History

Castle The first written evidence of Blatna is from the year 1235 but it is suspected that there was a fortified castle and settlement here before that. The origin of such settlements in Blatna is supported by material evidence dating back to the 5th century B.C. and then by evidence of Slavic settlements from the 8th and 9th centuries A.D. Under the Bavori of Strakonice rule the settlement flourished and its importance rose the greatest under the rule of the last members of the House of Bavori in the l4th century. This successful trend intensified in the l5th century through the beginning of the 16th century when Blatna was the center of the estates of the significant Czech House of Rozmital. The most important member of the House of Rozmital was Jaroslav Lev. He lead a Czech Delegation of representatives sent by the Czech King Jiri (George) of Podebrady to soveriegn European states with the aim of gaining support for a general peace union among the states. This delegation left on November 11, 1465 from a courtyard of the Blatna Castle. Jaroslav Lev was also generous in the rebuilding of the castle. The rebuilding process was continued (after 1523) by his son, Zdenek Lev, who contracted the work of the important architect B. Rejt. His most important work in Blatna is the gothic / renaissance palace. The House of Rozmital also donated the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Blatna which had been built in the years 1444 - 1515. The burghers of Blatna had privileges which encouraged the development of craftsmanship and enabled the growth of the town's markets and one particular undertaking - the right to brew beer. As a result of economic stabilization at the end of the 16th century, Blatna was raised to the status of town in 1601. The Thirty Years' War brought a range of disasters to the town. Blatna, located along an important communication route between southern Bohemia and western Bohemia, was often a meeting ground for military units from opposing sides. This always resulted in pilages, fires and general destruction of property. The Baroque period also left its mark on Blatna. The St. John Baptist Church, located in nearby Pastiky and work of the famous architect K. I. Dienzenhofer, is a clear architectural jewel of the Blatna area from the l8th century. In the l9th century, other small establishments began in Blatna and agricultural production continued on a small scale. Experienced craftsman did attempt to develop larger markets but insufficient investments, limited resources and poor communications inhibited this development. In spite of these unfavorable economic conditions, the cultural life of the town developed successfully. This could be seen by the development of cultural institutions such as theatre and by the establishment of educatioal facilities. The comprehensive school in Blatna, founded in 1871, was one of the first of its kind in Bohemia. Railway construction at the beginning of the 20th century had a favorable influence on craftsman undertakings. The railway also provided a better connection to the industrial area of Pribram. After WWI, Blatna became involved in rose cultivation and this became a main attribute of the town. Traditions of many types are still alive in Blatna. The land around Blatna is characterized by mild granite knolls and small ponds. Blatna and its surroundings are an area that have been influenced by generations of small-scale farmers, pond-diggers, stone-cutters and craftsman. Today, these activities continue side-by-side with effors to improve the ecology and restore important cultural monuments.