- Land Area: 6345 ha
- Population: 25,875
- Altitude: 167 asml
Hodonin is the district town and natural center of Mikroregion Hodonínsko, lying in the Dolnomoravské valley of the Morava River, wedged between the Morava river forming the border with the Slovak Republic and a large forest complex named Doubrava.
The fi rst historically credible report about Hodonín comes from the year 1169; however, the local area was settled much earlier. The city itself was preceded by the existence of a guard castle, the promotion of the city was thanks to the charter of the wife of King Přemysl Otakar I., Queen Constance Uherska, in 1228. An important date is the year 1512 - when the statute was amended from a royal town to a liege town; but to this day, its history remains unfolding.
In 1841 the fi rst train drove through Hodonin on the Northern Emperor Ferdinand route; which, together with the earlier (1783) establishment of tobacco factories and the consequent emergence of a sugar refinery and a brickyard (Redlich´s brickyard was the largest in Central Europe before World War II) meant a new industrial stage in the development of the town; only briefl y slowed down by the occupation troops of Prussia in 1866, which brought with them the cholera epidemic.
An important year in the cultural history of the town is 1907, when the Association of the Moravian artists, led by the Úprka brothers, Antoš Frolka and others, was established. Another important year is 1913, when the House of Artists opened (the current Gallery of Fine Arts).
In November 1944 severe loss of life resulted from an allied bombing. Since the fifties of the last century the town skyline has been dominated by the high chimneys of the power station.
From a wide range of organizations operating here, let us mention at least the following: theatre ensemble Svatopluk, folklore ensemble Dubina, Slovácko Club Hodonín and of course the symphony orchestra of Hodonin and mixed choir. Of no less interes is the series of events held here annually: the competition of children‘ s singers, Věneček z rozmarýnu of Fanoš Mikulecký (March); The Concentus Moraviae Music Festival (June); The Water Kingdom Festival (July); St. Vavřinec Festival (August); Feast of Wine (September ), The Emperor‘s Feast (October).
In addition, visitors can head to the Baroque castle – where the Masaryk Museum with an exhibition on Tomas Gariggue Masaryk is situated. Also the same institution owns a separate exhibition hall called Europe on the main artery of the city, National Avenue. You can also fi nd here the Gallery of Fine Arts with works of prominent artists of Slovácko, the Museum of Oil Mining and Geology, a small ZOO, a house of culture, the Hodonín Spa (offering regenerative stays), the river port, etc. It is worth seeing the Town Hall from 1902-1904, built in the Art Nouveau style of Nuremberg; St. Lawrence church from 1780-1786, in front of which the baroque statue of St. Sebastian and St. John of Nepomuk are placed; the Marian Column (1716); the statue of St. Vendelín (1777); the statue of Hajník by Franta Úprka(1924); the Chapel of St. Cross (1720) with the Kaplička private gallery, and more.
The most famous native is the first Czechoslovak president Tomas Garrigue Masaryk. We might also remember the city mayor Jaroslav Dobrovolský at the time of the First Republic, tortured to death under occupation. Those who spent part of their lives here include writers such as Ivan Olbracht, Gabriela Preissová, Jiří Mahen, and the painters Martin Benko, Charles Smith and others.
