Bílovec, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic

🇨🇿 Bílovec (Wagstadt) is a town in Nový Jičín District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Administrative parts Villages of Bravinné, Lhotka, Lubojaty, Ohrada, Stará Ves and Výškovice are administrative parts of Bílovec. Výškovice forms an exclave of the municipal territory.

Geography Bílovec is located about 16 km (10 mi) west of Ostrava. It lies mostly in the Nízký Jeseník range; a small part of the territory extends into the Moravian Gate. The town is situated on both banks of the Bílovka River. Bílovec Reservoir is located on the outskirts of the town.

History The first written mention of Bílovec is from 1324. The town was probably founded by Vok V of Kravaře between 1293–1324. It was located on the crossroads of two trade routes and belonged to the Duchy of Troppau. Bílovec was heavily fortified with walls with two gates and a fortress.

In 1575–1576, the then-owner Bernard Pražma of Bílkov had rebuilt the fortress into a four-wing Renaissance castle. From 1652 until the 20th century, the estate was held by the Sedlnický of Choltice family. The town gained various privileges which allowed it to develop further. After a large fire in 1729, the castle was reconstructed in the Baroque style.

In the second half of the 19th century, Bílovec was industrialized. A cloth factory (later a hat factory and then an iron factory), a steam saw, a book printer and a liqueur factory were established. In 1890, the railway connection was opened.

Until 1918, Bílovec was part of Austria-Hungary, in the district with the same name. In 1938, it was occupied by Nazi Germany and administered as part of the Reichsgau Sudetenland, the portion of Czechoslovakia turned over to Germany in the wake of the Munich Agreement. After the conclusion of World War II, the German speaking population was expelled from the region in 1945 according to the Beneš decrees and replaced by Czech settlers.

After World War II, prefabricated houses were constructed, which disrupted the ancient character of the town.

Transport The D1 motorway (the section from Brno to Ostrava) passes south-east of the town, outside the municipal territory.

Bílovec is the terminus of a short railway line from Studénka.

Education There is one secondary school in Bílovec, the Gymnasium of Mikuláš Koperník.

Sights The town square is lined by preserved burgher houses. The landmarks of the square are the town hall and the Church of Saint Nicholas. The Renaissance town hall with gothic cellars dates from 1593. In a baroque burgher house from the 18th century there is the town museum.

The originally Gothic church was built in the 14th century. In 1771, baroque modifications of the church were made. The tower was built in 1614–1615. It is 50.67 metres (166.2 ft) high and open to the public.

In the middle of the square is a giant chessboard, with an area of 8 by 8 metres (26 by 26 ft) the largest one in the Czech Republic.

Bílovec Castle is open to the public. It containts several expositions and a gallery.