Bruntál
Encyclopedia
Bruntál (ˈbruntaːl; , , Latin
: Vallis Gaudiorum, Vrudental) is a town located near the western boundary of Moravian-Silesian Region
, in Czech Silesia
. A suitable position in the middle of the Jeseníky Mountains provides an ample number of touristic opportunities to the town. The cultural importance of Bruntál lies in its possession of a Baroque castle and many historical buildings.
era. Uhlířský vrch (672 m), Venušina sopka (655 m), Velký Roudný (780 m), Malý Roudný (770) and others belong among extinct volcanos. These volcanoes are a part of the Slunečná Highlands (Slunečná vrchovina). The Slunečná Highlands is 16 km long and it lies southwards from Bruntál to Moravský Beroun, it includes the highest mountain of the Nízký Jeseník mountains, Mount Slunečná (800 m).
(Hercynian orogeny). Bruntál is a part of the region consisting foremost of sedimentary rocks formed during the Mississippian Epoch of the Carboniferous
period. In terms of Czech geology, this geologic period is called kulm. The mentioned region stretches from Brno
to Krnov
.
The main geologic formations distributed across the town and its surroundings are turbidite
s. The most common rock in the area is slate
. In the west of the town slate enriched by apatite
and zircon
can be found. In the east of the town lighter forms of slate occur. Fluvial
sand
s and rubble
together with deluvial sediments of clay
and sand origin lie along the rivers and creeks. Eluvial sediments prevail in the west part of the town.
The most remarkable geologic site in the surroundings of the town is Uhlířský vrch. Originally, Uhlířský vrch was a stratovolcano
(compositive volcano) formed by both explosive and effusive eruptions, thus it is composed of pyroclastic rocks. 40-80% of the mentioned pyroclastic rocks consist of lapilli
, 10-50% consist of volcanic bombs, the rest is made from volcanic ash
. In addition, it is possible to perceive a frequent occurrence of metamorphic
xenolith
s dated back to the Mississippian Epoch of the Carboniferous
period. The colors of the pyroclastic rocks vary from brown to yellow. The older effusive eruptions resulted in an occurrence of nepheline basalt
and nephelinite
. The effusive phase is approximately 2.4 ± 0.5 million years old and therefore it dates back to the Pliocene
(also called Pleiocene) and Pleistocene
Epoch
.
(1155–1230) in 1223. There it is stated that the town of Bruntál was the first town in Bohemia
that had been granted Magdeburg Rights
ten years before the issue of the charter. Possession of these rights shows the importance of the town because Magdeburg Rights
are considered as one of the most remarkable set of Germanic medieval city laws. The reasons leading the king Přemysl I Otakar to pursuit a founding of a new town were twofold. The northern border of Moravia
had faced many attempts of colonization under auspices of the Bishops of Breslau (Wrocław) so the necessity to prevent these actions was obvious. Also a discovery of ore deposits in the surroundings of Bruntál contributed to establishing the town. These facts have made historians assume Bruntál was founded by Vladislav Jindřich
, the Margrave
of Moravia
, in 1213.
The mining of noble metal
s contributed to emerging of the town significantly, which was reflected by the first appearance of Bruntál coat of arms
dated back to 1287. The town became a center of local crafts and trade
. In addition, endowing with Magdeburg Rights
Bruntál was the highest appellate jurisdiction for even Olomouc
until 1352. Originally, Bruntál belonged to the domain of Moravia
n Margrave
s but in 1269 Bruntál was in part transferred into the possession of the Dukes of Opava and finally they took control over the whole Bruntál territory in 1318. Between 1385 and 1467 (1473) Bruntál was severally mortgaged and sold. Finally, the Lords of Vrbno gained Bruntál into their domain.
The first person of the House of Vrbno was John of Bruntál and Vrbno, reigning from 1576 to 1577. His heirs, who had not reached their legal age at the time of the death of their father, were given the domain of Bruntál in 1506 by the Princess
Barbara
of Opava, Ratiboř, and Krnov upon a condition of being a close ally to the Principality of Krnov. But the Lords of Vrbno preferred ties with the Principality of Opava and therefore they managed to gain an approval from Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia
in 1523 which granted an embodying of Bruntál domain into the Principality of Opava. The most important owner of Bruntál domain was Hynek The Older of Vrbno reigning from 1582 to 1596 who enjoyed a respect from the emperors Ferdinand I
(1526–1564), Maximilian II
(1564–1576), and Rudolf II
(1576–1612). The last Lord of Vrbno was Hynek The Younger of Vrbno reigning from 1613 to 1614.
Intensive mining backed by the Lords of Würbenthal led to a founding of several neighbouring towns (e.g. Andělská Hora about 1550, Vrbno pod Pradědem
in 1611). In addition, many kinds of industry
took place at these times (e.g. smithery at Suchá Rudná in 1405 and Mezina
in 1567, 7 timber mills in 1579). In May 1617 Bruntál was bought by the last Lord of Vrbno John IV of Vrbno, who joined the Uprising of the Estates
and gained a rank of the Director in 1619. His close ties to the "Winter King" Frederick V, Elector Palatine
, who was John's guest in February 1620, posed him into a very dangerous circumstances after the Battle of White Mountain
in1620. He was forced to leave his Freudenthal possessions and escape from the country in 1620. The emperor Ferdinand II (1619–1637) confiscated the Bruntál domain and gave it to his brother Karl I of Austria (1619–1624) who was the Grand Master (Hochmeister) of the Teutonic Order
.
The Freudenthal domain together with other properties of the Teutonic Order
was under the direct administration of the Grand Master and therefore a lieutenancy was established in 1625. The Thirty Years' War
damaged the town significantly and after that conflict, Freudenthal has never achieved its previous importance again. During the 18th century many disasters challenged the town (e.g. the plague in 1714 and 1739, the great fire in 1748 and 1764). Neverthenless, many new baroque buildings were built during this period. Other improvements took place in Freudenthal, a new post office
was established in 1748. Development of industry
could be perceived in Freudenthal during the 19th century. In terms of textile industry, Bruntál belonged to the most important towns in Silesia
. In 1885, a public hospital
was opened as the first in Czech Silesia
. In addition, many new high schools were established during the second half of the 19th century. During Austro-Prussian War
in 1866, Freudenthal was occupied by the Prussian Army and the Freudenthal Castle served as a hospital for soldiers.
According to the Austrian
census of 1910 the town had 8,066 inhabitants, 7,965 of whom had permanent residence there. Census asked people for their native language, 7,939 (99.7%) were German-speaking. Jews
were not allowed to declare Yiddish
, most of them thus declared the German language as their native. Most populous religious groups were Roman Catholics with 7,725 (95.8%), followed by Protestants with 229 (2.8%) and the Jews
with 97 (1.2%).
After the World War I
, a German-led uprising took place in Bruntál but it was suppressed by the Czech Army in December 1918. Between 1919 and 1924, the possessions of the Teutonic Order
in Bruntál were put under the state administration. Within the First Republic of Czechoslovakia
, Bruntál belonged to the towns with significant preponderance of German inhabitants, only a very small Czech minority lived in Bruntál at that times. Not surprisingly, German nationalism
gained many sympathizers among German inhabitants of Bruntál, which was reflected in an attempt for uprising in September 1938. After signing the Munich Agreement
on September 29, 1938, Bruntál was occupied by German troops. Bruntál was liberated by the Soviet army (Red Army
) on May 7, 1945. In 1946 the possessions of the Teutonic Order
were confiscated in accordance with the Decree of the President Edvard Beneš
and transferred to the Czechoslovak Republic
. As was the case in most of the former Czechoslovakia, the German population was forcefully expelled.
is an educational facility aimed at providing a care for children, who has turn at least 2 years, throughout a day. The second level of education (which is perceived as primary education
) is represented by primary schools, where attendance is compulsory for children from their 6 (in certain cases 7) years until they turn 15 years. Various sorts of high schools present the third level of Czech educational system (which is perceived as secondary education
). Individual schools placed in the mentioned category differs in their specialization one another. The supreme level of school system is a university
(which is perceived as higher education
).
According to the mentioned scheme, it is possible to distinguish schools located in Bruntál as follows. There are 6 nursery schools, 5 primary schools, and 6 high schools. In addition, the Business School Ostrava (a private-owned university
style institution) has placed its consultation center into Bruntál. Therefore Bruntál inhabitants were given a chance to study a university
in their own town. Moreover, a special school (in Czech terminology called Speciální škola) provides an education for Bruntál children with specific health difficulties (e.g. mentally affected children). There is also an art school in Bruntál. However, the Czech term Art School refers to a facility operating mostly on the levels of primary
and secondary education
, which is independent of both primary and high schools.
Another notable educational facility is the House of Children and Youth (in Czech terminology Dům dětí a mládeže). This facility is aimed at providing various leisure activities
for children (6–15 years), young people
(15-18), and adults of all ages. Understandably, attendance to this type of educational facility is entirely optional. The current sorts of activities offered by the House of Children and Youth vary from sports (belly dancing, volleyball
, gymnastics
, etc.) to fine arts (pottery
, playing various musical instruments).
The data included in both tables are valid as of the school year 2005/2006. The mentioned data were retrieved from the websites of the respected schools. The official English names of the schools were deliberately created by author, because any official English names of the mentioned educational facilities were not found.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: Vallis Gaudiorum, Vrudental) is a town located near the western boundary of Moravian-Silesian Region
Moravian-Silesian Region
Moravian-Silesian Region , or Moravo-Silesian Region, is one of 14 administrative Regions of the Czech Republic, until May 2001 it was formerly called the Ostrava Region . The region is located in the north-eastern part of its historical region of Moravia and in most of the Czech part of the...
, in Czech Silesia
Czech Silesia
Czech Silesia is an unofficial name of one of the three Czech lands and a section of the Silesian historical region. It is located in the north-east of the Czech Republic, predominantly in the Moravian-Silesian Region, with a section in the northern Olomouc Region...
. A suitable position in the middle of the Jeseníky Mountains provides an ample number of touristic opportunities to the town. The cultural importance of Bruntál lies in its possession of a Baroque castle and many historical buildings.
Geography
Bruntál is situated between the Hrubý Jeseník mountains and the rolling hills of the Nízký Jeseník mountains. The town lies in a valley surrounded by several hills (Uhlířský vrch, 672 m; Vodárenský vrch, 599 m; Zadní Zelený vrch, 563 m; Kozinec, 639 m). The Black Creek (Černý potok) with its tributaries, the Oak Creek (Bukový potok), the Mare Creek (Kobylí potok), and the Waterworks Creek (Vodárenský potok), run through Bruntál. The Mare Pond (Kobylí rybník) is located in the middle of the town. The Oak Pond (Bukový rybník), with a surface area of 5 ha, lies almost 1 km northwest of the town. A dam reservoir the Slezská Harta, 870 ha of sheet in size, is located approximately 5 km southeast of the town. There are many residues resembling volcanic activity which took place in the QuaternaryQuaternary
The Quaternary Period is the most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the ICS. It follows the Neogene Period, spanning 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present...
era. Uhlířský vrch (672 m), Venušina sopka (655 m), Velký Roudný (780 m), Malý Roudný (770) and others belong among extinct volcanos. These volcanoes are a part of the Slunečná Highlands (Slunečná vrchovina). The Slunečná Highlands is 16 km long and it lies southwards from Bruntál to Moravský Beroun, it includes the highest mountain of the Nízký Jeseník mountains, Mount Slunečná (800 m).
Geology
Bruntál belongs to the Czech Massif which is the main geologic structure in the Czech Republic. Bruntál lies in the Moravian-Silesian Unit which is a preplatform unit formed until the end of the Variscan orogenyVariscan orogeny
The Variscan orogeny is a geologic mountain-building event caused by Late Paleozoic continental collision between Euramerica and Gondwana to form the supercontinent of Pangaea.-Naming:...
(Hercynian orogeny). Bruntál is a part of the region consisting foremost of sedimentary rocks formed during the Mississippian Epoch of the Carboniferous
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
period. In terms of Czech geology, this geologic period is called kulm. The mentioned region stretches from Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
to Krnov
Krnov
Krnov is an Upper Silesian city in the northeastern Czech Republic, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, the District of Bruntál, on the Opava River, near the Polish border....
.
The main geologic formations distributed across the town and its surroundings are turbidite
Turbidite
Turbidite geological formations have their origins in turbidity current deposits, which are deposits from a form of underwater avalanche that are responsible for distributing vast amounts of clastic sediment into the deep ocean.-The ideal turbidite sequence:...
s. The most common rock in the area is slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
. In the west of the town slate enriched by apatite
Apatite
Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, usually referring to hydroxylapatite, fluorapatite, chlorapatite and bromapatite, named for high concentrations of OH−, F−, Cl− or Br− ions, respectively, in the crystal...
and zircon
Zircon
Zircon is a mineral belonging to the group of nesosilicates. Its chemical name is zirconium silicate and its corresponding chemical formula is ZrSiO4. A common empirical formula showing some of the range of substitution in zircon is 1–x4x–y...
can be found. In the east of the town lighter forms of slate occur. Fluvial
Fluvial
Fluvial is used in geography and Earth science to refer to the processes associated with rivers and streams and the deposits and landforms created by them...
sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
s and rubble
Rubble
Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture. This word is closely connected in derivation with "rubbish", which was formerly also applied to what we now call "rubble". Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as brash...
together with deluvial sediments of clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
and sand origin lie along the rivers and creeks. Eluvial sediments prevail in the west part of the town.
The most remarkable geologic site in the surroundings of the town is Uhlířský vrch. Originally, Uhlířský vrch was a stratovolcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
(compositive volcano) formed by both explosive and effusive eruptions, thus it is composed of pyroclastic rocks. 40-80% of the mentioned pyroclastic rocks consist of lapilli
Lapilli
Lapilli is a size classification term for tephra, which is material that falls out of the air during a volcanic eruption or during some meteorite impacts. Lapilli means "little stones" in Latin. They are in some senses similar to ooids or pisoids in calcareous sediments.By definition lapilli range...
, 10-50% consist of volcanic bombs, the rest is made from volcanic ash
Volcanic ash
Volcanic ash consists of small tephra, which are bits of pulverized rock and glass created by volcanic eruptions, less than in diameter. There are three mechanisms of volcanic ash formation: gas release under decompression causing magmatic eruptions; thermal contraction from chilling on contact...
. In addition, it is possible to perceive a frequent occurrence of metamorphic
Metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock is the transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith is subjected to heat and pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change...
xenolith
Xenolith
A xenolith is a rock fragment which becomes enveloped in a larger rock during the latter's development and hardening. In geology, the term xenolith is almost exclusively used to describe inclusions in igneous rock during magma emplacement and eruption...
s dated back to the Mississippian Epoch of the Carboniferous
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
period. The colors of the pyroclastic rocks vary from brown to yellow. The older effusive eruptions resulted in an occurrence of nepheline basalt
Nephelinite
Nephelinite is a fine-grained or aphanitic igneous rock made up almost entirely of nepheline and clinopyroxene . If olivine is present, the rock may be classified as an olivine nephelinite. Nephelinite is dark in color and may resemble basalt in hand specimen...
and nephelinite
Nephelinite
Nephelinite is a fine-grained or aphanitic igneous rock made up almost entirely of nepheline and clinopyroxene . If olivine is present, the rock may be classified as an olivine nephelinite. Nephelinite is dark in color and may resemble basalt in hand specimen...
. The effusive phase is approximately 2.4 ± 0.5 million years old and therefore it dates back to the Pliocene
Pliocene
The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...
(also called Pleiocene) and Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
Epoch
Geologic time scale
The geologic time scale provides a system of chronologic measurement relating stratigraphy to time that is used by geologists, paleontologists and other earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred during the history of the Earth...
.
History
The only source referring to the founding of the town is the Uničov Charter issued by Czech king Přemysl I OtakarOttokar I of Bohemia
-External links:...
(1155–1230) in 1223. There it is stated that the town of Bruntál was the first town in Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
that had been granted Magdeburg Rights
Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg Rights or Magdeburg Law were a set of German town laws regulating the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages granted by a local ruler. Modelled and named after the laws of the German city of Magdeburg and developed during many centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, it was...
ten years before the issue of the charter. Possession of these rights shows the importance of the town because Magdeburg Rights
Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg Rights or Magdeburg Law were a set of German town laws regulating the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages granted by a local ruler. Modelled and named after the laws of the German city of Magdeburg and developed during many centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, it was...
are considered as one of the most remarkable set of Germanic medieval city laws. The reasons leading the king Přemysl I Otakar to pursuit a founding of a new town were twofold. The northern border of Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
had faced many attempts of colonization under auspices of the Bishops of Breslau (Wrocław) so the necessity to prevent these actions was obvious. Also a discovery of ore deposits in the surroundings of Bruntál contributed to establishing the town. These facts have made historians assume Bruntál was founded by Vladislav Jindřich
Vladislaus III of Bohemia
Vladislaus III Henry was the youngest son of Vladislaus II and younger brother of Ottokar I. On June 22, 1197, he was elected Duke of Bohemia. Faced with an uprising in favour of Ottokar, Vladislaus abdicated a few months later on December 6...
