Dolní Kounice (; ) is a town in

Brno-Country District Brno-Country District () is a Okres, district in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the city of Brno. The most populated town of the district is Kuřim. The district is made up of 187 municipalities, which is the highes ...

in the

South Moravian Region The South Moravian Region (; , ; ), or just South Moravia, is an Regions of the Czech Republic, administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia. The region's capital is Brno, th ...

of the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

. It has about 2,600 inhabitants.

Geography

Dolní Kounice is located about southwest of

Brno Brno ( , ; ) is a Statutory city (Czech Republic), city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava (river), Svitava and Svratka (river), Svratka rivers, Brno has about 403,000 inhabitants, making ...

. It lies in the

Bobrava Highlands Bobrava () is a rural locality (a selo) and the administrative center of Bobravskoye Rural Settlement, Rakityansky District, Belgorod Oblast Belgorod Oblast () is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject (an oblast) of Russia. Its admi ...

. The highest point is at above sea level. The town is situated in the valley of the

Jihlava Jihlava (; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 55,000 inhabitants. Jihlava is the capital of the Vysočina Region, situated on the Jihlava (river), Jihlava River on the historical border between Moravia and Bohemia. Historically, Jihla ...

River.

History

The first written mention of Kounice is from 1183, when the

Premonstratensian The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (), also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines and, in Britain and Ireland, as the White Canons (from the colour of their habit), is a religious order of canons regular in the Catholic Chur ...

''Rosa coeli'' convent was built here. It was founded in 1181 and was the oldest convent in

Moravia Moravia ( ; ) is a historical region in the eastern Czech Republic, roughly encompassing its territory within the Danube River's drainage basin. It is one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia. The medieval and early ...

. A church already stood here in 1183. In 1284–1330, a Gothic castle was built by the convent on a hill above the village. Since the 15th century, the village has been named Dolní Kounice. In 1527, the convent was abolished. An attempt was made to restore it in 1702, but a year later it was destroyed by a fire and never restored again. From 1537, the estate was owned by various noble families. In 1571, Dolní Kounice was promoted to a town and obtained coat of arms. During the rule of the Drnovský of Drnovice family in 1588–1622, the castle was rebuilt into a Renaissance fortified residence. During the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...

in 1622, the castle was burned down, and was repaired in 1682 in the Baroque style. From 1622 to 1862, Dolní Kounice Castle with the estate was property of the

Dietrichstein family The House of Dietrichstein was one of the oldest and most prominent Austrian noble families originating in the Duchy of Carinthia. The family belonged to the high nobility (German: ''Hochadel''). The Nikolsburg branch was elevated to the rank o ...

, which was its most famous and longest owners. In 1964, Dolní Kounice lost the title a town. The title was returned to it in 1998.

Demographics

Transport

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

Sights

Dolní Kounice is known for the Gothic-Renaissance castle and for ruins of the convent. The castle is gradually being repaired and since 2007 has been open to the public. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul on the town square is a neo-Renaissance structure from 1877–1879. The Chapel of Saint Anthony is a landmark above the town. The way to the pilgrimage chapel is lined by

Stations of the Cross The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Via Dolorosa, Way of Sorrows or the , are a series of fourteen images depicting Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and acc ...

. There are several monument commemorating the Jewish community in the town. The

Dolní Kounice Synagogue The Dolní Kounice Synagogue () is a former Orthodox Jewish synagogue, located in Dolní Kounice in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. The building was completed in 1655 and was used as a synagogue by the Ashkenazi congregation unti ...

was built in the early Baroque style in 1652–1655 and is one of the oldest synagogues in Moravia. The Jewish cemetery was founded in 1680.

Notable people

Gotthard Deutsch Gotthard Deutsch (; 31 January 1859 – 14 October 1921) was a scholar of Jewish history. Education Deutsch was born in Dolní Kounice, Moravia, Austria, as Eliezer Deutsch, the son of Bernhard L. Deutsch, a merchant, and Elise Wiener. He ...

(1859–1921), Austrian scholar * Jan Helcelet (1812–1878), naturalist and politician * Antonín Brabec (1946–2017), canoeist

Twin towns – sister cities

Dolní Kounice is twinned with: *

Azay-le-Brûlé Azay-le-Brûlé () is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in western France. See also *Communes of the Deux-Sèvres department The following is a list of the 252 communes of the Deux-Sèvres department ...

, France *

Caprese Michelangelo Caprese Michelangelo is a village and ''comune'' in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy. It is the birthplace of the Renaissance artist Michelangelo. The village is roughly east of Florence. The village is situated in the Valtiberina or High ...

, Italy

Gallery

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dolni Kounice Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Brno-Country District