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Olomouc

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Want more info? Try Olomouc.com (English) or Olomouc.cz (Czech)

Upper Square

This historic city, located at an intersection of important merchant roads upon the river Morava, began writing its famous history as soon as 900 AC. Originally the residence of Apanage Princes, it increased its significance and lustre with the establishment of the Bishopric in 1063. A few years later, in 1078, the most famous Olomouc monastery, Hradisko, was founded. Soon after its coming into existence, Olomouc became one of the most significant centers of the Czech Kingdom, and it was called the capital of Moravia up to the first half of the 17th century. To support an anti-Reformation effort, Bishop William Prusinovsky called Jesuits to Olomouc in 1566.

panorama

In the same year they established their academy, and a few years later, in 1573, they raised it to become the second university in the country.The consequences of the 1618 - 1648 Thirty Years´ War for Olomouc were especially tragic. The city was occupied by the Swedish army from 1642 up to 1650 which resulted not only in the loss of its prime position in Moravia, but also in its terrible devastation. It was even proposed to raze the remainder of the city to the ground. Promising advancement was again broken in 1741 when the city was stormed by the Prussians. To conform the future Prussian threats, the Vienna Government decided to build Olomouc as a fortress.

Astronomical Clock

Even the rise of the Bishopric to the Olomouc Archbishopric in 1777, which improved the city's reputation, could hardly compensate for the limits of city life. The stormy year of 1848 brought the Vienna court to the fairly peaceful Olomouc. And the Olomouc Archbishopric became the place where Emperor Francis Joseph I. mounted the throne. The abolition of the fortress and the pulling down of the town walls at the end of the 19th century opened the way to city expansion and allowed the establishment of famous Olomouc parks. The burghers felt the city was short of industry, but on the other hand, there has been quite a lof of merit in it. The old city has retained its original character: the peaceful atmosphere of University town and spiritual center. It boasts of plenty of sights that can hardly be found in other cities, as well as corners where the past is closer than the present.

Other pictures of Olomouc:

Hradisko Monastery

Lower Square

Svaty_Kopecek

The pilgrimage Cathedral of Visitation of the Virgin Mary
- a monumental Baroque cathedral built in 1669 - 1679

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