Kunštát

Kunštát
Town
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Czech Republic
Region	South Moravian
District	Blansko
Commune	Boskovice
Elevation	445 m (1,460 ft)
Coordinates	CZ 49°30′23.23″N 16°31′1.99″E / 49.5064528°N 16.5172194°ECoordinates: CZ 49°30′23.23″N 16°31′1.99″E / 49.5064528°N 16.5172194°E
Area	24.23 km^2 (9.36 sq mi)
Population	2,612 (2005)
Density	108 / km^2 (280 / sq mi)
First mentioned	1280
Mayor	Pavel Göpfert
Timezone	CET (UTC+1)
- summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	679 72
Location in the Czech Republic
Wikimedia Commons: Kunštát
Statistics: statnisprava.cz
Website: www.kunstat-mesto.cz

Kunštát (Czech pronunciation: [ˈkunʃtaːt]) is a town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 2,800 inhabitants. Kunštát was established in 1280 by Podiebrad family. Lords of Kunštát held the manor until 1521. The most famous of the family was Czech King George of Poděbrady, who was the owner of Kunštát estate in the years 1427 - 1464. The last holders of the town were in the years 1901-1945 Counts Coudenhove-Honrichs. In 1994 Kunštát acquired the status of town.

Villages Hluboké u Kunštátu, Rudka, Sychotín, Touboř and Újezd are administrative parts of Kunštát.

Kunštát has a long tradition of pottery which began soon after establishment of the city. A potters guild was set up in 1620, joining together ten local potters. The craft reached its peak in the 19th century. Pottery fairs are held in the town since 1993.

Places of interest

• The Kunštát Castle, a national monument, was in 16th and 17th century rebuilt into the current chateau. It is owadays among the places of historical interests in the area
• Saint Stanislaus Church from the 17th century
• The statue of George of Poděbrady
• Burian look out tower
• The Blaník knights cave, located around 1 km is the work of Stanislav Rolínek. It contained 14 meter high statue of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk unveiled in 1928. During the German occupation it was destroyed, leaving only part of it.

Important people relatedto Kunštát

• George of Poděbrady (1420–1471), Czech king
• Jan Tenora (1863–1936) - Historian and writer
• Františka Leopoldina Marie von Coudenhove - Hornisch (1892 - 1977) - Establisher of a convent in Argentina
• Klement Bochořák (1910–1981) - Poet
• František Halas (1901–1949) - Poet
• Jan Marius Tomeš (* 1914) - Poet and historian
• Ludvík Kundera (1920–2010) - Poet, dramatist and translator
• Stanislav Rolínek (1902–1931) - Sculptor

Gallery

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  Fountains on Král Jiří Square

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  The statue of George of Poděbrady on Král Jiří Square

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  Saint Stanislaus Church

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  Král Jiří Square

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  Town hall

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  Kunštát Chateau

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  A view at the town

External links

• Municipal website (cz)