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Valtice
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<h2 id="administrative-division">Administrative division</h2> <p>Valtice consists of two municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>Valtice (3,353)</li> <li>Úvaly (172)</li></ul> <h2 id="geography">Geography</h2> <p>Valtice is located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) west of <a href="/facts/B%25C5%2599eclav/xMxu67G8">Břeclav</a> and 50 km (31 mi) south of <a href="/facts/Brno/jRsKTI4s">Brno</a>. It lies on the border with <a href="/facts/Austria/4qWIMIyc">Austria</a> and borders the Austrian municipality of <a href="/facts/Schrattenberg/byMp4l5G">Schrattenberg</a>. Valtice lies in the <a href="/facts/Lower_Morava_Valley/7vj80yos">Lower Morava Valley</a> lowland. The highest point is the hill Chrastiny at 292 m (958 ft) above sea level. </p> <h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Valtice Castle, then part of <a href="/facts/Duchy_of_Austria/7JtPYSYw">Duchy of Austria</a> and called Feldsberg, was probably founded in the 11th century.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> The first written mention of the village of Feldsberg is in a 1192 deed (as <i>Veldesperch</i>); held by the Lords of <a href="/facts/Seefeld-Kadolz/HCevMpPr">Seefeld</a>, it was located close to the border with <a href="/facts/Margraviate_of_Moravia/g1vfbqL3">Moravia</a>. Probably between 1192 and 1227, Feldsberg became a town. In 1270, lords of Seefeld died out and the estate, divided into six parts with different owners, changed hands several times. Between 1387 and 1395, the <a href="/facts/House_of_Liechtenstein/7XVfJ3ft">House of Liechtenstein</a> gradually acquired the entire estate.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>During the <a href="/facts/Hussite_Wars/pmqw46Mr">Hussite Wars</a>, the Liechtenstein were on the side of <a href="/facts/Sigismund%2c_Holy_Roman_Emperor/loG9hn3o">Sigismund</a>. In 1426, the town was burned out by the <a href="/facts/Hussites/k9j4Legg">Hussites</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> The town was again devastated by the troops of the <a href="/facts/Kingdom_of_Bohemia/xLRecLL1">Bohemian</a> king <a href="/facts/George_of_Pod%25C4%259Bbrady/anGQYJUz">George of Poděbrady</a> in 1458 as well as in the <a href="/facts/Austrian%25E2%2580%2593Hungarian_War_(1477%25E2%2580%259388)/WdArQpVr">Austrian–Hungarian War</a> by the forces of King <a href="/facts/Matthias_Corvinus/mQ4pNCCo">Matthias Corvinus</a> in 1480. The renewal and prosperity occurred in the first half of the 16th century, during the rule of Hartman I of Liechtenstein.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>In the mid 16th century, the citizens converted to <a href="/facts/Protestant_Reformation/9ClEbhnL">Protestantism</a>; however they were subjected to the measures of the <a href="/facts/Counter-Reformation/NLk0bSr6">Counter-Reformation</a> under the rule of <a href="/facts/Karl_I%2c_Prince_of_Liechtenstein/au47klUc">Karl I of Liechtenstein</a>, who himself had converted to <a href="/facts/Catholic_Church/rJ4F4gqH">Catholicism</a> in 1599. During the <a href="/facts/Thirty_Years%2527_War/7bgcxoxf">Thirty Years' War</a>, the town was again plundered by the troops under the command of <a href="/facts/Gabriel_Bethlen/hQklxosw">Gabriel Bethlen</a> in 1619, by the troops of <a href="/facts/Henri_Duval%2c_Count_of_Dampierre/snIe0zTn">Henri Duval Dampierre</a> in the same year, and later conquered by <a href="/facts/Swedish_Empire/BxlrttWF">Swedish</a> forces under General <a href="/facts/Lennart_Torstensson/L4UQ94cX">Lennart Torstensson</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>After the war, the town became the principal seat of the Liechtensteins. Prince <a href="/facts/Karl_Eusebius%2c_Prince_of_Liechtenstein/Kcpa7voX">Karl Eusebius</a> had rebuilt the castle and had built a new parish church, finished in 1671. He also issued an order to establish forests east from the town. His descendants continued his work. His son and later his nephew had extended the castle and had the monastery of the <a href="/facts/Brothers_Hospitallers_of_Saint_John_of_God/BNcQMcpK">Brothers Hospitallers</a> built. The overall appearance of the town changed greatly between 1648 and 1781.