Vizovice

Vizovice (Wisowitz) 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 village of Chrastěšov is an administrative part of Vizovice.

Geography
Vizovice is located about 12 km east of Zlín. It lies in the Vizovice Highlands. The highest point is a hill at 662 m above sea level. The Lutoninka River flows through the town.

History
The first written mention of Vizovice is from 1261, when it was owned by the newly established Smilheim monastery. During the Hussite Wars, the monastery and the village were badly damaged and looted. In 1483, the estate was acquired by the lords of Kunštát, and in 1485 the Cistercian monastery was definitely abolished.

In 1567, the estate was bought by Zdeněk Kavka of Říčany, who had built a Renaissance residence called Nový Smilheim in the fortified area of the abolished monastery. Vizovice received town privileges in 1570. In the second half of the 17th century, the estate became a property of the Gollen family. Shortly after, the town and the castle were burned down by Turkish invaders. In 1749–1770, during the rule of Count Hermann Hannibal of Blümegen, a new Baroque castle with French and English garden was built.

Economy
Vizovice has long history of the alcohol production. A distillery in Vizovice was first documented in 1585. The local climate is suitable for fruit trees, especially plums, and in the mid-18th century, slivovitz started being produced here. The Rudolf Jelínek distillery was founded here in 1882.

Transport
The I/49 road, which connects Zlín with the Czech-Slovak border in Střelná, passes through the town. The I/69 road connects Vizovice with Vsetín.

Vizovice is the terminus and start of the railway line to Otrokovice.

Culture
The annual Masters of Rock heavy metal festival takes place in Vizovice.

Sights
The main landmark is the Vizovice Castle. It was built in 1749–1770 according to the design by František Antonín Grimm. For its architectural value, the castle is protected as a national cultural monument. In 1945, the castle was nationalized. It is open to the public and offers guided tours.

A notable building is the Church of Saint Lawrence. It was built at the end of the 18th century.

Notable people

 * Alois Hába (1893–1973), composer
 * Jan Graubner (born 1948), Roman Catholic archbishop of Olomouc; worked here as a parson in 1982–1990
 * Bolek Polívka (born 1949), actor