Třebíč

Administrative parts of Třebíč

The town is made up of 17 town parts and villages:

Třebíč is situated 35 kilometres (22 mi) southeast of Jihlava and 65 kilometres (40 mi) west of Brno. It lies in the Jevišovice Uplands within the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. The town is located the Jihlava River. The highest point in the municipal territory has an elevation of 579 metres (1,900 ft) above sea level.

The area is rich in water bodies, including many fish ponds and Lubí Reservoir. The northeastern part of the municipal territory is protected as the Třebíčsko Nature Park.

Komenského Square and a municipal tower

The first written mention of Třebíč is from 1101, when a Benedictine monastery was established here. In 1277, Třebíč was first referred to as a town. In 1335, Třebíč obtained town rights at the level of the rights of royal towns. Třebíč had the right to build town fortifications and ceased to be subject unconditionally to the monastery. The Jewish population was first documented in 1338.[3]

During the Hussite Wars, Třebíč was conquered by the Hussites and became their military base. After the wars, the town was returned to the possession of the monastery. In 1468, Třebíč was conquered and destroyed by Matthias Corvinus, including the monastery. After the Bohemian–Hungarian War (1468–1478), Třebíč was acquired by Zdeněk of Sternberg. During the rule of the Pernštejn family between 1490 and 1556, the town recovered and stabilized economically.[3]

Třebíč was not too affected by the Thirty Years' War. After the war, the town was re-Catholicized. In the 17th an 18th centuries, Třebíč was mostly owned by the Waldstein family. In 1786, the Germanisation began. In 1821 and 1822, large fires severely damaged the town.[3]

In the late 19th century, Třebíč was industrialised. There has been mainly development of tannery and shoemaking. The development of industry was accelerated by the opening of the railway in 1886. In the 1930s, the shoe factory was bought by Bata Corporation and workers' colonies were constructed in Borovina.[3][4]

In the 1970s and 1980s, several historic buildings were demolished and new housing estates were constructed, which resulted in population growth.[3]

There are no major industrial companies. The largest employers based in Třebíč are the Třebíč Hospital, and energy sector companies I&C Energo and ČEZ Energoservis.[7]

The I/23 road in Třebíč

No major roads pass through the town. The most important connection is the I/23 road, which leads from Veselí nad Lužnicí to Rosice. The II/360 connects Třebíč with the D1 motorway in Velké Meziříčí. The II/405 road, separating from the I/23, connects Třebíč with Jihlava.

Třebíč lies on an important interregional railway line heading from Brno to Plzeň via Třebíč, Jihlava and České Budějovice. There are two train stations serving the town: Třebíč and Třebíč-Borovina.[8]

Intra-town transport is provided by buses.[9]

A small sport airport named Třebíč is located outside of the municipal territory, in neighbouring Kožichovice.[10]

Festivals held in Třebíš include:

• Theatre Třebíč (Divadelní Třebíč) – festival of amateur theatre
• Šamajim – festival of Jewish culture
• Třebíč potato festival (Bramborobraní) – folklore festival – music and dance
• UNESCO Jubilee – jubilee celebration of town entrance to the UNESCO list
• Theatre 2-3-4 actors (Divadla 2-3-4 herců) – festival of professional theatre
• Zámostí – cultural and music festival[11]
• Concentus Moraviae – concerts of classical music

In Třebíč there is one private university, Westmoravian College Třebíč. Secondary schools include:[12]

• Gymnasium Třebíč
• Catholic Gymnasium Třebíč
• Secondary Industrial School Třebíč
• Secondary School of Civil Engineering Třebíč
• Higher Vocational School and Secondary School of Veterinary, Agricultural and Medical Třebíč
• Dr. Albín Bráf Business Academy
• Academy of Law, Pedagogy and Entrepreneurship, Secondary School Třebíč

The entrance of the Jewish quarter

The historical treasury of Třebíč includes the old Jewish Quarter and the large Romanesque St. Procopius Basilica, which incorporates some later Gothic features, including a rare example of a ten-part (also known as 'botanical') rose window. Such designs reflect the five or ten parts of the family Rosaceae flowers and fruit, based on their five sepals and petals or the usual ten segments of their fruit. Botanical rose windows contrast with more complex Gothic windows that contain more segments (usually multiples of traditional gothic units of design – three trefoil, or four quatrefoil). Another thesis says that these decorations are based on an ancient design, inspired by forerunners in the wheel of life, associated with eastern religions nowadays, or may allude to the Virgin Mary.[13]

The famous Basilica originated in the early 12th century as a Benedictine monastery. It was endowed so well, that it led to the establishment of a local commercial centre; the town of Třebíč. The monastery was rebuilt during the reign of King Wenceslaus I (1230–1253), and again at the end of the 15th century. During the first half of the 16th century, some of Třebíč's historic monastic buildings were remodeled into a castle and were later renovated in Baroque style. In the early 18th century changes were introduced on the basilica by the Czech architect František Maxmilián Kaňka; windows were enlarged, buttresses were added, a southwest tower was rebuilt, and a new west front with two towers was constructed in the gothic baroque style.[13]

The historic centre of Třebíč, which extends on both sides of the river Jihlava, was declared an urban monument zone in 1990. The Jewish Quarter and St. Procopius Basilica, together with the castle and gardens, are all included within the urban monument zone.[14]

Třebíč is twinned with:[15]

• Humenné, Slovakia
• Lilienfeld, Austria
• Oschatz, Germany
• Rakhiv, Ukraine
• Yichang, China

• 
  Portal of St. Procopius Basilica
• 
  Interior of the St. Procopius Basilica
• 
  Abbacy of St. Procopius Basilica
• 
  Interior of the Jewish Synagogue
• 
  Statue of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Třebíč.

• Official website
• UNESCO Heritage in Třebíč
• Official website of the castle
• Photos of Třebíč and Background Information
• Třebíč, Czech Republic at JewishGen