Uherské Hradiště


Uherské Hradiště is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic, in the historical land of Moravia. It is located southwest of Zlín on the Morava River. It is the capital of the Uherské Hradiště District. The town itself has a population of around 25,000. The agglomeration with the two neighbouring towns of Staré Město and Kunovice has over 38,000 people.
The town was founded in 1257 by the Czech king Otakar II. The town is the center of Moravian Slovakia, a region known for its characteristic folklore, music, costumes, traditions and production of wine. The city center is historically preserved.

Etymology

The name of the town is dated from 1587. It can be translated freely as "Hungarian Gord" - meaning "a fortified settlement nearby the Hungarian border".

Geography

Uherské Hradiště is located in the southeast of the Czech Republic close to the border with Slovakia in the historical land of Moravia. The region is attractive owing to its landscape and rare species. The Morava river with its alluvial forest as well as flora and fauna are particularly popular and the Chřiby and White Carpathians mountain ranges are also near to the city. There are several castles and palaces, the Great Moravian town Staré Město, and the pilgrimage spot Velehrad. Uherské Hradiště is also known for its film festival named Summer Film School.

Education

The Uherské Hradiště Gymnasium, founded 16 September 1884, is the oldest grammar school in the region of Moravian Slovakia.

Transport

The Uherské Hradiště agglomeration is served by 8 local bus lines operated by ČSAD Uherské Hradiště, as well as many more long-distance routes. The railway station is situated on a branch line connecting the international mainline at Staré Město to the so-called Vlárská dráha linking Brno with Trenčianska Teplá in Slovakia, which has a station in Kunovice. Uherské Hradiště station won the Stavba roku award after its reconstruction in 2004, and in 2011 was chosen as the "most beautiful Czech railway station". The town is not served by a highway or expressway, but is crossed from west to east by road I/50, which forms part of European route E50. Kunovice Airport is situated south of the town, but handles almost no civil traffic.

Sport

The town is home to a football club, 1. FC Slovácko, which plays in the Czech First League at the Městský fotbalový stadion Miroslava Valenty. The town also has an ice rink with a capacity of 1,500 visitors, which is home to HC Uherské Hradiště playing the 2nd Czech hockey league.

Notable people

Uherské Hradiště is twinned with: