Kyjov (Czech pronunciation: [ˈkɪjof]; German: Gaya or Geyen) is a town in Hodonín District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 11,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Kyjov
Masarykovo Square
Masarykovo Square
Flag of Kyjov
Coat of arms of Kyjov
Kyjov is located in Czech Republic
Kyjov
Kyjov
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°0′37″N 17°7′21″E / 49.01028°N 17.12250°E / 49.01028; 17.12250
Country Czech Republic
RegionSouth Moravian
DistrictHodonín
First mentioned1126
Government
 • MayorFrantišek Lukl
Area
 • Total29.88 km2 (11.54 sq mi)
Elevation
192 m (630 ft)
Population
 (2024-01-01)[1]
 • Total10,799
 • Density360/km2 (940/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
697 01
Websitewww.mestokyjov.cz

Administrative parts

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The villages of Bohuslavice, Boršov and Nětčice are administrative parts of Kyjov.

Geography

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Kyjov is located about 17 kilometres (11 mi) north of Hodonín. Most of the municipal territory lies in the Kyjov Hills, only a small northern part lies in the Chřiby highlands. The highest point is the hill Lenivá hora at 463 m (1,519 ft) above sea level. The town is situated in the valley of the Kyjovka River.

History

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Kyjov in 1727

The first written mention of Kyjov is from 1126. Until 1539, it was a property of the Hradisko Monastery. In the 12th century, a Romanesque church and new market place were established here. In 1201, Kyjov is first referred to as a market town. In 1284, King Wenceslaus II allowed to fortify the market town. Kyjov had no funds for the stone walls and built only wooden palisades.[2]

Due to financial difficulties of the monastery, in the 14th and 15th centuries, Kyjov was pawned to various lower nobles. In 1515, Kyjov became a town. The monastery sold the town in 1539. After it changed its owners few times, in 1548, Kyjov became a royal town, received a royal promise not to be sold or pawned again, and gained an advantageous position that led to further development. The town had repaired buildings, had built three town gates and new Renaissance town hall, and acquired new properties.[2]

In 1710, the first Capuchins came to Kyjov. They had built a new church. In 1784, the Capuchin monastery was abolished. From 1784 to 1848, the town was in good economic condition and expanded. In the second half of the 19th century, Kyjov has a German speaking minory, which included Jewish population.[2]

Until 1918, Kyjov was part of Austria-Hungary, head of the district with the same name, one of the 34 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in Moravia.[3]

Demographics

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As of 2024, with an average age of 46.4 years, the town has one of the oldest populations in the country, and the oldest among the cities and towns with a population of over 10,000.[1]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18695,185—    
18805,564+7.3%
18906,079+9.3%
19006,819+12.2%
19107,397+8.5%
YearPop.±%
19217,265−1.8%
19307,299+0.5%
19507,644+4.7%
19619,081+18.8%
197010,792+18.8%
YearPop.±%
198012,632+17.0%
199112,920+2.3%
200112,413−3.9%
201111,462−7.7%
202111,002−4.0%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Transport

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Kyjov train station

Kyjov is located on the railway line from Brno to Uherské Hradiště. It is served by three train stations and stops: Kyjov, Kyjov zastávka and Bohuslavice u Kyjova.[6]

Culture

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Kyjov is a centre of regional folklore. The town lies in the cultural region of Moravian Slovakia. The festival Slovácký rok ("Moravian Slovakian Year") is the oldest Moravian folklore festival. It has taken place here since 1921 every four years.[7]

Kyjov participated and won silver in the 2008 Entente Florale Europe, which is an international horticultural competition.[8]

Sights

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Town hall

The historic centre is formed by the Masarykovo Square and the nearest surroundings. In the middle of the square is a Marian column from the 1720s. The square is dominated by the Renaissance town hall. It was built by Italian architects in 1561–1562. It is decorated by sgraffiti and has a 39 metres (128 ft)-high tower.[9] Since 2024, it has been protected as a national cultural monument.[10]

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is also located on the town square. It was built in 1713–1720 and extended in 1734. Under the church is a Capuchin tomb with 40 coffins.[11]

The Chateau is the oldest preserved building in the town. It was built in the first half of the 16th century as a manor house and gradually served various purposes. In 1911, it was reconstructed and decorated by sgraffiti. Since 1928, it houses the Kyjov Ethnographic Museum with archeological, ethnographic and natural science expositions.[12]

Notable people

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Twin towns – sister cities

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Kyjov is twinned with:[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 17 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Historie Kyjova" (in Czech). Město Kyjov. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  3. ^ Die postalischen Abstempelungen auf den österreichischen Postwertzeichen-Ausgaben 1867, 1883 und 1890, Wilhelm Klein, 1967
  4. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 21 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 27 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Detail stanice Kyjov" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Slovácký rok" (in Czech). Slovácký rok. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Kyjov: Entente florale se dostává do povědomí veřejnosti" (in Czech). Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Procházka městem" (in Czech). Město Kyjov. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Radnice" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie" (in Czech). Město Kyjov. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Zámeček" (in Czech). Město Kyjov. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Partnerská města" (in Czech). Město Kyjov. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
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