, the Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
of Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, in 1213.
The mining of noble metal
Noble metal
Noble metals are metals that are resistant to corrosion and oxidation in moist air, unlike most base metals. They tend to be precious, often due to their rarity in the Earth's crust...
s contributed to emerging of the town significantly, which was reflected by the first appearance of Bruntál coat of arms
Bruntal symbols
-Bruntal Coat of Arms:An azure shield is a background of the coat of arms. It consists of a valley surrounded by two rocks wooded by vert trees. There is an adit located in the rock on the right...
dated back to 1287. The town became a center of local crafts and trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
. In addition, endowing with Magdeburg Rights
Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg Rights or Magdeburg Law were a set of German town laws regulating the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages granted by a local ruler. Modelled and named after the laws of the German city of Magdeburg and developed during many centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, it was...
Bruntál was the highest appellate jurisdiction for even Olomouc
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
until 1352. Originally, Bruntál belonged to the domain of Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
n Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
s but in 1269 Bruntál was in part transferred into the possession of the Dukes of Opava and finally they took control over the whole Bruntál territory in 1318. Between 1385 and 1467 (1473) Bruntál was severally mortgaged and sold. Finally, the Lords of Vrbno gained Bruntál into their domain.
The first person of the House of Vrbno was John of Bruntál and Vrbno, reigning from 1576 to 1577. His heirs, who had not reached their legal age at the time of the death of their father, were given the domain of Bruntál in 1506 by the Princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
Barbara
Barbara
-People:* Barbara , people with the given name Barbara* Etienne Barbara , Maltese soccer player* Barbara , stage name of French singer Monique Andrée Serf-Places:* Barbara , ancient region in the Horn of Africa...
of Opava, Ratiboř, and Krnov upon a condition of being a close ally to the Principality of Krnov. But the Lords of Vrbno preferred ties with the Principality of Opava and therefore they managed to gain an approval from Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia
Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia
Louis II was King of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia from 1516 to 1526.- Early life :Louis was the son of Ladislaus II Jagiellon and his third wife, Anne de Foix....
in 1523 which granted an embodying of Bruntál domain into the Principality of Opava. The most important owner of Bruntál domain was Hynek The Older of Vrbno reigning from 1582 to 1596 who enjoyed a respect from the emperors Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
(1526–1564), Maximilian II
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
(1564–1576), and Rudolf II
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
(1576–1612). The last Lord of Vrbno was Hynek The Younger of Vrbno reigning from 1613 to 1614.
Intensive mining backed by the Lords of Würbenthal led to a founding of several neighbouring towns (e.g. Andělská Hora about 1550, Vrbno pod Pradědem
Vrbno pod Pradedem
Vrbno pod Pradědem is a town in the Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic. It is located on the Opava River and has 6,072 inhabitants.According to the Austrian census of 1910 the town had 3,614 inhabitants, 3,519 of whom had permanent residence there. Census asked people for their native...
in 1611). In addition, many kinds of industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
took place at these times (e.g. smithery at Suchá Rudná in 1405 and Mezina
Mezina
Mezina is a village in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 250 inhabitants.According to the Austrian census of 1910 the village had 621 inhabitants, 620 of whom had permanent residence there. Census asked people for their native language, 620 were German-speaking...
in 1567, 7 timber mills in 1579). In May 1617 Bruntál was bought by the last Lord of Vrbno John IV of Vrbno, who joined the Uprising of the Estates
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
and gained a rank of the Director in 1619. His close ties to the "Winter King" Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
, who was John's guest in February 1620, posed him into a very dangerous circumstances after the Battle of White Mountain
Battle of White Mountain
The Battle of White Mountain, 8 November 1620 was an early battle in the Thirty Years' War in which an army of 30,000 Bohemians and mercenaries under Christian of Anhalt were routed by 27,000 men of the combined armies of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor under Charles Bonaventure de Longueval,...
in1620. He was forced to leave his Freudenthal possessions and escape from the country in 1620. The emperor Ferdinand II (1619–1637) confiscated the Bruntál domain and gave it to his brother Karl I of Austria (1619–1624) who was the Grand Master (Hochmeister) of the Teutonic Order
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
.
