View source for Svitavy

{{short description|Town in the Czech Republic}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Svitavy
| other_name              =
| settlement_type         = [[Obec|Town]]
<!-- images -->
| image_skyline           = Czech city of Svitavy.jpg
| image_caption           = Míru Square
| image_flag              = Svitavy CZ flag.svg
| image_shield            = Svitavy znak 2.jpeg
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{CZE}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[Regions of the Czech Republic|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Pardubice Region|Pardubice]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Districts of the Czech Republic|District]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Svitavy District|Svitavy]]
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map               =
| map_caption             =
| pushpin_map             = Czech Republic
| pushpin_relief          = 1
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in the Czech Republic
| coordinates             = {{coord|49|45|20|N|16|28|10|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   =
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| leader_title            = Mayor
| leader_name             = David Šimek
<!-- established -->
| established_title       = First mentioned
| established_date        = 1256
<!-- area -->
| area_footnotes          =
| area_total_km2          = 31.33
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes     =
| elevation_m             = 435
<!-- population -->
| population_as_of        = 2024-01-01
| population_footnotes    = <ref>{{cite web |title=Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024|url=https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/population-of-municipalities-qexb0dqr2d|publisher=[[Czech Statistical Office]]|date=2024-05-17}}</ref>
| population_total        = 16108
| population_density_km2  = auto
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1             = +1
| timezone1_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +2
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type        = Postal code
| postal_code             = 568 02
| area_code_type          =
| area_code               =
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                 = {{URL|https://www.svitavy.cz/}}
| footnotes               =
}}
'''Svitavy''' ({{IPA|cs|ˈsvɪtavɪ}}; {{langx|de|Zwittau}}) is a town in [[Svitavy District]] in the [[Pardubice Region]] of the [[Czech Republic]]. It has about 16,000 inhabitants. It is the birthplace of [[Oskar Schindler]] and the centre of the Czech [[Esperanto]] movement. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an [[Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monument zones|urban monument zone]].
==Administrative parts==
Svitavy is made up of the town parts of Lačnov, Lány, Město and Předměstí.
==Etymology==
Svitavy was named after the river [[Svitava (river)|Svitava]]. The river's name referred to its clear water and was derived from ''svítat'', which meant "be clear" in Old Czech.<ref>{{cite web |title=Svitavy: městu dala jméno průzračná řeka|url=https://pardubice.rozhlas.cz/svitavy-mestu-dala-jmeno-pruzracna-reka-6049710|publisher=[[Czech Radio]]|language=cs|date=2014-09-17|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
==Geography==
Svitavy is located about {{convert|57|km}} southeast of [[Pardubice]] and {{convert|60|km|abbr=on}} north of [[Brno]]. It lies in the [[Svitavy Uplands]]. The highest point is at {{convert|475|m|ft}} above sea level.
The [[Svitava (river)|Svitava]] River originates in the municipal territory and flows through the town. Apart from a few small bodies of water, there are two significant [[fish pond]]s on the Svitava near the town, Svitavský and Rosnička. They are the remains of the original eleven water works around the town. Rosnička was founded in the first half of the 16th century and Svitavský was established in 1953. In addition to fish farming, they form a suburban recreational area.<ref>{{cite web |title=U Svitav najdete ostrovy, které plavou|url=https://pardubice.rozhlas.cz/prazdninove-cesty-k-vode-7974667/7|publisher=[[Czech Radio]]|language=cs|date=2019-08-18|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
==History==
[[File:Svitavy, turo k urbomuro de E, 2.jpeg|thumb|160px|Last remnant of the town fortification]]
