Moravian Slovakia
Moravian Slovakia or Slovácko is a cultural region in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic, Moravia on the border with Slovakia and Austria, known for its characteristic folklore, music, wine, costumes and traditions. The area forms part of both the Zlín and South Moravian administrative regions.
Its most important center is the town of Uherské Hradiště which is located on the Morava River. Other important population centers include Uherský Brod, Břeclav, Hodonín, Strážnice and Kyjov. In the 9th century the region of Moravian Slovakia was the centre of the Great Moravian empire.
Natives of this region speak the Eastern Moravian dialects of the Czech language, which are transitional dialects between Czech and Slovak. Due to these cultural and linguistic links to Slovakia, many ethnographers until the 20th century used to consider Moravian Slovaks as a people which politically belonged to Moravia and the Bohemian Crown but ethnographically and culturally to the Slovak ethnic group. Historically, there were also significant numbers of German speakers who also influenced local speech.Notable people
- Thomas G. Masaryk – philosopher, president of Czechoslovakia
- Jan Černý – president of Moravia, PM of Czechoslovakia
- John Amos Comenius – philosopher, founder of modern education, bishop of the Bohemian Brethren
- František Peřina – general, RAF ace
- Francis I, Prince of Liechtenstein – ruling monarch
- John II, Prince of Liechtenstein – longest ruling monarch of Europe
- Václav Nedomanský - Hall of Fame hockey player
