Polná () is a town in Jihlava District in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,300 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone.
Administrative division
Polná consists of five municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):
- Polná (4,472)
- Hrbov (278)
- Janovice (171)
- Nové Dvory (148)
- Skrýšov (20)
Etymology
The name was most likely derived from the word pole, i.e. 'field'.
Geography
thumb|Peklo Pond
Polná is located about northeast of Jihlava. It lies in the Upper Sázava Hills. The highest point is at above sea level. The town is situated at the confluence of the Šlapanka River and the stream Ochozský potok.
The territory of Polná is rich in fishponds. The largest of them is Peklo, located next to the historic town centre. It was founded in 1479–1482 and has an area of .
History
Middle Ages
Founded in the second half of the 12th century, the first written mention of Polná is from 1242. At that time, there was already a church in Polná. Originally, Polná was a forest collier settlement, and not far from it there was built a castle called Polná, originally Polmna. The town lies on the line between two historic Czech lands – Bohemia and Moravia, therefore the town became an important mercantil and tactical point.
Polná became the centre of the Polná (later Polná-Přibyslav) estate. During its existence, for most of the time, Polná was part of significant aristocrat families' property. After the Lords of Polná, the lords of Lipá owned the town. From the half of the 14th century, Polná was owned by the Lords of Pirkenštejn. During the Hussite Wars, Hynek Ptáček of Pirkenštejn, a hussite nobleman, ruled over Polná and bought also the nearby town of Přibyslav. Victor, son of King George of Poděbrady who bestowed Polná significant town rights and the coat of arms, got Polná by marriage with Žofie Ptáčková (daughter of Hynek Ptáček).
In 1794, the rebuilt castle burned down and was never completely restored again.
Economy
Polná is a town with many medium-sized industries. Most important types of industries are wood-working industry and food industry (especially dairy products). The largest employers with headquarters in the town are Sapeli (manufacturer of doors) and TKZ Polná (manufacturer of building and furniture hardware).
Transport
Despite the size of the town, there is no major road running through the territory, and the railway that starts here is unused. The town lies at the intersection of several second-class roads.
Education
Polná is home to a Montessori secondary school and three primary schools. There is also one primary art school.
Culture
Every second weekend in September, the so-called "carrot-bun funfair" () is organized in Polná.
Husovo Square forms the centre of the town. On the square there are deanery with the "Kaplanka" building (the former seat of the vicariate), Baroque Trinity Column and "Hastrmanka" Fountain, colloquially called "Vodník" (water sprite).
The Church of Assumption of the Virgin Mary on the Husovo Square is the main landmark of Polná. It was built between 1700 and 1707. Author of the project was Italian builder Domenico D'Angeli. Inside the church there is a rich and valuable stucco and fresco decoration, or an organ by Jan David Sieber (the biggest preserved organ in the country manufactured in the Czech lands). The tower was destroyed by the 1863 fire and rebuilt in 1894. It is high.
The Church of Saint Catherine is a cemetery church, built in 1378–1389 by lords of Pirkenštejn. In 1906–1910, fragments of wall frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries were discovered. The second cemetery church in Polná is Church of Saint Barbara.
The Jewish community is commemorated by the former synagogue and Jewish cemetery, both founded in the late 17th century. Nowadays the synagogue houses the Regional Museum of Jewish Culture.
Klešter is a glen where an ancient merchant path from Moravia to Bohemia led. It is a unique technical monument of the Middle Ages. About of the glen is preserved.
Notable people
- Božena Němcová (1820–1862), writer; lived here in 1840–1842
- Bohumil Hrabal (1914–1997), writer; lived here in 1917–1919
Twin towns – sister cities
Polná is twinned with:
- Wimmis, Switzerland