Svitavy was founded during the colonization by Premonstratensian monks from nearby [[Litomyšl]] around 1150. They built the Church of Saint Giles and founded a settlement called Stará Svitava near an old trade route. During the second wave of colonization in around 1250, mostly German-speaking settlers came and founded another settlement called Nová Svitava. Svitavy was first mentioned in 1256 when it was taken over by the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Olomouc|bishop of Olomouc]], [[Bruno von Schauenburg]], and this year is considered to be the year of foundation of the town.<ref name=history>{{cite web |title=Historie|url=https://www.svitavy.cz/o-meste/informace/historie|publisher=Město Svitavy|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
In 1389, the town walls were built. They protected the town during the [[Hussite Wars]], however the town was conquered. Svitavy often changed owners. In the 16th century, the town flourished economically. The prosperity was interrupted by the [[Thirty Years' War]]. In 1645, the town was looted. In 1781, a large fire destroyed most of the town. During the Napoleonic and Austro-Prussian wars, the town suffered as armies passed through the town.<ref name=history/><ref>{{cite web |title=Kalendárium|url=https://staryweb.svitavy.cz/cs/m-35-kalendarium/|publisher=Město Svitavy|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
In 1849, the railway was built, which contributed to the development of the town, especially the textile industry. Gradually, over a hundred textile factories were established. Svitavy has retained its industrial character to this day, although the structure has changed significantly.<ref name=history/>
Svitavy was historically a German-speaking town with a Czech minority. At the beginning of the 20th century the town saw tensions between Czech and German speaking people. In October 1938, the town was annexed by [[Nazi Germany]] and administered as part of the [[Reichsgau Sudetenland]]. After the end of [[World War II]] in 1945, the German population was [[Expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia|expelled]] as a result of the [[Beneš decrees]]. After 1945, the town was resettled by immigrants from the whole [[Czechoslovakia]].<ref name=history/>
==Demographics==
{{historical populations
|align=none|cols=3
|1869|8670
|1880|9654
|1890|11653
|1900|13637
|1910|14820
|1921|13892
|1930|15031
|1950|12828
|1961|13878
|1970|14282
|1980|16297
|1991|17441
|2001|17626
|2011|16670
|2021|16242
|source=Censuses<ref>{{cite web |title=Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011|url=https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/historicky-lexikon-obci-1869-az-2015|publisher=[[Czech Statistical Office]]|language=cs|date=2015-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Population Census 2021: Population by sex|url=https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4429&katalog=33515&pvo=SLD21001-OB-OK|work=Public Database|publisher=[[Czech Statistical Office]]|date=2021-03-27}}</ref>}}
==Economy==
There are no major companies based in the town, only middle-sized employers. The largest employers in Svitavy with more than 250 employees are Fibertex Nonwovens (manufacturer and processor of industrial textiles) and [[WestRock|Westrock Packaging Systems Svitavy]] (producer of cardboard packaging).<ref>{{cite web |title=Registr ekonomických subjektů|url=https://www.czso.cz/csu/res/registr_ekonomickych_subjektu|work=Business Register|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|language=cs|access-date=2023-05-11}}</ref>
==Transport==
Svitavy is a transport hub of the area. It is well-connected by rail to other parts of the Czech Republic as it is located on the [[Prague]]–[[Brno]] railway line. It also lies on a line of local importance to [[Skuteč]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Detail stanice Svitavy|url=https://www.cd.cz/stanice/svitavy/5454333|publisher=[[České dráhy]]|language=cs|access-date=2023-06-27}}</ref>
The town has an intercity bus station with services to various destinations. Two first class roads cross just north of Svitavy, the I/43 road (part of the [[European route E461]]), which connects the town with Brno, and the I/35 road (part of the [[European route E442]]), which replaces the unfinished section of the [[D35 motorway (Czech Republic)|D35 motorway]] from [[Olomouc]] to the [[Hradec Králové Region]].