The Freudenthal domain together with other properties of the Teutonic Order
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
was under the direct administration of the Grand Master and therefore a lieutenancy was established in 1625. The Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
damaged the town significantly and after that conflict, Freudenthal has never achieved its previous importance again. During the 18th century many disasters challenged the town (e.g. the plague in 1714 and 1739, the great fire in 1748 and 1764). Neverthenless, many new baroque buildings were built during this period. Other improvements took place in Freudenthal, a new post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was established in 1748. Development of industry
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
could be perceived in Freudenthal during the 19th century. In terms of textile industry, Bruntál belonged to the most important towns in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
. In 1885, a public hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
was opened as the first in Czech Silesia
Czech Silesia
Czech Silesia is an unofficial name of one of the three Czech lands and a section of the Silesian historical region. It is located in the north-east of the Czech Republic, predominantly in the Moravian-Silesian Region, with a section in the northern Olomouc Region...
. In addition, many new high schools were established during the second half of the 19th century. During Austro-Prussian War
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
in 1866, Freudenthal was occupied by the Prussian Army and the Freudenthal Castle served as a hospital for soldiers.
According to the Austrian
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
census of 1910 the town had 8,066 inhabitants, 7,965 of whom had permanent residence there. Census asked people for their native language, 7,939 (99.7%) were German-speaking. Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
were not allowed to declare Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
, most of them thus declared the German language as their native. Most populous religious groups were Roman Catholics with 7,725 (95.8%), followed by Protestants with 229 (2.8%) and the Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
with 97 (1.2%).
After the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, a German-led uprising took place in Bruntál but it was suppressed by the Czech Army in December 1918. Between 1919 and 1924, the possessions of the Teutonic Order
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
in Bruntál were put under the state administration. Within the First Republic of Czechoslovakia
First Republic of Czechoslovakia
-Independence:The Czechoslovak declaration of independence was published by the Czechoslovak National Council, signed by Masaryk, Štefánik and Beneš on October 18, 1918 in Paris, and proclaimed on October 28 in Prague...
, Bruntál belonged to the towns with significant preponderance of German inhabitants, only a very small Czech minority lived in Bruntál at that times. Not surprisingly, German nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
gained many sympathizers among German inhabitants of Bruntál, which was reflected in an attempt for uprising in September 1938. After signing the Munich Agreement
Munich Agreement
The Munich Pact was an agreement permitting the Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. The Sudetenland were areas along Czech borders, mainly inhabited by ethnic Germans. The agreement was negotiated at a conference held in Munich, Germany, among the major powers of Europe without...
on September 29, 1938, Bruntál was occupied by German troops. Bruntál was liberated by the Soviet army (Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
) on May 7, 1945. In 1946 the possessions of the Teutonic Order
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
were confiscated in accordance with the Decree of the President Edvard Beneš
Edvard Beneš
Edvard Beneš was a leader of the Czechoslovak independence movement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the second President of Czechoslovakia. He was known to be a skilled diplomat.- Youth :...
and transferred to the Czechoslovak Republic
Czechoslovakia: 1945-1948
During World War II, Czechoslovakia disappeared from the map of Europe. The re-emergence of Czechoslovakia as a sovereign state was not only the result of the policies of the victorious Western allies, France, Britain, and the United States, but also an indication of the strength of the...
. As was the case in most of the former Czechoslovakia, the German population was forcefully expelled.
Education
A wide arrange of educational facilities is available in Bruntál. Czech educational system distinguishes four basic levels of schools. A nursery schoolNursery school
A nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and five years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare...
is an educational facility aimed at providing a care for children, who has turn at least 2 years, throughout a day. The second level of education (which is perceived as primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
) is represented by primary schools, where attendance is compulsory for children from their 6 (in certain cases 7) years until they turn 15 years. Various sorts of high schools present the third level of Czech educational system (which is perceived as secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
). Individual schools placed in the mentioned category differs in their specialization one another. The supreme level of school system is a university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
(which is perceived as higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
).
