UNESCO monumentsVysočina is a highlands region with the highest concentration of monuments listed in the UNESCO cultural and natural heritage list in the Czech Republic. The monuments are located in an imaginary triangle and are about 40km apart, thereby offering a great program for e.g. a weekend spent at Vysočina.

❖ TelčThe historical town centre, enclosed by ponds and gates, has main-

tained its characteristic look since the times of Zachariáš z Hradce. It has been put on the UNESCO cultural and natural heritage list in 1992. The vast Renaissance chateau complex is the work of architect B. Maggi of Arogno and belongs among the best preserved in the Czech Republic. The histori-cal centre is unique for its integrity; it consists of an intact complex of inva-luable houses built in Renaissance and Baroque style.

Other places to visit: Castle Roštejn • Premonstratensian monastery in Nová Říše • Javořice – the highest mountain of Vysočina

Significant events: JUNE: Arts & Film – European art film festival • JULY/AUGUST: Summer holiday in Telč – traditional summer music festival • Balloons over Telč – hot-air balloon flights • Historical festivities of Zacha-riáš z Hradce and Kateřina z Valdštejna – traditional event with folk-histori-cal theme • SEPTEMBER: Fire fighter’s day – Republic-wide contest of voluntary firemen in fire fighting and contest of young firemen • DECEM-BER: Silvester /New Year’s Eve climb to Javořice

❖ Žďár nad SázavouThe wonderful natural scenery of the protected nature reserve Žďárské

vrchy is the setting of the town of Žďár nad Sázavou. Hidden within is a jewel in the form of the Pilgrimage church of St. John Nepomuk on the Green Mountain, adorning the hill over the former Cistercian monastery, today’s chateau. For its uniqueness the church was listed on the UNESCO cultural and natural heritage list in 1994. It was built according to the designs of the significant Prague architect of the peak Baroque period, Jan Blažej Santini Aichel. Its layout forms a five-pointed star. This is supposed to be based on a legend, which says that a crown made up of five stars appeared on the spot where John Nepomuk drowned. The magic symbolism of the number five appears repeatedly in other elements of the building as well.

Other places to visit: Castle Žďár nad Sázavou • Nature trail around the Green Mountain • Recreation area “Pilák” • the statues of Michal Olšiak

Significant events: MAY: Pilgrimage on the anniversary of St. John Nepomuk • JUNE: Brass band festival • JULY/AUGUST: Festival under the Green Moun-tain – alternative culture project • “Horácký džbánek” – folk music festival • SEPTEMBER: Rowanberry festivities – a festival of creative, musical and dra-matic arts • DECEMBER: LIVE BETHLEHEM

❖ TřebíčIn the many centuries of its existence the town, also thanks to its fortui-

tous position between the royal towns of Brno, Jihlava and Znojmo, became an important centre in the Vysočina highlands. Its dominants – the Basilica of St. Procopius and the Jewish quarter – were listed on the UNESCO cultural and natural heritage list in 2003.The Basilica of St. ProcopiusThe Romanesque basilica is situated on the location of a former wooden mo-nastery church. In the course of numerous wars it suffered major damages and was used for secular purposes. After reconstruction it was consecrated to St. Procopius and again serves religious purposes. Among its highlights is the Gothic crypt with original, more than seven centuries old timbering on the ceiling between the stone nervures of the vault. The Jewish quarterTřebíč used to be one of several important centres of Jewish culture in Mora-via, as documented by the local, uniquely preserved quarter. It is made up of

ted to his works and fate. The greater part of his most famous novel, “The adventures of the good soldier Švejk”, was written in the pub Hostinec U České koruny, which is now run by his grandson. Nature and hiking lovers will surely enjoy walks around the flooded granite quarries, with a nature art gallery in the form of three relievos carved in the rocks.

Other places to visit: Chateau Světlá nad Sázavou • Glassworks of Jakub Tasice • Rustic museum Michalův statek • Museum of Dr. Aleš Hrdlička in Humpolec • Valley of the Doubrava river

Significant events: JULY/AUGUST: Rock Lipnice – festival of rock and pop music • Hašek’s Lipnice – festival of satire and humour • Sázavafest (Světlá nad Sázavou) – multicultural festival • Battle of Notorburg (Ledeč nad Sázavou) – historical, cultural and entertainment festival • OCTOBER: Autumn book fair Havlíčkův Brod

❖ Zoological garden JihlavaVIn the “bars-free” zoo in Jihlava you can explore all five continents

within a single day and find yourself in the world of exotic animals, the African village Mantongo, Asian park Hokkaido, South American Hacienda Escondido, Australian farm of African savannah. Visitors may find all this in the immediate vicinity of the town centre, in the picturesque valley of the river Jihlávka. Besides learning you can take a rest in the stylish zoo refre-shment facilities, have fun in the children’s corner or pet the animals within the contact zoo. There is also a number of interesting events taking

123 preserved houses along with the buildings of former Jewish institutions – the town hall, rabbinate, poorhouse, hospital and school. Besides Jerusalem these are the only Jewish monuments that are thus protected separately.

Other places to visit: Chateau Třebíč • Observation tower on Pekelný ko-pec • the native house of Jan Kubiš • Chateau Náměšť nad Oslavou • Vine and cultural centre Sádek

Significant events: MARCH: Třebíč puppeteers’ summer – show of puppeteer troupes • Theatre festival of Theatres feat. 2-3-4 actors • JUNE: Zámostí – multicultural festival • JULY/AUGUST: Jewish town revived • Shamayim – festival of Jewish culture • Feast of the Three Capes - historical festivities commemorating the listing of Třebíč by UNESCO • SEPTEMBER: Bramborobraní – potato feast

❖ State chateau Jaroměřice nad RokytnouThis originally Renaissance chateau was built on the site of a former Gothic water keep and later rebuilt into a vast Baroque chateau complex with a parish church of St. Marguerite. It is surrounded by a geometric French--style garden, which transitions into a natural landscape park. The chateau is often justly referred to as the Czech Versailles.

Other places to visit: Information centre of the atomic plant Dukovany • Da-lešická dam – tour on the boat Horácko, water plant Dalešice • the Dalešice brewery – Brewery from the film Postřižiny (by J. Menzl), Museum of Austro--Hungarian beer brewing • Museum of arts and crafts Moravské Budějovice • Babylon lookout tower

Significant events: DECEMBER/JANUARY: Dalešice dam – New Year’s Eve and New Year’s boat cruise on the boat Horácko • JUNE: Postružiny festivities (Dalešice brewery) – a festival full of music, fun and film • AU-GUST: The International Music Festival of Petr Dvorský • Václav Hudeček and guests (Moravské Budějovice) – international music festival

❖ Lipnice nad SázavouNo visitor to this town near Havlíčkův Brod will ever be bored for a minute. The main attraction is one of the greatest castles in Bohemia, proudly per-ched on a high rock as if watching over all of the surrounding areas and offering spectacular views of the countryside. Lipnice is essentially linked with Jaroslav Hašek, who lived here, wrote his works here and was buried at the local cemetery. His house under the castle hosts an exhibition devo-Photographs by: L. Pavlíček, Vysočina region, Municipal Office Telč, Municipal Office

Třebíč, Z. Málek, J. Horák, J. Hutař, V. Kunc, L. Dočkalová

reserves, 9 nature reserves, 36 natural monuments and 46 commemorati-ve trees and alleys. Enticing both for nature lovers and outdoor sport enthusiasts as well as lovers of cultural and historical monuments.

Other places to visit: Rock formation Devět skal, Žákova hora mountain • Village cultural reserve Krátká and Křižánky • Lookouts Karasín, Rosička, Horní les • Water bodies Velké Dářko, Pilská basin, Medlov, Sykovec • Wa-ter basin Vír, Šikland (mill Šiklův mlýn, haunted castle Draxmoor, Photo-park Krokodýl, Off–road range).

Significant events: JANUARY: Dog-team races (Tři studně) • JUNE: Nova Civitas – festivities with rich cultural programme and fair (Nové Město na Moravě) • Krátecký jarmark fair (Village cultural reserve Krátká)

❖ Vysočina in motionOne of the most pleasant ways of getting to know Vysočina is in motion

and in the fresh air, among the purest in the Czech Republic. The colourful countryside full of rolling hills, romantic coves, forests and brooks invites acti-ve relaxation. Almost 3 000 thousand kilometres of trails for hikers and tourists or Nordic walking will take you to places of natural or cultural interest. Vysoči-na has more than 2 500 thousand kilometres of cycling trails for both ambi-tious bikers – in the ruffled terrain of Žďárské and Jihlavské hills – and families with children – routes through valleys and over gentle slopes with spectacular views. Cyclists will find a real treat in Nové Město na Moravě in the form of the newly opened single tracks spanning for more than 30km. In case there is sufficient snow, the rolling hills and mild slopes of the Vysočina highlands ma-ke this area one of the best spots for cross-country skiing in the Czech Repub-lic. There are hundreds of kept trails and a long-standing tradition of skiing and ski manufacture here, especially in Nové Město na Moravě, where you can also find the Vysočina Arena – the setting of many important international races. You can enjoy the most beautiful perspective of the world, i.e. from hor-seback, on more than 850km of marked hippo-routes. An even greater “per-spective” is offered from the rocks of Javořická vrchovina, Žďárské vrhy and others in the environs, which are the favourite destination of mountain clim-bers. A true rarity can be seen in Vír – an ice wall, the largest of its kind in Euro-pe. Boating and rafting lovers will be enthralled with the diversity of the river Sázava and the as of yet not too well known upper stream of the river Jihlava.

