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Magazine
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The Region of PardubiceThe regional capital is Pardubice, which lies at the confluence of the Labe and Chrudimka rivers. The fertile region of the Labe Lowlands in eastern Bohemia provides ideal conditions for agriculture and the Pardubice Region has been famed for its horse breeding and fish farming. The engineer Jan Kašpar was responsible for two of the most important historic events to have occurred in the region, when in 1910 and 1911 he made the first flight and the first long-distance flight (from Pardubice to Prague) in the country's history. Among the famous historical figures to have come from the region are the bishop and diplomat Arnošt of Pardubice (1297-1364), the composers Bedřich Smetana and Bohuslav Martinů and Josef Ressel, the inventor of the screw propeller. One of the most prominent figures today is the physician and politician Jaroslava Moserová. Among the architectural jewels of this region are the chateaus in Litomyšl (which is a UNESCO World Heritage site) and Pardubice. Dominating the landscape around Pardubice is Mount Kunetice. The stud farm in Kladruby and Equine Museum in Slatinany are important European institutions. Another is the Vysočina Open Air Museum with its collection of folk architecture. The massif of Králický Sněžník (1423 meters) is a protected landscape region and forms an important European watershed. The Pardubice of today is known as a city of sport; the city is home to one of the most modern ice hockey stadiums in the
country. The Golden Helmet dirt-track motorcycle race is extremely popular. The Velká Pardubice Steeplechase is a chapter unto
itself. It is one of the oldest races of its kind on the European continent and is the steeplechase event of the year. The firm Panasonic Mobile & Automotive Systems Czech is located in the Pardubice Industrial Zone. Many foreign companies have taken advantage of investment opportunities in the Pardubice Region. They include Matsushita Communications Industry, Foxconn CZ, Westvaco, Renault SA, Saint-Gobain-Vertex, Toydoa Koki Automotive Czech Republic, Kayaba Industry and many others. Among the advantages of doing business in the Pardubice Region are the relatively short distance to the capital city of Prague (about 100 kilometers) and the fact that an international airport has been built here. Contacts with Japan have thus far been concentrated in the business field. This year, however, the Bonifantes Boys' Choir from Pardubice performed in Japan and the Japanese soprano Fumiko Nishimatsu performed this year at Pardubice's Tenth City Festival. The legendary Japanese performer Min Tanaka has also performed in Pardubice. The University of Pardubice through its Office of International Relations acts as an agent for the Matsumae International Foundation's Research Fellowship Program for graduate students. The Aikido Club in Pardubice has begun working with Japanese colleagues and representatives of the club have participated in a training seminar held in Japan. 1. Name of Region: Pardubice Pardubice Regional Government Offices The Region of VysočinaThe Vysočina Region - which covers areas of western Moravia and eastern Bohemia in the center of the country - is a geographically unified entity whose natural environment is very well preserved. The Vysočina is one of the regions least impacted by pollution. One of the most important historical events to have occurred here was the signing of the Compact of Basel in Jihlava in 1346 that brought an end to the Hussite Wars. Many important figures are associated with the Vysočina - the composer Gustav Mahler was born here and Bohuslav Martinů lived here. Among the artists to have paid tribute to the region in their works were the sculptor Jan Štursa, the painters Antonín Chitussi and Antonín Slavíček, the writer J. V. Pleva, the authors and playwrights Alois and Vilém Mrštík and many others. The poet Otakar Březina spent his whole life here. The Vysočina Region boasts three locations designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the town of Telč, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the Czech Republic, the pilgrimage church of St. John Nepomuk on Zelená Hora in the city of Žďár nad Sazavou, which is a masterful composition in the Baroque Gothic style using the symbolism of the five-pointed St. John's cross, and the city of Třebíč with its Jewish ghetto and adjacent Romanesque-Gothic Basilica of St. Procopius. The centuries have left a legacy of many castles, chateaus, monasteries and examples of folk architecture scattered across the region. One of the most outstanding is the monumental Pernštejn Castle, which is one of the best preserved Gothic castles in Europe. The chateau in Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou is also well worth seeing. The chateau is built in the High Baroque style and is surrounded by huge French- and English-style gardens. The Bohemian-Moravian Highlands cover the entire Vysočina Region ("vysočina" in Czech means "highlands" or "uplands"). These highlands are the largest orographic region in the Czech Republic. The landscape typical for this region is a heavily forested rolling countryside punctuated by deep valleys. There are several dozen nature preserves and protected landscape areas, which is evidence of the relatively pristine state of the natural environment here. The Vysočina Region is dissected by a dense network of footpaths (2,700 kilometers) and bicycle trails (800 kilometers). These provide nature lovers with a unique experience. The Vysočina is also a region of ponds that provide perfect conditions for windsurfers and sailors and reservoirs ideal for fishing and all types of water sports. There are approximately 550 hotels and other public accommodations for tourists with a total of 21,500 beds. More than 362,000 tourists visit the region annually, with 62,000 coming from abroad. One of the most important investments in the region is the Futaba factory in the Havlíčkův Brod industrial zone. Futuba is a Japanese manufacturer of automobile parts. One of the region's traditional industrial activities is the manufacture of glass, which reaches back to the sixteenth century. Another interesting product is the two-century tradition of making Nativity scenes. While in one area of the region they prefer paper nativities (with the figures on sticks placed on a moss base), in others they carve the figures from wood. One of the region's typical foods is "mrkvanec" - a sweet cake filled with carrots that is baked in various sizes across the Vysočina. 1. Name of Region: Vysočina Vysočina Regional Government Offices The region of OlomoucThe historic center of the Moravian city of Olomouc - the capital of this eponymous region - is the second largest historic
preservation district in the country after Prague. A university was established in Olomouc in 1573, making it one of the oldest
universities in Europe and the second oldest university in the Czech Republic after Charles University in Prague. Many important
historic figures have stayed in Olomouc: Matthias Corvinus was crowned Czech king here in 1469, the composer Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart lived and composed here in 1767 and the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I resided in Olomouc for a time with his
court. Among the city's prominent native sons of today are the sculptor and painter Ivan Theimer (who created Olomouc's Arion
Fountain) and the photgrapher Jindřich Štreit. The Jeseník Protected Landscape Region, in the northern part of the region, is well known for its diverse flora and is a perfect place for both winter sports and hiking. The Morava River Valley in the Litovel area (known in Czech as the "Litovelské Pomoraví) contains an extensive complex of alluvial forests that is home to many endangered plants and animals. Networks of footpaths and bike trails crisscross the region. Among other popular tourist destinations are the Javořičské Caves and the region's numerous spas. The LG Philips Display factory was recognized in the year 2000 as the largest investment in a greenfield site in the Czech Republic. The factory is the largest manufacturer of color televisions and monitors in the country, employing 1200 people. The total investment here was about 200 million euros. Among the important events to be held regularly in the Olomouc Region are Hefaiston - an exhibit of the black-smith's trade
held the Helfstyn Castle and, of course, Flora Olomouc - one of the largest exhibitions of plants and flowers in Europe.
Folklore events are also quite popular, with the Haná area, famous for its traditional costumes, unique dialect and
characteristic ceramics, being a particularly popular destination. Numerous folklore festivals are held here, an important
part of which are exhibitions of still-active folk crafts. Typical products of this region include a strong smelling local cheese known as "tvarůžky," Litovel beer, Haná ceramics, hand-made paper, a local pastry specialty known as "Hanácké vdolky" and homemade bread. The most typical local meal is roast pork sparrows served with cabbage and dumplings. 1. Name of Region: Olomouc Olomouc Regional Government Offices |