==Culture==
[[File:Svitavy, Ottendorferův dům.jpg|thumb|Ottendorfer House with the Esperanto Museum]]
The Czech Esperanto Association is based in the town. It is a follower of several clubs from the first half of the 20th century, re-established in 1969. It co-organizes regional Esperanto meetings, organizes Children's Days, and manages the [[Esperanto Museum in Svitavy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Co je ČES|url=http://www.esperanto.cz/cs/kontakty-a-organizace/cesky-esperantsky-svaz-z-s/co-je-ces|publisher=Český esperantský svaz, z.s.|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
Since 2011, Svitavy hosts the annual music festival Rosnička.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historie|url=https://www.festivalrosnicka.cz/cs/m-248-historie-2019|publisher=Festival Rosnička|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
The Town Museum and Gallery was founded in 1894 and it is based in its current premises since 1947.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historie|url=http://www.muzeum.svitavy.cz/o-muzeu/historie/16-1/|publisher=Městské muzeum a galerie ve Svitavách|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref> It includes permanent exhibition "From the History of Washing Technology" and an exhibition about the life of local native [[Oskar Schindler]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Městské muzeum a galerie ve Svitavách|url=https://www.kudyznudy.cz/aktivity/mestske-muzeum-a-galerie-svitavy|publisher=CzechTourism|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
The multifunctional cultural centre Fabrika was created by reconstruction of a former textile factory from 1926. It is a social centre with a theatre hall and a library.<ref name=sights>{{cite web |title=Svitavské památky|url=https://www.svitavy.cz/svitavske-pamatky|publisher=Město Svitavy|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
==Sport==
Svitavy is known for the basketball club [[Tuři Svitavy]]. Until the relegation in 2024, it played in the [[National Basketball League (Czech Republic)|National Basketball League]] (top Czech league).
The Svitavský stadion hosts football and athletics. The town is home to the football club TJ Svitavy, which plays in lower amateur tiers (Pardubice [[Czech regional championships|regional championship]] since 2014/15).
[[Motorcycle speedway]] is held in the western outskirts of the town at the Areál Chihelna Svitavy.<ref>{{cite news |last=Halva|first=Radek|title=Plochodrážní areál Cihelna se letos dočkal dalších vylepšení|url=https://svitavsky.denik.cz/ostatni_region/plochodrazni-areal-cihelna-se-letos-dockal-dalsich-vylepseni-20190912.html|newspaper=Svitavský deník|language=cs|date=2019-09-12|access-date=2024-03-28}}</ref> The stadium held a final round of the [[Czech Republic Individual Speedway Championship|Czechoslovak Individual Speedway Championship]] from 1967 to 1973 and continues to hold qualifying races for the event.<ref>{{cite web |title=Individual Czechoslovak Championship|url=https://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmczechoslowacji.php|website=historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl|language=pl|access-date=2024-03-28}}</ref>
==Sights==
[[File:Svitavy, Czech Republic (20063713490).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the historic centre]]
Svitavy has a valuable historical core. Its centre includes the almost {{convert|500|m|ft}} long main square with architecturally noteworthy civic buildings, which is the 4th longest square in the Czech Republic and has the 2nd longest arcade in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Litomyšl versus Svitavy. Kdo má delší|url=https://pardubice.rozhlas.cz/litomysl-versus-svitavy-kdo-ma-delsi-namesti-6028470|publisher=[[Czech Radio]]|language=cs|date=2017-09-16|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref> The Renaissance houses from the 16th century were reconstructed in the Baroque style after the fire in 1781.<ref name=sights/>
In the middle of the square is a Baroque Marian column from 1703. The column is surrounded by the three patron saints of the town – St. Sebastian, St. Florian and St. John of Nepomuk. In the grotto of the column there is a statue of St. Rosalie.<ref name=sights/> On the square there is also the Fountain of St. Florian from 1783.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barokní sochy|url=http://www.muzeum.svitavy.cz/stale-exp/mestsky-pamatkovy-okruh/barokni-sochy/59-1/|publisher=Městské muzeum a galerie ve Svitavách|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
The town walls from 1389 were demolished during the 19th century. A semi-circular bastion is the only remnant.<ref name=sights/>
===Civic buildings===
[[File:Dům U mouřenína a Stará radnice,Svitavy.JPG|thumb|Old Town Hall and "U Mouřenína" House]]
