Valašské Klobouky

Valašské Klobouky (Wallachisch Klobouk) is a town in Zlín District in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 4,900 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Administrative parts
The villages of Lipina, Mirošov and Smolina are administrative parts of Valašské Klobouky.

Geography
Valašské Klobouky is located about 25 km southeast of Zlín. It lies on the border of the White Carpathians and the Vizovice Highlands, at the northern tip of the White Carpathians Protected Landscape Area. The highest point is the hill Stráně at 664 m above sea level. The town is situated in the valley of the Klobučka River.

History
The first written mention of Klobouky is from 1341. It was part of the Brumov estate. In the 14th and 15th centuries, it was an economic centre of the estate. The village was promoted to a market town in 1356 and to a town in the 16th century. In the 17th century, Vlachs colonized the area and the name of the town changed to Valašské Klobouky.

The village of Lipina was first mentioned in 1407. It was joined to Valašské Klobouky in 1976. Mirošov was first mentioned in 1460 and was joined to Valašské Klobouky in 1964. Smolina was first mentioned in 1503 and was joined to Valašské Klobouky in 1980.

Transport
Valašské Klobouky is located on the railway line Vsetín–Bylnice.

Sights
The Old Town Hall was first documented in 1567 and belongs to the most valuable buildings in the town. Today it houses the Town Museum. In front of the building is a historic pillory from the 16th century, one of the oldest preserved in the country. The second part of the museum's expositions is located in a historic house from 1781, the so-called Red House. It presents drapery, which is a traditional local craft.

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was built in 1763. It has a Renaissance tower.

On Královec Hill is an eponymous wooden observation tower. It is 21.5 m high.

Notable people

 * Jan Matzal Troska (1881–1961), writer
 * Josef Valčík (1914–1942), soldier and resistance fighter
 * Ladislav Mňačko (1919–1994), Slovak writer and journalist
 * Bedřich Havlíček (1922–1994), regional historian and ethnographer

Twin towns – sister cities
Valašské Klobouky is twinned with:


 * 🇵🇱 Zelów, Poland