The 13
th century merchant settlement was established on a trade route
called Haberska. Founded by Smol of Lichtenburk, an outstanding nobleman of the
Premysl Otakar II. times, the settlement grew up into a rich centre of silver
exploitation hidden in the forest-clad mountainous countryside upon the Sazava
River.
The influx of German miners gave it the name of Nemecky Brod in 1310 to
last for se veral centuries. The advantageous position where the routes crossed
gave the city a monopoly for goods imports in the Bohemian-Moravian Uplands. Brod
lived on trade, crafts and agriculture and soon acquired important freedoms which
equalled to those of the royal cities. Brod became a sort of supreme court for the
surrounding towns of Chotebor, Lipnice, Svetla and Ledec nad Sazavou. King George
of Podebrady was the first to understand how suitable a place Nemecky Brod was
for meetings between the leading politicians, generals and noblemen. Brod made
itself a name in other areas, too.
In 1735 the Latin school of Carolina opened
here to be replaced by the grammar school later where many outstanding personalities
started their education: Josef Dobrovsky, Jan Vaclav Stamic, Karel Havlicek Borovsky,
Fridrich Smetana, Jan Zrzavy and many more. Brod experienced periods of wealth and war
inflicted poverty. In spite of raging wars, plagues and fires,
over 100 historic and
cultural monuments have survived in Brod till date. The town centre has been proclaimed
a national treasure in the late 1980's. Walls and bastions, the centre with ravishing
Baroque square, rich churches, the Triton
Fountain, the symbol of betrayal on the
new town hall tower, one of Bohemia's high valued bells - all of this are witnesses to
the rich past. The Havlicek Memorial is one of the town's most important ones because
the town has always stuck to the rebellious disposition combined with common sense which
has shown in hard times.
During World War II. the town confirmed its traditional spirit by
replacing the attribute Nemecky with Havlickuv in its name. Today, Havlickuv Brod develops its rich traditions. Since 1850 it has been the seat of the district executive authority,
court and tax office. New buildings for municipal and higher administrative authorities
were established, like the district hospital and grammar school. Brod used to have a
printing shop and many clubs of arts (Jason) and sports (Sokol), some of which still
exist. A lot was always happening in terms of culture. The local amateur theatre invited
Prague actors to stage
the first scenic version of Hasek's Schwejk in 1922.
The town supported exhibition of academic painters and promoted the installation of Masaryk
Memorial made by Jan Stursa. Neither the rapidly changing politics nor other kinds
of interference could derail this course of life.
Havlickuv Brod has a population
of 25,000 today and several big traditional employers like Pleas,
the Rebel Brewery,
mill, bakery, milk plant, and a few new ones, like Plastimat, Zetor, Motorpal., Rico,
etc. The fire shly repaired grammar schools and new hospital area, new housing,
a swimming-pool, a sports area, and the old folks' home in preparation are what
prosperity means for its citizens where it has never been easy to grow
rich.
Cultural life, too, receives support, like painter exhibitions, museum
exhibitions, book fair. Havlickuv Brod has partnerships with several foreign
towns - Brielle, the Netherlands (since 1985), Brixen, Italy (since 1992), Spisska
Nova Ves, Slovakia (since 1995).
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