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Bzenec

Coordinates: 48°58′24″N 17°16′0″E / 48.97333°N 17.26667°E / 48.97333; 17.26667
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Bzenec
Town
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Interactive map of Bzenec
Coordinates: 48°58′24″N 17°16′0″E / 48.97333°N 17.26667°E / 48.97333; 17.26667
CountryFile:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic
RegionSouth Moravian
DistrictHodonín
First mentioned1231
Government
 • MayorErik Ebringer
Area
 • Total
40.34 km2 (15.58 sq mi)
Elevation
183 m (600 ft)
Population
 (2026-01-01)[1]
 • Total
4,525
 • Density112.2/km2 (290.5/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
696 81
Websitewww.bzenec.cz

Bzenec (Czech pronunciation: [ˈbzɛnɛts]; German: Bisenz) is a town in Hodonín District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 4,500 inhabitants. The town is located on the Syrovinka Stream, on the border between the Lower Morava Valley and Kyjov Hills.

Bzenec was founded in the early 11th century at the latest and became a town in 1330 at the latest. The main landmark of the town is the Bzenec Castle, built in the neo-Gothic style. Bzenec is known for viticulture, growing fruit and vinegar production.

Geography

Bzenec is located about 16 kilometres (10 mi) northeast of Hodonín. Larger part of the municipal territory lies in a flat landscape in the Lower Morava Valley. The northern hilly part lies in the Kyjov Hills and include the highest point of Bzenec, Horní hory at 292 m (958 ft) above sea level. The town is situated on the Syrovinka Stream.

History

The first written mention of Bzenec is from 1015, when the local castle called Businc was conquered by Duke Oldřich. Around 1230, Bzenec became a regional centre. In 1330, Bzenec was first referred to as a town. First Jews settled here probably in the second half of the 14th century. The Jewish community belonged to the oldest in Moravia.[2]

The original castle on the hill above the town was badly damaged during the Hussite Wars and demolished in the late 15th century. A new late Gothic fortress was built right in the town. In the 16th century, it was rebuilt into a Renaissance castle.[2][3] Until 1514, the Bzenec estate was owned by the royal chamber, although it was often pawned.[4]

The first reliable mentions of the Jewish community date back to the 16th century. The Jews were permitted to own vineyards, which, together with the town's convenient location on the trade route, were the reasons why they settled here.[5] In 1605, the town was severely damaged by the army of Stephen Bocskai. Bzenec further suffered during the Thirty Years' War. The Jewish community was completely destroyed. The town recovered only slowly.[5][6]

When the estate was owned by Count Erdmann Kryštof Pruskovský of Pruskov, the castle was rebuilt in the Baroque style according to the design by Domenico Martinelli in 1709–1710. The castle garden was rebuilt partly into a French formal garden and partly into an English park. In 1852, Count Vilém of Reichenbach had demolished the Baroque castle and had built a new neo-Gothic castle in 1855–1858. As a result, the count became very indebted, which eventually led to his suicide, and the second floor of the castle remained unfinished.[3]

Demographics

Economy

Bzenec is known for viticulture and wine production. The town also has a tradition of growing fruit and vegetables. Pickled cucumbers and vegetable salads are mainly produced here.[2]

Bzenec is also known for the vinegar production. The vinegar plant was founded here in 1864.[9]

Transport

Bzenec is located on the railway lines Brno–Staré Město and Kyjov–Veselí nad Moravou.[10]

Sights

The castle fell into disrepair and today is owned by the town. It is inaccessible. The castle park is open to the public.[3] In the park is a linden tree known as Bzenec Linden, which is supposedly more than 900 years old.[11]

A notable landmark of the town is the Chapel of Saints Florian and Sebastian. It was built in 1703 on the hill above the town, on the site where the old castle stood. Due to its location, the chapel was struck several times by lightning, and then it was destroyed during World War II. The chapel was restored only recently, and was opened in 2018.[12]

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

Bzenec is twinned with:[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Population in municipalities as at 1. 1". DataStat. Czech Statistical Office. 18 May 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Historie města" (in čeština). Město Bzenec. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Zámek" (in čeština). Starý Bzenec. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  4. ↑ "Majitelé bzeneckého panství" (in čeština). Starý Bzenec. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Židovská obec ve Bzenci" (in čeština). Starý Bzenec. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  6. ↑ File:PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gotthard Deutsch, Josef Hoff (1901–1906). "Bisenz". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
  7. ↑ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in čeština). Czech Statistical Office. 21 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 27 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "Historie Bzenecké octárny" (in čeština). Bzenecký ocet. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Station details Bzenec". České dráhy. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Bzenecká lípa" (in čeština). Město Bzenec. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  12. ↑ "Kaple sv. Floriána a Šebestiána" (in čeština). Město Bzenec. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  13. ↑ "Úvodní stránka: Partnerská města" (in čeština). Město Bzenec. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
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