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>Until the end of <a href="/facts/World_War_I/vITTUanQ">World War I</a>, the town belonged to <a href="/facts/Lower_Austria/1IVpdrKx">Lower Austria</a>. According to the 1919 <a href="/facts/Treaty_of_Saint-Germain-en-Laye_(1919)/pF4eTPUH">Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye</a>, the town and its surroundings were annexed by newly established <a href="/facts/Czechoslovakia/9A6Kzmr0">Czechoslovakia</a> and was renamed Valtice. The main reason was the requirement that the entire Znojmo–Břeclav railway line, a branch of the former <a href="/facts/Emperor_Ferdinand_Northern_Railway/zyw5pCXc">Emperor Ferdinand Northern Railway</a>, remain inside Czechoslovak territory. The Liechtenstein princely family lost its privileges with the collapse of <a href="/facts/Austria-Hungary/9WPUPj0W">Austria-Hungary</a>. Valtice served as the Liechtenstein's residence continuously until 1939. The town was occupied by <a href="/facts/Nazi_Germany/8kRbqRpo">Nazi Germany</a> upon the 1938 <a href="/facts/Munich_Agreement/r4o68xnA">Munich Agreement</a> and incorporated into the <i><a href="/facts/Reichsgau_Niederdonau/ztHC40TY">Reichsgau Niederdonau</a></i>. After <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a> the remaining German population was <a href="/facts/Expulsion_of_Germans_from_Czechoslovakia/nzbxukqY">expelled</a> and the castle was confiscated by the Czechoslovak government; all claims for restitution have been rejected.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="demographics">Demographics</h2> Historical population<table><tbody><tr><td><table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Pop.</th><th>±%</th></tr><tr><th>1869</th><td>2,946</td><td>— </td></tr><tr><th>1880</th><td>3,435</td><td>+16.6%</td></tr><tr><th>1890</th><td>3,659</td><td>+6.5%</td></tr><tr><th>1900</th><td>3,742</td><td>+2.3%</td></tr><tr><th>1910</th><td>4,059</td><td>+8.5%</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Pop.</th><th>±%</th></tr><tr><th>1921</th><td>3,959</td><td>−2.5%</td></tr><tr><th>1930</th><td>4,125</td><td>+4.2%</td></tr><tr><th>1950</th><td>3,432</td><td>−16.8%</td></tr><tr><th>1961</th><td>3,314</td><td>−3.4%</td></tr><tr><th>1970</th><td>3,495</td><td>+5.5%</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Pop.</th><th>±%</th></tr><tr><th>1980</th><td>3,583</td><td>+2.5%</td></tr><tr><th>1991</th><td>3,554</td><td>−0.8%</td></tr><tr><th>2001</th><td>3,630</td><td>+2.1%</td></tr><tr><th>2011</th><td>3,652</td><td>+0.6%</td></tr><tr><th>2021</th><td>3,525</td><td>−3.5%</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Source: Censuses<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="economy">Economy</h2> <p>Valtice lies in the centre of <a href="/facts/Mikulovsk%25C3%25A1_wine/LLbNYqtx">Mikulovská wine</a> subregion. The town is known as a centre of <a href="/facts/Czech_wine/Ju6rrA1L">wine making in Moravia</a>. Both the National Wine Centre and the Wine Salon of the Czech Republic reside in the Valtice Château. </p> <h2 id="transport">Transport</h2> <p>The I/40 road from <a href="/facts/B%25C5%2599eclav/xMxu67G8">Břeclav</a> to <a href="/facts/Mikulov/MngakmK6">Mikulov</a> passes through the town. </p><p>Valtice is located on the Břeclav–<a href="/facts/Znojmo/evxxDCuW">Znojmo</a> railway line. It is served by two stations and stops: <i>Valtice</i> and <i>Valtice město</i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="culture">Culture</h2> <p>The annual <a href="/facts/Valtice_Wine_Market/rw70N8aq">Valtice Wine Market</a> wine exhibition is held in the château <a href="/facts/Riding_hall/rxbJ42Rs">riding hall</a> at the beginning of May. </p> <h2 id="sights">Sights</h2> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Lednice%25E2%2580%2593Valtice_Cultural_Landscape/C8q5T3IR">Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape</a></p> <p>Valtice contains one of the most impressive <a href="/facts/Baroque_architecture/l9QT8K91">Baroque</a> residences of <a href="/facts/Central_Europe/VdxzSbJz">Central Europe</a>. It was designed as the seat of the <a href="/facts/House_of_Liechtenstein/7XVfJ3ft">ruling princes of Liechtenstein</a> by <a href="/facts/Johann_Bernhard_Fischer_von_Erlach/M8cqdfrs">Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach</a> in the early 18th century. Together with the neighbouring manor of <a href="/facts/Lednice/x8StInyR">Lednice</a>, to which it is connected by a 7 km (4 mi) long lime-tree avenue, Valtice forms the <a href="/facts/Lednice%25E2%2580%2593Valtice_Cultural_Landscape/C8q5T3IR">Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape</a>, a UNESCO <a href="/facts/World_Heritage_Site/6AbWWKV4">World Heritage Site</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p><p>The main features of the Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape located in Valtice are the castle surrounded by an <a href="/facts/English_landscape_garden/NPoHHruP">English park</a> with a <a href="/facts/Colonnade/7LP0xBhk">colonnade</a> in the <a href="/facts/Neoclassical_architecture/tKdIuJwx">Neoclassical style</a>, and the Temple of <a href="/facts/Diana_(mythology)/RrBXyb0F">Diana</a> from 1812 designed by <a