[[File:Langrova vila, Svitavy.JPG|thumb|Langer's Villa]]
'''Old Town Hall''' is originally a Renaissance building with a tower, extensively rebuilt after the fire of 1781 and again in 1849. It served as the town hall until 1933 and now it is used for commercial purposes. The adjacent Renaissance '''"U Mouřenína" House''' is one of the oldest preserved burgher house in Svitavy, built in 1554. The tourist information centre is now located in the building.<ref name=sights/>
'''Ottendorfer House''' is a red-brick historicist building with a tower, it is one of the symbols of the town, built in 1892 by the local native [[Oswald Ottendorfer]] on the site of his birthplace. It originally housed the largest public and most modern German-language library in Moravia, later a town cultural centre. Since 2008 the Esperanto Museum and a tea room are located on the ground floor, the ornate hall on the floor above continues to serve as a concert hall.<ref name=sights/><ref>{{cite web |title=Ottendorferův dům|url=http://www.muzeum.svitavy.cz/stale-exp/mestsky-pamatkovy-okruh/ottendorferuv-dum/60-1/|publisher=Městské muzeum a galerie ve Svitavách|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
'''Langer's Villa''' houses the present town hall. It is historicist building with rich stucco ornamentation, built in 1892. It was designed by architect Germano Wanderley, who also designed the Ottendorfer House. The house belonged to one of the richest families in Svitavy, local businesspeople. During the Depression, it was rented out to the town treasury, which in turn in 1933 rented the house to the town authorities, who bought the house and transferred the town hall to it.<ref name=sights/>
'''Budig's Villa''' was built in German Renaissance style in 1892 for the former mayor and businessman Johann Budig. Nowadays houses the Town Museum and Gallery.<ref name=sights/>
===Ecclesiastical buildings===
[[File:Svitavy.jpg|thumb|Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary]]
'''Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary''' is located on the main square. It was probably originally a Romanesque structure built in around 1250. After the fire in 1781, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style. It has an accessible tower with a panoramic view.<ref name=sights/>
'''Church of Saint Giles''' was originally a Romanesque basilica built in around 1150. It was rebuilt in the early Baroque style in 1689 and includes preserved original interior equipment. In the vicinity is the valuable Roman Catholic parish house, rebuilt in the Broque style in 1626–1636.<ref name=sights/>
'''Church of Saint Joseph''' is a three-nave Neo-Romanesque basilica built in 1894–1896 with valuable decoration. Today the building is owned by a hospital.<ref name=sights/>
'''Convent of the Sisters of Grace''' of the St. Vincent de Paul order, founded in 1871, served as a hospital and later became a social care facility. It include the Neo-Gothic Chapel of Saint Vincent de Paul from 1874.<ref name=sights/><ref>{{cite web |title=Klášter Milosrdných sester|url=http://www.muzeum.svitavy.cz/stale-exp/mestsky-pamatkovy-okruh/klaster-milosrdnych-sester/70-1/|publisher=Městské muzeum a galerie ve Svitavách|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
==Notable people==
*[[Hermann Edler von Zeissl]] (1817–1884), Austrian dermatologist
*[[Oswald Ottendorfer]] (1826–1900), German-American journalist, editor and philanthropist
*[[Alexander Makowsky]] (1833–1908), Austrian botanist, geologist and paleontologist
*[[Maximilian Felzmann]] (1894–1962), Austrian general
*[[Oskar Schindler]] (1908–1974), German industrialist credited with saving almost 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust
*[[Heidi Lück]] (born 1943), German politician
*[[Jiří Pernes]] (born 1948), historian
*[[Jan Moravec]] (born 1987), footballer
==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic}}
Svitavy is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Partnerská města|url=https://www.svitavy.cz/o-meste/informace/partnerska-mesta|publisher=Město Svitavy|language=cs|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Gmina Lądek-Zdrój|Lądek-Zdrój]], Poland
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Perechyn]], Ukraine
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Stendal]], Germany
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Gmina Strzelin|Strzelin]], Poland
*{{flagicon|SVK}} [[Žiar nad Hronom]], Slovakia
<!--Plochingen - friendship, not twinning-->
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Svitavy}}
*{{official|https://www.svitavy.cz/}}
*[http://www.muzeum.svitavy.cz/ Town Museum and Gallery] {{in lang|cs}}
{{Svitavy District}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Cities and towns in the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Populated places in Svitavy District]]