For more detailed tips for hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing trips see www.region-vysocina.cz.

place here, both educational and entertaining. Adrenalin seekers will sure-ly rejoice in the new adrenalin centre PraLEZ.

Other places to visit: Jihlava underground • Deacon church of the As-sumption of Virgin Mary in Polná • Ruin of the castle Rokštejn • Family park Robinson (scheduled opening summer 2015)

Significant events: MAY: Festival Mahler Jihlava – Music of the thou-sands (usually lasts until June/July) • JULY: Jihlava miner’s parade (takes place every 2 years: 2015, 2017) • Dřevořezání Třešť – gathering of wood-cutters from the Czech republic and abroad • JULY/SEPTEMBER: Horác-ký aviation day • SEPTEMBER: Mrkvancová fair in Polná • OCTOBER: International festival of documentary films

❖ Pelhřimov – the town of records and curiosities The picturesque town of Pelhřimov, termed the “Gateway of Vysočina”

thanks to its location, is currently famous for its collection of the “MOST”. The largest, smallest, longest, heaviest, fastest, most persistent ... all kinds of objects bearing these adjectives are on display in the Museum of re-cords and curiosities, offering two interior expositions and one exterior exhibition in the form of a walk. But that‘s not all that is unique in Pelhři-mov, for example in the Museum of Vysočina in Pelhřimov you can see e.g. an almost 1635 years old sponge-cake. All this is located around the char-ming square, a treat for any lover of architecture thanks to its diversity and numerous architectural styles.

Other places to visit: Pilgrimage hill Křemešník • Chateau Žírovnice • Ka-menice nad Lipou – chateau, Fairytale land Fábula

Significant events: MAY: Feast of the Žírovnice Unicorn – traditional mu-nicipal historical festivities • JUNE: International festival of records and curiosities in Pelhřimov • JULY: Hračkobraní – toy fair with entertainment program in Kamenice nad Lipou • AUGUST: Fire-fighter’s festival of brass music and Rescue worker’s days in Pelhřimov

❖ Protected nature reserve Žďárské vrchyAre you looking for an oasis of peace in the midst of pure nature in the

very heart of our country? Than you should head for the protected nature reserve Žďárské vrchy, where the harmonious character of its nature forms picturesque valleys, forests, meadows, pastures, rocks, rivers and ponds. There are 49 smaller-area protected reserves in the area: 4 national nature

Other places to visit: Single tracks in Nové Město na Moravě • Vysočina Arena • Cycling route and in-line track Přibyslav-Sázava • Mountain clim-bing – Ice wall Vír, Drátenická skála rock • Canoeing and rafting down the Sázava river – Stvořidla, Sluneční zátoka

Significant events: JANUARY/FEBRUARY: Ski run and biathlon races (Vy-sočina Arena) • JULY: World Masters in Mountain Biking 2016 (Nové Město na Moravě) • AUGUST: Zlatá podkova (Humpolec) – versatility and dog team races • Dragon boat races at Velký Dářek • DECEMBER: New Year’s Eve climb on the Javořice

❖ Holiday in the countrysideIf you are looking to escape a busy life and everyday hassle, come spend

your holiday to Vysočina, which is characteristic for its country ambience made for relaxation. Cosy rooms in small pensions, cottages and farms are waiting for you to find a friendly family atmosphere. You can take care of domestic animals, ride horses, fish or just watch what is happening around you. In the quiet rustic environment of villages and hamlets, lovers of nature, animals, home cooking and undisturbed lazing will come into their own.

You can find a list of this type of accommodations in the publication „Prázdniny na venkově“ at www.region-vysocina.cz.

Other places to visit: EDEN Centre of green knowledge in Bystřice nad Pernštejnem (scheduled opening March 2015) • Goat farm Dvůr Ratiboři-ce • Rescue station Pavlov

Significant events: AUGUST: lámování (Červená Řečice) – objects are made of straw with accompanying entertainment • Honey feast (Nové Měs-to na Moravě) • SEPTEMBER: Potato feast (Bystřice nad Pernštejnem) • Czech spotted cattle day (Radešínská Svratka) • Sheep day (Chaloupky – Kněžice) • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER: Pumpkin world (Nová Ves u Leštiny)

Vysočina

TOP10Vysočina is a place that will charm you with its picturesque landscape full of mounts and hills, mirroring ponds scattered across shallow valleys, interwoven with rivers and bumbling brooks, blooming meadows and fields, varying their beauty in line with the seasons. Lovers of art and history will also enjoy admiring the historical towns, castles proudly looming from afar and the audacious beauty of the chateaus. And you will have lots of fun in Vysočina too! Just come ... you will be welcome!

Co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund

Vysočina Tourism, allowance organisationNa Stoupách 3, 586 01 Jihlava

e-mail: info@vysocinatourism.czwww.vysocinatourism.cz • www.region-vysocina.cz

NOT FOR SALE • Year of publication: 2014

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