Česká Ves Settlement

Welcome to Hustopec, the place where history intersects with every step you take here. You're standing in the space that once formed Česká Ves. You might think at first glance you're in the normal part of town, but look around you more carefully. Feel the atmosphere of these streets and see the space spread out here. Even though this area is now a full part of urban development, you can still feel the spirit of ancient times. If you look at the layout of the houses in some alleys, you'll notice that they kept their original skeleton. It's a silent testimony about how human dwellings have evolved for centuries. Let us now return together in time to make it clear to you exactly where you are. Česká Ves is not just an ordinary suburb, but basically the oldest settlement in the entire space of today's Hustopečí. The beginning dates back to a thousand two hundred forty-seven. So imagine what this place looked like almost 800 years ago. At that time Česká Ves formed a separate living unit. It was located on the right bank of the river Stinkovka, which left its mark in the landscape. At that time, this village was a separate community, with its own rhythms of life and economy. The historical context has changed over time. A new town Hustopeče began to emerge on the left bank of the river. With its growth and development, the role of Czech Vsi gradually changed. It became a suburb of the newly emerging city centre. This process of joining two sides of the river was a natural development that shaped today's city. Even though the border between the centre and this old village has now been deleted, the historical memory of the place remains. In the year a thousand and nine hundred and fifty then came the cadastral reform, which definitely included the Czech Ves in the City Register Hustopeče, thus completing the formal unification process. Now that you're standing in this space, pay attention to the surrounding buildings. Even if you don't find one dominant building here that overshadowed everything else, the whole neighborhood is a monument in itself. Take a look at the facade of the house and see the streets twirling and blending. It is this street skeleton we were talking about that is the most valuable element you can see here. It's a print of the original planning village that survived centuries of urbanization. Now, if we think about how this place changed in the newer times, we can focus on the eastern and western edges of this site. Let's move on to the eastern edge of the suburbs. It was here in the year one thousand eight hundred ninety-four that the Hustopean station was established. The arrival of the railway was a turning point for the whole area, brought new movement of people and goods and changed the dynamics of life in the Czech village. Changes in the development are also related to this development. In the first quarter of the nineteenth century, a significant expansion of the building in Nádražní Street started, reflecting the increasing importance of this transport artery. But when we look west, we come across a place of very deep and quiet significance. In the year of a thousand eight hundred eighty six, a Jewish cemetery was established west of the Czech village. It is a place of peace and respect that resembles the religious and cultural diversity of the people of this region. The presence of a cemetery near the old settlement tells us the story of the people who lived here, worked and left their trail in the history of the city. Now I want to take you to something that borders on mystery and mystery. Look towards the Homoll Hill. Although today may look like ordinary terrain, archaeological findings tell a different story. This is where the pottery was found from the late 13th century. These findings suggest that there was probably a castle on the hill. So imagine that over the whole Czech Vesi there was a small fortified space that was used to defend or as a seat of local power. It's a fascinating notion that beneath the layers of earth and time, the secrets of the Middle Ages are still hidden, waiting for their full disclosure. It is fascinating to realize how the small estate on the bank of the Stinkovka River has become an organic part of the modern city. Česká Ves is like an old root from which today's Hustopeče grew. It is a place where the oldest history meets the industrial development of the railway and where the silent cemetery is adjacent to the daily traffic. I hope this short trip to the past has helped you see this place in a new light. Even if you don't see monumental palaces here, history is present here in every stone and every bend of the street. I am now asking you to explore the area. Walk slowly through the alleys that still maintain their old structure, and try to imagine the lives of the people who lived here hundreds of years ago. Feel the peace and continuity of this place. Thank you for your attention and I wish you a pleasant continued journey along the history of Hustopečí. Say good-bye to this part of town and go out to discover other hidden treasures of this beautiful Moravian region.