href="/facts/Joseph_Hardtmuth/I5NlKnJQ">Joseph Hardtmuth</a>. </p> <h2 id="notable-people">Notable people</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Johannes_Matthias_Sperger/Bw4kre2h">Johannes Matthias Sperger</a> (1750–1812), contrabassist, composer</li> <li><a href="/facts/Franz_Bauer/7hYcnvyn">Franz Bauer</a> (1758–1840), microscopist and botanical artist</li> <li><a href="/facts/Ferdinand_Bauer/rfJv7HIf">Ferdinand Bauer</a> (1760–1826), botanical illustrator</li> <li><a href="/facts/Johann_II%2c_Prince_of_Liechtenstein/36Tje06M">Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein</a> (1840–1929), monarch; died here</li> <li><a href="/facts/Leopold_Adametz/0F0dwP0G">Leopold Adametz</a> (1861–1941), zoologist</li> <li><a href="/facts/Ivana_Hlou%25C5%25BEkov%25C3%25A1/qwHlHmrV">Ivana Hloužková</a> (1960–2023), actress</li> <li><a href="/facts/Radim_Ne%25C4%258Das/UDYYrIau">Radim Nečas</a> (born 1969), footballer</li> <li><a href="/facts/Franti%25C5%25A1ek_%25C4%258Cerm%25C3%25A1k/Nv6trmvu">František Čermák</a> (born 1976), tennis player</li> <li><a href="/facts/Barbora_Seidlov%25C3%25A1/7GqF8U0a">Barbora Seidlová</a> (born 1981), actress</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Valtice. <ul><li><a href="https://www.valtice.eu/">Official website</a></li> <li><a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/763">World Heritage Site</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.zamky-hrady.cz/1/valtice-e.htm">Photos of Valtice</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Public Census 2021 – basic data". Public Database (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2022. <a href="https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4690&katalog=33475&pvo=SLD21043-CO" target="_blank">https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4690&katalog=33475&pvo=SLD21043-CO</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Valtice". Valtice Castle. Retrieved 2021-11-27. <a href="https://www.zamek-valtice.cz/en" target="_blank">https://www.zamek-valtice.cz/en</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Historie města" (in Czech). Město Valtice. Retrieved 2021-11-27. <a href="https://www.valtice.eu/mesto/historie-mesta/" target="_blank">https://www.valtice.eu/mesto/historie-mesta/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Historie města" (in Czech). Město Valtice. Retrieved 2021-11-27. <a href="https://www.valtice.eu/mesto/historie-mesta/" target="_blank">https://www.valtice.eu/mesto/historie-mesta/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"History". Valtice Castle. Retrieved 2021-11-27. <a href="https://www.zamek-valtice.cz/en/about/history" target="_blank">https://www.zamek-valtice.cz/en/about/history</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Historie města" (in Czech). Město Valtice. Retrieved 2021-11-27. <a href="https://www.valtice.eu/mesto/historie-mesta/" target="_blank">https://www.valtice.eu/mesto/historie-mesta/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Historie města" (in Czech). Město Valtice. Retrieved 2021-11-27. <a href="https://www.valtice.eu/mesto/historie-mesta/" target="_blank">https://www.valtice.eu/mesto/historie-mesta/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"History". Valtice Castle. Retrieved 2021-11-27. <a href="https://www.zamek-valtice.cz/en/about/history" target="_blank">https://www.zamek-valtice.cz/en/about/history</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Czech Republic: The former Liechtenstein possessions of Lednice-Valtice". Minor Sights. 2014-09-25. <a href="http://www.minorsights.com/2014/09/Czech-Lednice-Valtice.html" target="_blank">http://www.minorsights.com/2014/09/Czech-Lednice-Valtice.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. <a href="https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/historicky-lexikon-obci-1869-az-2015" target="_blank">https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/historicky-lexikon-obci-1869-az-2015</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27. <a href="https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4429&katalog=33515&pvo=SLD21001-OB-OK" target="_blank">https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4429&katalog=33515&pvo=SLD21001-OB-OK</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Detail stanice Valtice" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2023-06-21. <a href="https://www.cd.cz/stanice/valtice/5436655" target="_blank">https://www.cd.cz/stanice/valtice/5436655</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape". UNESCO. Retrieved 2023-08-27. <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/763" target="_blank">https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/763</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>