<title>The Historical Town of the Year title goes to Brtnice in Vysočina</title>

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Brtnice (Jihlava) – The title of Historical Town of the Year 2018 has been awarded to Brtnice in the Jihlava region. Last week, commissioners from the Ministry of Regional Development, the Association of Historical Settlements, and the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) made the decision. Brtnice, which also won in the regional round last year, will advance to the national round of the competition, with results to be announced in April. It triumphed over Jemnice and Moravské Budějovice in the Třebíč area, stated Ilona Ampapová from NPÚ Telč in today's press release.

Key activities in 2018 included the extensive revitalization of the castle park, where parts of the enclosing walls and stairs were restored, and the English garden was modified. The restoration of the courtyard and the renovation of the floors in the birthplace of architect and designer Josef Hoffmann were also important. The floors in the lordly granary were successfully restored as well. It is from the 16th century and, according to heritage specialists, has largely preserved its authentic appearance. Brtnice has been gradually restoring it for several years.

Brtnice has around 2400 inhabitants without the connected municipalities, one-third of whom live in the urban heritage zone of 19.6 hectares. The zone includes 28 cultural monuments.

The award for the best preparation and implementation of the Program for the Regeneration of Urban Heritage Reserves and Zones, granting the right to use the title Historical Town of the Year, has been awarded since 1994 by the Association of Historical Settlements of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Regional Development. The first title was awarded in 2005 to Svitavy. The title for 2017 belongs to Slavonice. From the Vysočina region, only Polná has won at the national level so far, which won in 2007.