According to the mentioned scheme, it is possible to distinguish schools located in Bruntál as follows. There are 6 nursery schools, 5 primary schools, and 6 high schools. In addition, the Business School Ostrava (a private-owned university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
style institution) has placed its consultation center into Bruntál. Therefore Bruntál inhabitants were given a chance to study a university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in their own town. Moreover, a special school (in Czech terminology called Speciální škola) provides an education for Bruntál children with specific health difficulties (e.g. mentally affected children). There is also an art school in Bruntál. However, the Czech term Art School refers to a facility operating mostly on the levels of primary
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
, which is independent of both primary and high schools.
Another notable educational facility is the House of Children and Youth (in Czech terminology Dům dětí a mládeže). This facility is aimed at providing various leisure activities
Leisure
Leisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It is also the periods of time before or after necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education....
for children (6–15 years), young people
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
(15-18), and adults of all ages. Understandably, attendance to this type of educational facility is entirely optional. The current sorts of activities offered by the House of Children and Youth vary from sports (belly dancing, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, etc.) to fine arts (pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
, playing various musical instruments).
| Primary Schools | |||
| Official Name | Teacher Staff | Number of Pupils | External link |
| Bruntál Elementary School, Cihelní 6 | 29 | 489 | http://www.zscihelni.cz |
| Bruntál Elementary School, Jesenická 10 | 44 | 691 | http://www.1zsbr.cz/ |
| Bruntál Elementary School, Okružní 38 | 33 | 479 | http://www.zsbrok.cz |
| Bruntál Elementary School and City Eight-Year Grammar School, Školní 2 | 35 | 405 | http://www.zsamog.bruntal.cz |
| AMOS Elementary School, o.p.s. | 9 | 47 | N/A |
| Secondary Schools | ||||
| Official Name | Foundation | Teacher Staff | Number of Students | External link |
| Bruntál Grammar School, Dukelská 1 | 1946 | 27 | 344 | http://www.gymbru.cz/ |
| Bruntál High School of Industry, Kavalcova 1 | 1962 | 49 | 425 | http://www.sps-br.cz/ |
| Bruntál High School of Services, Dukelská 5 | 1945 | 59 | N/A | http://www.soubruntal.cz/skolal.html |
| Bruntál High School of Craft Industry, Krnovská 9 | 1958 | N/A | N/A | http://www.zsamog.bruntal.cz |
| City Eight-Year Grammar School, Školní 2 | 1926 | 29 | 209 | http://www.zsamog.bruntal.cz |
| Commercial Academy and High School of Agriculture, Žižkovo Náměstí 10 | 1960 | 29 | 335 | http://www.oaz.cz/ |
The data included in both tables are valid as of the school year 2005/2006. The mentioned data were retrieved from the websites of the respected schools. The official English names of the schools were deliberately created by author, because any official English names of the mentioned educational facilities were not found.
People
- Engelbert Adam
- Irena Anders (née Jarosiewicz)Irena AndersIrena Anders was a Polish stage actress and singer. During WWII she worked in the troupe of Henryk Wars, giving performances for the Polish Armed Forces in the West...
(born 1920, here), a Polish-Czech actress - Koloman Bitto
- Ida Kelarová (née Bittová) (1956, here), singer
- Iva BittováIva BittováIva Bittová is a Czech avant-garde violinist, singer and composer. She began her career as an actress in the mid 1970s, appearing in several Czech feature films, but switched to playing violin and singing in the early 1980s. She started recording in 1986 and by 1990 her unique vocal and...
(born 1958, here), a Roma-origin avant-garde violinist, singer, composer
- Leo GudasLeo GudasLeo Gudas is a Czech hockey player who won a Bronze Medal in the 1992 Olympics.-Draft:Gudas was the second last player taken in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, going 251st overall to the Calgary Flames....
(born 1965, here), a Czech hockey player
- Viktor Heeger
- Sigfried "Siggi" Held (born 1942, here), a football player, acted in Germany
- Jörg Konrad Hoensch (1935, here - 2001) (de)
- Wilhelm JahnWilhelm JahnWilhelm Jahn was an Austro-Hungarian conductor. He served as director of the Vienna Court Opera from 1880 to 1897 and principal conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra from 1882 to 1883. He gave the partial premiere of Bruckner's Symphony No. 6, performing the middle two movements in 1883....
(1835, Dvorce u Bruntálu, near here - 1900), an Austro-Hungarian conductor - Rudolf KoppitzRudolf KoppitzRudolf Koppitz was a Czechoslovak photographer, often credited as Viennese or Austrian, and photo-secessionist whose work is seen as maintaining the photographic style of pictorialism well past its heyday in light of the straight photography and modernist movements in photography at that time and...
