The royal town of Ivančice became the l3th-century heir of a GreatMoravian water fortress. Reminiscent of the old viticultural tradition are the three golden cups of wine in the coat-of-arms, by the way, one of the oldest in Czechia. Bohemian Kings enclosed the town in walls to guard the richly privileged burghers. Before the battle of the White Mountain, the town had an influential Czech Brethren Congregation and was seat of the Unitas Fratrum's Bishop Jan Blahoslav. The wealthy religious community ran an outstanding school and printing house. It was here that the first ever translation of the Bible into Czech was made. In the l9th century Ivančice's aspirations acquired another dimension: local asparagus became a must that could not be missing at any gourmet table including the royal one in Vienna. Locally outstanding architectural sights are the Our Lady Assumption Church, several Renaissance houses, the old town hall, and the House of Court. Our Lady's sculptural group was erected in 1726. Ascendable along the Way of Cross, the 1852-58 erected St Jacob's Church presides over the place. Just outside the town there is a vast Jewish cemetery with many Gothic and Renaissance tombstones. Řeznovice, an outskirt part of Ivančice, has a l2th-century Romanesque rotunda. Typical local crafts were pottery and jug making, white ceramic goods with blue decoration and faience. In 1860, Ivančice became the birthplace of Alfons Mucha, the outstanding Art-Nouveau painter. Another native celebrity is Vladimír Menšík, theatre and TV actor. The present image of Ivančice is one of a medium-sized industrial centre at a confluence of three rivers with leading textile branch.

The Jihlava River weir with the town skyline in the background

The neo-Gothic St Jacob's Church in winter

Alfons Mucha's Dramatic Arts Allegory (390 x ?SO cm) showing tragedy (lady in the centre), poetry (girl with the nightingale) and comedy (man in clown's costume).