Adamov (; ) is a town in Blansko District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 4,500 inhabitants. Historically it is known as an industrial town. The former industrial area of Stará Huť is protected as a monument reservation.
Geography
thumb|Adamov landscape panorama
Adamov is located about south of Blansko and north of Brno. It lies in the Drahany Highlands, on the border of the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area. The highest point is at above sea level. The town is situated in the valley of the Svitava River.
History
The first written mention of Adamov is from 1506, under its old name Hamry. It was a hamlet with several hammer mills. From 1597, it was owned by the Liechtenstein family. In 1679, it was first called Adamov and since 1732, the name has been official.
In 1849, the railway was built, which helped the development of local industry and population growth. In the second half of the 19th century, the local ironworks were transformed into an engineering company. Agricultural machinery and equipment for agriculture were produced here.
Economy
thumb|Centre of Adamov
From 1952, the local company was named Adamovské strojírny ("Adamov Engineering Works") or ADAST. In the 21st century, the company went bankrupt.
Transport
Adamov is located on the railway line Brno–Letovice.
Sights
thumb|Interior of the Church of Saint Barbara with the Zwettl Altar in the left
The Church of Saint Barbara was built in the neo-Gothic style in 1855–1857. It contains a valuable late Gothic altarpiece called the Zwettl Altar (Světelský oltář). It comes from the Zwettl Abbey and was created in 1516–1525. The wooden altar illustrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and comprises 59 carved figures.
Notable people
- Johann Victor Krämer (1861–1949), Austrian painter
- Zdeněk Kroupa (1921–1999), opera singer
- Jindřich Svoboda (born 1952), footballer