Velké Bílovice (Czech pronunciation: ['v?lk?: 'bi:lov?ts?]) (German: Groß Billowitz) is a town in the Czech Republic. It is a part of the B?eclav District in the South Moravian Region and is located about 45 km southeast of Brno and 80 km northeast of Vienna. It has a population of 3,899 (2016). It is the largest grapevine-growing town in the Czech Republic with more than 730 hectares of vineyards.
Video Velké Bílovice
History
The first written record of Velké Bílovice comes from 1306 but the area was settled much earlier. Houses of Liechtenstein and ?erotín were the most important owners in the history of Velké Bílovice. In the 16th century, group of Hutterites (Habáni) settled in the area, cultivated grapevine and built many large wine cellars.
At the beginning of the 20th century many citizens of Velké Bílovice migrated to Argentina, Canada and the United States.
Velké Bílovice was officially promoted to town status in 2001.
Maps Velké Bílovice
Places of interest
Hutterite (Habánské) wine cellars - the biggest one was built around 1614 and is located near the pond Velký Bílovec in the direction of ?ejkovice. Its current owner is the company Habánské sklepy.
Town Museum - There you can find local folk costumes, many archaeological finds from the area, old farm tools and other interesting things associated with the history of the town.
Hill Hradi?t?k is a very visible local landmark. From the hill you can see not only the town but also many other nearby towns and villages and very many vineyards. Under good weather conditions you can also see monumental Pálava upland, wind farms in Austria and even distant White Carpathian mountains. On the hilltop there is a chapel which is consecrated to four saints: St. Urban (patron saint of winemakers), St. Wenceslas (patron saint of the Czech Lands) and St. Cyril and Methodius (patrons saint of Christianity in the Czech Lands).
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was built in late Baroque style in 1764-1765.
Viticulture and winemaking - Velké Bílovice boasts more than 650 privately owned wine cellars located in 40 named cellar streets and more than 730 hectares of vineyards (the largest area in the Czech Republic).
Culture and festivities
"Hody" (the Feasts) is the most important folk festival in Velké Bílovice. It begins on the first Sunday after the Day of the Virgin Mary's Birth (September 8), patron saint of the local church, and continues till Tuesday. On the Saturday before the Feasts festive maypole is manually erected. The main celebration takes place on Sunday, when many visitors even from far away come to admire the folk costume parade, which is annually attended by more than 50 costumed couples. In 2017 the event takes place on September 10, 11 and 12.
From wine cellar to wine cellar - During this event you can literally wander from one local wine cellar to another and taste plenty of different varieties of wines from many different winemakers. It is regularly held on Saturday at the turn of March and April. In 2017 the event takes place on April 1.
Wine exhibition - Wine tasting of wines made not only by local winemakers, but also winemakers from near and far away. It is regularly held in the local ''Kulturní d?m'' (House of Culture) on Saturday at the turn of April and May. In 2017 the event takes place on May 6.
Surroundings
There are two ponds near Velké Bílovice, ?ísary and Velký Bílovec, which are used mainly for fishing.
Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape - registered in the list of monuments protected as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Pálava - protected area and UNESCO biosphere reserve
Nové Mlýny reservoirs - have good conditions for fishing, yachting and windsurfing. On one of its islands you can find the church of St. Linhart (Leonard), which is the last remaining relic of the flooded village Mu?ov.
Transport
Southwest of the town runs the D2 motorway with exit Velké Bílovice and Podivín.
The nearest railway station is located 3 km away in Podivín.
Local government
Since 2006 the mayor is Marie Vlková (Union of Independents).
Notable people
- Libor Zapletal (1920-1944), soldier and member of the airdrop Bivouac, executed in Mauthausen concentration camp
Gallery
External links
- Media related to Velké Bílovice at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website of the town (in Czech)
- Winemakers Guild of Velké Bílovice (in Czech)
- Town Museum of Velké Bílovice (in Czech)
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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