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Hrotoviceiwww.hrotovice.czInformation centre, Námûstí 8. kvûtna 2, 675 55 Hrotovicetel.+420 568 860 057, e-mail: icentrum@hrotovice.czopen May - SeptemberMunicipal Office, Námûstí 8. kvûtna 1, 675 55 Hrotovicetel.+420 568 860 120,179, fax: +420 568 860 324e-mail: meu.hrotovice@pvtnet.czHISTORYDecemberMeeting St. Nicholas and a live Christmas nativity sceneFindings of Neolithic pottery indicate that this area has been inhabitedsince ancient times. The first written remark about Hrotovice comesfrom a scroll of King Pfiemysl Otakar I. dating from 1228.From its very foundation Hrotovice had a fort, a church and a parsonage.A whole range of yeoman and noble families took turns owning theHrotovice manor. Until the mid-nineteenth century Hrotovice was a smallvillage that did not differ in any way from the surrounding communities.After 1850 the community became the seat of the district court and a taxauthority, a post office was established and first industrial enterpriseswere founded - a saw mill, a brick kiln and a distillery. The developmentof the municipality continued at the beginning of the twentieth century.In the 1930s, thanks to its beautiful surroundings, Hrotovice became afamous summer resort. In 1994 Hrotovice was promoted to town status.SIGHTSThe town is dominated by a chateau that was built in Renaissance styleat the end of the 16 th century in place of a medieval fort. It got its presentshape in the first third of the 18 th century when it underwent overallreconstruction and a Baroque adaptation. The square courtyard haswooden arcades on the ground floor; frescoes are preserved in the chateauchapel. The birch on the courtyard was planted in 1918 to honourthe proclamation of the independent Czechoslovak State. Between 1991and 1994 the facade of the chateau was renovated and the courtyardwas reconstructed with the financial aid of businessmen and citizensof Hrotovice.The originally Romanesque Church of St. Lawrence was rebuilt inGothic style in the mid-fourteenth century and went through a baroqueadaptation in the second half of the 17th century. There are baroque statuesfrom the 18th century in the town - St. Francis, St. John ofNepomuk, St. Vendelín, St. Donatus and St. Florian.The stone cross in the centre of the square and a memorial at the front ofthe chateau are reminders of a tragedy that took place in Hrotovice on8th May 1945 when 114 citizens of Hrotovice and 36 Soviet soldiers diedafter an explosion of a bomb thrown by mistake.CULTURERegular cultural events:May Traditional fairAugust St. Lawrence pilgrimage and traditional fairNovember Traditional fairMunicipal Library - tel. +420 568 860 126Cultural Centre - tel. +420 568 860 126WORTH SEEINGAbout one kilometre to the southeast in the woods there are the Novérybníky (”New Ponds”), which offer a chance to relax in the summer.Extraordinarily attractive natural scenery can also be found in the valleysof the Oslava and Jihlava Rivers. Swimming, fishing and water sportsare also possible on the Dale‰ice Reservoir.Memorial to F. B. ZvûfiinaAn exhibition documenting the life and work of the academic painterFranti‰ek Bohumír Zvûfiina, a local native (1835-1908). Visits possiblefollowing agreement with the municipal office - tel. +420 568 860 120MstûniceAn abandoned medieval village with a fort (ca 4km eastwards fromHrotovice) was first mentioned in written sources in 1393. The villagewas destroyed in 1468 by the troops of the Hungarian king MathiasCorvinus during his campaign against Tfiebíã. Archaeological researchhas been carried out here, which is of vital significance for our knowledgeof how a medieval village lived. Remnants of a mighty stone fort anda yard have been discovered, another scarce discovery is a grain-dryinghouse with a barn from the second half of the 13 th century.The Dukovany Power StationInformation centre, tel. +420 568 815 519, +420 568 860 057e-mail: infocentrum.edu@mail.cez.cz, www.cez.cz/edu-exkurzeHigh quality audiovisual technology provides visitors with informationabout power engineering, use of nuclear energy and the power stationitself.SPORTSports hall - 1. máje, tel. +420 568 860 287volleyball, table tennis, tennisFootball field, skating ringSportVhotel - nám. 8. kvûtna - tel. +420 568 860 013,www.hotel-hrotovice.czswimming pool, sauna, whirlpool, solarium, bowling, tennis hall,squash, horse riding.15