Uherský Brod

Uherský Brod (; ) is a town in Uherské Hradiště District in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 16,000 inhabitants. It is located in the Vizovice Highlands on the Olšava River.

The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone. The main landmarks of the town centre are the Church of the Immaculate Conception and the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Uherský Brod is known as the place where the philosopher and pedagogue John Amos Comenius lived, and the town museum and secondary school bear his name.

Administrative division

Uherský Brod consists of five municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):

Uherský Brod (13,267)
Havřice (804)
Maršov (23)
Těšov (975)
Újezdec (1,024)

Etymology

The name Uherský Brod literally means 'Hungarian ford' in Czech. It refers to its historical location near a ford across the river Olšava and near the border with the Kingdom of Hungary. The Hungarian name is Magyarbród, According to Hungarian historiography, a fortress was founded here in 1049 by King Andrew I of Hungary on what was then the Hungarian–Bohemian border, primarily as a measure against potential German attacks. Location by trade routes and suitable climatic conditions led to the development of the settlement called Brod to a town. In 1272, the village was promoted to a royal town by King Ottokar II. In 1275, the name Uherský Brod was first used.

Demographics

Economy

One of the largest employers in the region is Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod, a firearms manufacturer. The engineering industry is also represented by Slovácké strojírny a.s., which was founded here in 1951.

Transport

The I/50 road (part of the European route E50), which connects Brno with the Czech-Slovak border in Starý Hrozenkov, passes through the town.

Uherský Brod is located on the Prague–Luhačovice railway line.

Education

There is a gymnasium that bear name of John Amos Comenius. There are also three other secondary and vocational schools.

Sport

Uherský Brod is home to the football club ČSK Uherský Brod. It plays in lower amateur tiers.

Sights

thumb|Dominican convent with the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

thumb|Uherský Brod Castle

The main landmark of the main square Masarykovo náměstí is the Church of the Immaculate Conception. This three-nave Baroque church was designed by Domenico Martinelli and built in 1717–1733. The -high tower was added in 1879–1881.

One of the oldest and largest monument in the region is the Dominican convent with the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The original Gothic church from the early 14th century was much higher than the current structure. After it was damaged and burned down during the wars, it was rebuilt in the early Baroque style in the 1670s and the 1680s. The Planetary Trail is an educational trail with models of planets and the sun which runs through the town.

Notable people

John Amos Comenius (1592–1670), philosopher and pedagogue; possible birthplace, lived here
Moses Samuel Zuckermandl (1836–1917), Czech-German rabbi and theologian
Leo Jung (1892–1987), American rabbi
Ladislav Boháč (1907–1978), actor
Vlastimil Babula (born 1973), chess player