(1884, Schreiberseifen, near here - 1936), a photographer - Joseph Franz Krones (1797–1832), actor
- Therese KronesTherese KronesTherese Krones was an Austrian actress of much ability and grace in comic parts. She was born at Freudenthal of parents who were engaged in the theatrical business....
, actress, acted in Austria
- Therese Krones
- Martin LukešMartin LukešMartin Lukeš is a Czech football player who currently plays for FC Baník Ostrava. He is the captain of the club....
(born 1978, here), a Czech football player
- Hana MachováHana MachováHana Horáková is a female basketball player from the Czech Republic who plays for Fenerbahçe Istanbul. She was a member of the national team that won the European title in 2005 by defeating Russia in the final...
(born 1979, here), a Czech female basketball player - Oldřich MachalaOldrich MachalaOldřich Machala is a Czech football coach and a former player.Machala played most of his Gambrinus liga career for SK Sigma Olomouc, for which he earned 414 league caps, most in the club's history. He is considered a legendary footballer of the club...
(born 1963, here), a Czech football coach, player - Emerich Machold
- Friedrich Nather (1924, here - 2009, OberstaufenOberstaufenOberstaufen is a municipality in the district of Oberallgäu in Bavarian Swabia, Germany, situated on the B 308 road from Lindau to Immenstadt.-History:It is first mentioned as Stoufun in AD 868...
), engineer (de) - Wolfgang Niesner (1925–1994), graphic artist
- Hertha Scholz-Peschke (born 1929)
- Rudolf Templer
- Bruno Hanns Wittek (1895–1935), lyricist, author
- Wolfgang Peter Woseipka (born 1939), artist
Residents
- Karl Anton Gebauer (1872, BennischHorní BenešovHorní Benešov is a small town in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic.Benešov has a long mining tradition. It started as a mining settlement at the beginning of the 13th century. The town was officially founded in 1253, and the rights were confirmed in 1271 by the Bohemian King...
- 1942) (cs) - Walter Gotschke (1912, Bennisch - 2000, RangendingenRangendingenRangendingen is a town in the Zollernalbkreis district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.- References :...
) (de) - Johann Christoph HandkeJohann Christoph Handke- Works :...
, livd here
Twin Cities
| Twin towns Town twinning Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :... |
||||
| City | Region/Country | Beginning of Cooperation | External link | |
| Büdingen |  |
Hesse Hesse Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state... /Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
1999 | http://www.buedingen24.net |
| Castellarano Castellarano Castellarano is a comune in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 45 km west of Bologna and about 20 km southeast of Reggio Emilia... |
 |
RE Re Re, bre, moré is an interjection common to Cypriot Greek, the languages of the Balkans, Turkish, and Venetian, with its "locus... more in the Greek world than elsewhere". It is used in colloquial speech to gain someone's attention, add emphasis, insult, or express surprise or astonishment, like... /Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
2002 | http://www.comune.castellarano.re.it/ |
| Opole Opole Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County... |
 |
Opole Voivodship/Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
1992 | http://www.opole.pl |
| Plungė Plunge Plungė is a city in Lithuania with 23,246 inhabitants. It has a crab stick factory which exports to many countries in Europe.Before World War II, Plunge had a large Jewish population.- History :... |
 |
Samogitia Samogitia Samogitia is one of the five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. It is located in northwestern Lithuania. Its largest city is Šiauliai/Šiaulē. The region has a long and distinct cultural history, reflected in the existence of the Samogitian dialect... /Lithuania Lithuania Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark... |
2005 | http://www.plunge.lt/ |
| Štúrovo Štúrovo Štúrovo is a town in Slovakia, situated on the River Danube. Its population in 2005 was 11,172.The town is situated opposite the Hungarian city of Esztergom. The Mária Valéria bridge connects the settlements. The bridge was destroyed in 1944 during World War II, but reconstructed in... |
 |
Nitra region Nitra Region The Nitra Region is one of the administrative regions of Slovakia.-Geography:This region with a long history is situated in the southwest of Slovakia, mostly in the eastern part of the Danubian Lowland. It is divided into two sub-units: the Danubian Flat in the south-west, with eastern part of the... /Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
2002 | http://www.sturovo.sk/ |