Jan Blahoslav (1523–1571)
Famous teacher, historian, linguist, Bishop of the
Czech Brethren was born in Přerov in 1523, and graduated
from the Brethren Academy there. He later taught at the school
in Prostějov. His classic translation of the New Testament,
challenging ideas of translating the Bible into Czech and
ennobling the language, and the first Czech book on music
and aesthetics guarantee him an unforgettable place in Czech
history.
Jiří Brdečka (1917–1982)
Writer, screenwriter and director of live
and animated films, critic, draughtsman, journalist. He also
worked with Jiří Trnka, Jan Werich, and especially Oldřich
Lipský. Films include Lemonade Joe, and The Mysterious Castle
in the Carpathians. He was born in Hranice.
Karel Brückner (1939)
World famous
football coach, an Olomouc native
who has made the Czech soccer team popular abroad.
Gaius Julius Caesar
(100 B.C.E.–44 B.C.E.)
According to Humanist legend, Caesar founded the city of Olomouc.
Antonín
Dvořák (1841–1904)
World famous
music composer, who worked in
Lipník nad Bečvou at the family of the national revivalist
Jan Antonovič Neff and who composed the work Moravian Duets
at his request, having its premier in Lipník nad Bečvou during
the winter holidays in 1877. In his honour the annual Dvořák’s
Lipník classical music festival is held there every May.
Gustav Frištenský
(1879–1957)
One of the most famous
Czech sportsmen, who
was a citizen of Litovel for 40 years, after his marriage
there at the age of 20. He lived on the street which has since
been named after him. Among other honours, he was the European
champion at Greco-Roman wrestling. He is buried in Litovel.
Josef Heřman Agapit Gallaš
(1756–1840)
Moravian revivalist, doctor, writer, painter,
who lived in Hranice. From his family house he ran a hospital,
taught children, and put together the books and materials
of his literary activities.
Edmund Husserl (1859–1938)
World famous
philosopher, the
founder
of Phenomenology, was born in 1859 in the Jewish
ghetto in Prostějov.
Franz Joseph I. (1830–1916)
King of Hungary and Austrian Emperor ascended
to the throne in 1848 in the Olomouc Archbishop’s Palace.
Jan
Ámos Komenský (Comenius) (1592–1670)
Theologian, philosopher and school reformer,
the “teacher of nations,” studied at the Czech Brethren Academy
in Přerov and after studies abroad was its rector in the years
1614–18. There he also began to prepare his extensive theological,
scientific and literary activities. In Přerov he was wed to
Magdalena Vízovská.
Generál Lafayette (1757–1834)
French
Revolution general, who at the end
of the 18th century (1794–97) was imprisoned in the Olomouc
garrison.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756–1791)
World famous
music composer, who during his
stay in Olomouc in the year 1767 composed his 6th Symphony
in F-Major.
Josef Mánes (1820–1871)
Important
Czech painter of the 19th century,
who often stayed at the chateau in Čechy pod Kosířem, where
he created his most famous works. In his memory there is a
Memorial Hall in the chateau, furnished with many of his works.
Jan Opletal (1915–1939)
First
student victim of the Nazis, born in
Lhota u Nákla, a graduate of the high school in Litovel, which
now bears his name. His grave is located in the cemetery in
Náklo.
Pope
John Paul II. (1920–2005)
In the year 1995 he visited Olomouc, where he canonised St.
John Sarkander and St. Zdislava of Lemberk and elevated the
church on Svatý Kopeček to a Basilica Minor.
Jan Josef Václav Radetzky
of Radetz (1766-1858)
Austrian Field Marshall, who commanded the
Olomouc garrison in 1830.
Bedřich
Smetana (1824–1884)
World famous
music composer. He spent summers
with his family during the years 1852–1854 in Týn nad Bečvou.
It was there that in 1854 his two year-old daughter Gabriela
died of tuberculosis. The monumental castle of Helfštýn, located
in that district, inspired Smetana to write the opera The
Devil’s Wall and discover the musical motifs for the compositions
Vyšehrad and The Secret.
Edith Stein (1891–1942)
Philosopher interested in Phenomenology,
the personal secretary to Edmund Husserl.
From 7 April to 1 September 1915 she worked in Hranice as
a volunteer nurse in the typhoid ward. In the year 1942 she
was imprisoned and sent to Auschwitz, where she died. In 1998
she was canonised by Pope John Paul II as St. Teresa Benedicta
of the Cross and named one of the five patrons of United Europe.
Ivan Theimer (1944)
Sculptor, painter, graphic artist and draughtsman,
born in Olomouc. In 2002 he completed the Arion Fountain,
for centuries planned as part of the group of Olomouc town
fountains.
Václav III. (1289–1306)
The
last Přemyslid king was murdered in his
17th year in 1306 at the Olomouc Castle.
František Venclovský
(1932–1996)
Iron man, long distance swimmer, and first Czech to
swim across La Manche. After his first unsuccessful
attempt in 1970, a year later he completed the swim in 15
hours, 26 minutes, and in 1975 he completed it in 13 hours,
42 minutes. Each time he swam from France to England. One
of the great Czech iron men.
Ladislav Vlodek (1907–1996)
Hranice native,
painter, sculptor, graphic artist.
Otto Wichterle (1913–1998)
Inventor of flexible contact lenses and nylon,
born in Prostějov.
