Oslavany

History

The first written mention of Oslavany is from 1104. It was originally an agricultural and wine-growing village. In the 13th century, copper and other metals were mined in the adjacent hills. In 1225, the first Cistercian convent in Moravia was founded here. The village of Oslavany was owned by the convent until the 16th century. When the convent was dissolved in 1525, Oslavany was acquired by the Althan family and the convent was rebuilt into a Renaissance residence. In 1760, hard coal deposits were found here and soon it was the only place in Moravia where coal was mined. The greatest development of mining occurred in the 19th century and especially after 1913, when a power plant was established here. Coal mining and electricity generation changed the village both economically and environmentally. In the 1960s, the population of Oslavany grew rapidly as housing estates were built for the new employers. Coal mining ceased in 1973 and electricity production in 1993. As a result, the town has lost its industrial character.

Geography

Oslavany is located about southwest of Brno. Most of the territory lies in the Boskovice Furrow, but the western part of the municipal territory extends into the Křižanov Highlands and Jevišovice Uplands. The highest point is at above sea level. The Oslava River flows through the town.

Most-observed species

• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  5,028
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,676
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  3,704
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,463
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,120
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,035
• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,979
• European Goldfinch

  Carduelis carduelis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,966

Most recent

• M 3 — 2006-03-21
  1 km NNW of Bystré, Czechia