Vysoké Mýto (; , also Hohenmauth) is a town in Ústí nad Orlicí District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 13,000 inhabitants. Its town square is the largest example of its type in the country. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone.

Administrative division

Vysoké Mýto consists of ten municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):

  • Vysoké Mýto-Město (807)
  • Choceňské Předměstí (1,677)
  • Litomyšlské Předměstí (6,275)
  • Pražské Předměstí (2,706)
  • Brteč (98)
  • Domoradice (166)
  • Knířov (46)
  • Lhůta (102)
  • Svařeň (85)
  • Vanice (107)

Etymology

The predecessor of the town was a small settlement by a trade route called Mýto (literally 'toll' in Czech). After a new town was founded, it adopted the privilege of collecting the toll. The old settlement was renamed to Staré Mýto ('old toll') and the new town was called Vysoké Mýto ('high toll'), probably referring to its location above the old settlement.

Geography

Vysoké Mýto is located about southeast of Pardubice. It lies in the Svitavy Uplands. The highest point is at above sea level. The Loučná River flows through the town.

History

thumb|150px|Prague Gate

thumb|Church of the Holy Trinity

The first written mention of Vysoké Mýto is from 1265. It was founded shortly before this year by King Ottokar II as one of the trading centres on the trade route from Bohemia to Moravia, and was inhabited by German settlers. The town square and the network of streets were built in a regular shape, which is preserved to this day. Stone walls with three gates were gradually built around the whole town.

Demographics

Economy

The most important employer in the town is Iveco Czech Republic and its Iveco Bus factory (previously Karosa), which produces buses under the brands Irisbus Crossway, Irisbus Arway and Iveco Urbanway. With more than 3,000 employees, Iveco Czech Republic is the largest industrial company in the Pardubice Region.

Transport

The I/35 road (part of the European route E442), which replaces the unfinished section of the D35 motorway from Olomouc to the Hradec Králové Region, passes through the town.

Vysoké Mýto lies on a railway line heading from Litomyšl to Choceň.

Sport

The town's football club is SK Vysoké Mýto. It plays in lower amateur tiers.

Sights

thumb|Church of Saint Lawrence

The quadrangle square named Přemysla Otakara II. Square is the largest square of its type in the Czech Republic. The Old Town Hall from 1433 is one of the oldest stone buildings in the town. It was rebuilt several times, last in 1828 in the Empire style. Today it houses the tourist information centre, the Town Gallery and an exposition on the manufacture of car bodies. In the middle of the square is a Baroque Marian column from 1714.

  • Dolni Chiflik, Bulgaria
  • Korbach, Germany
  • Odessos District (Varna), Bulgaria
  • Ozorków, Poland
  • Pyrzyce, Poland
  • Spišská Belá, Slovakia

References

  • Museum in Vysoké Mýto