The town of Novy Jicin is situated at the southern end of the Moravian Gate Valley at the edge of the Beskydy Mountains. It was founded in the second half of the 13
th century. The architectural development is especially remarkable in the famous Masarykovo namesti Square, the centre of the town conservation area.
The ancient square belongs to the most impressive squares in the Czech Republic. The regular ground plan is the purest evidence of medieval architecture of the 13
th century. The arcades of the houses date from the half of the 16
th century. The whole square looks like a wonderful baroque hall.
Novy Jicin is well known for its traditional hat and woollen cloth manifacturing. There is also a prosperous car light and radiator factory and one of the oldest cigarette factoriesin the country. Together with its cultural wealth, the town of Novy Jicin offers its visitors numerous possibilities of sports recreation and beautiful surroundings, including the famous tourist centres of the nearby Beskydy Mountains.
The district town of Novy Jicin, with its
unique preservation of historical landmarks, lies on the southern edge of the North Moravian Region and today is home to 27,000 people.
Novy Jicin was established in the latter half of the 13
th century near the intersection of two old trade routes. It was first mentioned in 1313, when it gained town privileges from King John of Luxemburg.
Until 1434, Novy Jicin belonged to the noble family of Kravare, and afterwards its ownership changed several times. The city experienced an extraordinary boom during the 1500s under the rule of the Zerotin family, and in 1558, bought itself out of serfdom and became a royal town. Later, Novy Jicin was punished for its role in the struggle against the Habsburg crown and given to the Jesuits of Olomouc. During the rule of Empress Maria Teresa, the town became an independent municipality.
At the beginning of the 19
th century, factories began to spring up in the city. Novy Jicin was connected to the railway and experienced general economic growth that was interrupted by the two World Wars. Currently, the city
has good transportation connections, high-quality hotels and pensions, recreational opportunities, and a well-developed business environment.
The main square is the pride of the city and it ranks among the most beautiful in Central Europe. It gained its almost-perfect square shape when the city was founded, and rom that time, served as a marketplace and center of business life for the village. In the historic center near the square are several arched Renaissance and Baroque buildings; one of them, the interesting "Old Post Office," was built in the Italian Renaissance style in 1563 and was also the home of town mayor Ondrej Repka. Another interesting sight is the Baroque plague column (1710).
Among other historic landmarks, we would like to point out the Zerotinsky Chateau, the monumental
Baroque Church of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary (today's look dates from the 18
th century), the Church of the Trinity (dating from 1500), the parish fortifications (1613), and
the Baroque Spanish Chapel (1724). Newer buildings include the Art Nouveau Hotel Prague, the remains of the former Jewish synagogue, and the beautifully-restored Beskydy Theater.
Novy Jicin provides visitors with comfort, quiet, and both cultural and recreational activities. Protected red beech trees and
"Liriodendron tulipifera" plants can be found growing in the city. Visitors should also certainly explore the entire city landmark preservation area, and should not forget to see the beautiful natural sights at nearby Svinec and Certak.
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