Bzenec

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title: "Bzenec" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-hodonín-district", "cities-and-towns-in-the-south-moravian-region", "moravian-slovakia", "jewish-communities-in-the-czech-republic"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bzenec" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Bzenec
settlement_type	Town
image_skyline	Bzenec namesti Svobody 01.jpg
image_caption	View of Bzenec centre
image_flag	Bzenec(vlajka).png
image_shield	Bzenec (znak).png
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name
subdivision_type1	Region
subdivision_name1	South Moravian
subdivision_type2	District
subdivision_name2	Hodonín
pushpin_map	Czech Republic
pushpin_relief	1
pushpin_map_caption	Location in the Czech Republic
coordinates
leader_title	Mayor
leader_name	Erik Ebringer
established_title	First mentioned
established_date	1231
area_total_km2	40.34
elevation_m	183
population_as_of	2025-01-01
population_footnotes
population_total	4561
population_density_km2	auto
timezone1	CET
utc_offset1	+1
timezone1_DST	CEST
utc_offset1_DST	+2
postal_code_type	Postal code
postal_code	696 81
website
::

Geography

Bzenec is located about 16 km northeast of Hodonín. Larger part of the municipal territory lies in a flat landscape of the Lower Morava Valley. The northern hilly part lies in the Kyjov Hills and include the highest point of Bzenec, Horní hory at 292 m above sea level. The town is situated on the Syrovinka Stream.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Bzenec_synagoga.jpg" caption="Bzenec with the synagogue on a historical postcard"] ::

The first written mention of Bzenec is from 1015, when the local Businc Castle was conquered by Duke Oldřich. Around 1230, Bzenec became a regional centre. In 1330, Bzenec was first referred to as a town. First Jews settled here probably in the second half of the 14th century. The Jewish community belonged to the oldest in Moravia.

The original castle on the hill above the town was badly damaged during the Hussite Wars and demolished in the late 15th century. A new late Gothic fortress was built right in the town. In the 16th century, it was rebuilt into a Renaissance castle. Until 1514, the Bzenec estate was owned by the royal chamber, although it was often pawned.

The first reliable mentions of the Jewish community date back to the 16th century. The Jews were permitted to own vineyards, which, together with the town's convenient location on the trade route, were the reasons why they settled here. In 1605, the town was severely damaged by the army of Stephen Bocskai. Bzenec further suffered during the Thirty Years' War. The Jewish community was completely destroyed. The town recovered only slowly.

When the estate was owned by Count Erdmann Kryštof Pruskovský of Pruskov, the castle was rebuilt in the Baroque style according to the design of Domenico Martinelli in 1709–1710. The castle garden was rebuilt partly into a French formal garden and partly into an English park. In 1852, Count Vilém of Reichenbach had demolished the Baroque castle and had built a new neo-Gothic castle in 1855–1858. As a result, the count became very indebted, which eventually led to his suicide, and the second floor of the castle remained unfinished.

Demographics

|align=none|cols=3 |1869|3874 |1880|3756 |1890|4225 |1900|4271 |1910|4468 |1921|4320 |1930|4562 |1950|4137 |1961|4291 |1970|4013 |1980|4079 |1991|4113 |2001|4200 |2011|4251 |2021|4294 |source=Censuses}}

Economy

Bzenec is known for viticulture and wine production. The town also has a tradition of growing fruit and vegetables. Pickled cucumbers and vegetable salads are mainly produced here.

Bzenec is also known for the vinegar production. The vinegar plant was founded here in 1864.

Transport

Bzenec is located on the railway lines Brno–Staré Město and Kyjov–Veselí nad Moravou.

Sights

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Bzenec_-_zámek_zezadu.JPG" caption="Bzenec Castle"] ::

The castle fell into disrepair and today is owned by the town. It is inaccessible. The castle park is open to the public.

A notable landmark of the town is the Chapel of Saints Florian and Sebastian. It was built in 1703 on the hill above the town, on the site where the old castle stood. Due to its location, the chapel was struck several times by lightning, then it was destroyed during World War II. The chapel was restored only recently, and was opened in 2018.

Notable people

Rudolf Auspitz (1837–1906), Austrian industrialist, economist; lived here
Nehemiah Brüll (1843–1891), rabbi; lived here
Max Kurzweil (1867–1916), Austrian painter, graphic artist
Norbert Jokl (1877–1942), Austrian linguist, father of Albanology

Twin towns – sister cities

Bzenec is twinned with:

GER Egeln, Germany
FRA Mûrs-Erigné, France

References

(2025-05-16). "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2025". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
"Historie města". Město Bzenec.
"Zámek". Starý Bzenec.
"Majitelé bzeneckého panství". Starý Bzenec.
"Židovská obec ve Bzenci". Starý Bzenec.
{{JewishEncyclopedia. link. [[Gotthard Deutsch]], Josef Hoff
(2015-12-21). "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
(2021-03-27). "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
(23 November 2015). "Historie Bzenecké octárny". Bzenecký ocet.
"Detail stanice Bzenec". [[České dráhy]].
"Bzenecká lípa". Město Bzenec.
"Kaple sv. Floriána a Šebestiána". Město Bzenec.
"Úvodní stránka:artnerská města". Město Bzenec.

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