member of the city council produced a commemorative folio describing the situation in Blansko at that time as relating to industry, education, associations etc. In 1949 Blansko became the capital of Blansko District instead of Boskovice. Blansko still has many factories today though the significance of the town as industry hub has dropped. Many manufacturers are still operational in Blansko including: mechanical engineering hydroelectric water turbines and steam turbines concern following traditions of ČKD Blansko , measuring instrument manufacturer Metra Blansko and a Českomoravsky Beton cement factory.
Parts of town
Zborovce
Sever
Blansko-město '
Staré blansko '
Staré bytovky
Písečná
Sights
Interesting places
Klamova huť. A well preserved foundry and ironworks from 1850s. Former museum of cast iron artworks currently turned to production facility again.
Château Blansko. Built likely in 1431 but first mention is in a reliable source dated to 1532. Currently the Castle serves as the seat of Blansko Museum.
Blansko Museum. The museum presents permanent exhibitions of Moravian Karst and its exploration, the Oldest Ironworks, Iron Industry and Cast Iron in the 19th and 20th century, the history of measuring devices produced in Blansko and the history of the chateau and Blansko region. Many other temporary exhibitions, cultural events and music concerts are held there on a regular basis.
Baroque Church of St. Martin. Built between 1672-1691. Originally a Romanesque church built in the 12th century by bishop Jindřich Zdík. The church has one of the oldest bell still extant in Moravia and is an important stop on the pilgrimage route 'Via Sancti Martini' for Martin of Tours.
A wooden church of Saint Paraskieva built in the 17th century at Transcarpathian Ruthenia and transported to Blansko in 1936.
The memorial to the Czech Legionaries who were present at the Battle of Zborov.
Municipal Library Blansko - District Library
City Gallery Blansko - exhibitions of fine arts
City Club Blansko - club facilities with a large hall and stage, small halls and clubrooms; part of the club's restaurant with summer garden
Cinema Blansko - built in early 1920s
Notable people
Karel Jaroslav Mašek, archaeologist
Václav Hugo Sáňka, speleologist, archaeologist, chronicler of Blansko
Jaroslav Bakeš, physician, a prominent surgeon, founder of the Institute for cancer patients in Brno
Josef Pilňáček, Moravian historian and genealogist
At the church of St Martin there is a memorial plaque for Caroline Meineke, who was supposed to be the first wife of William IV of the United Kingdom. She spent the last years of her life at the Château in Blansko, where she died in 1815.
