Nové Město na Moravě is sometimes called the heart of the Horácko Region and its surroundings is considered to be the most beautiful part of the Czech-Moravian Highlands. The town has a special charm thanks to the impressive connection of an imposing town with a beautiful and easy to reach nature in its vicinity.
Nové Město na Moravě (600 metres above sea level and approx. 10,500 inhabitants) was established in the year 1250 by a founder of the Cistercian Monastery in Žďár nad Sázavou Boček of Obřany. At the end of the 15th century the town as well as the domain became the ownership of the Pernštejn dynasty; the town reached its biggest development during the reign of Vratislav of Pernštejn and Vilém Dubský of Třebomyslice. The latter had a Renaissance castle built here at the end of the 16th century. After the Battle of the White Mountain the castle as well as the domain became Cardinal Ditrichstein’s ownership. He declared Nové Město a town in the year 1635. Today, a well preserved historical centre creates a Historic Town Reserve.
The oldest monument is a Catholic Church of St. Kunhuta in Vratislav Square. A Gothic presbytery is preserved inside. Gradually a church nave and a tower were being additionally built. However, in the year 1723 the church was struck by a big fire. So called “Black Chapel“ decorated with sgrafitoes by a painter Karel Němec, a local native, is very interesting. K. Němec also decorated a cemetery Chapel of the Assumption of Virgin Mary. In an original Renaissance castle (which was rebuilt several times, for the last time it was in a Neo-Renaissance style) there is a Gallery of the Horácko Region. In the former town hall from the year 1555 there is a seat of the Museum of the Horácko Region.
The town is a birth place or place of work of several significant artists. Let us remember two of them – a sculptor Jan Štursa and his pupil Vincenc Makovský. Their work is a part of our national cultural heritage. The Vratislav Square was rebuilt according to the architectural design of Vincenc Makovský and we can find here a lot of works of art that create sort of impressive outdoor gallery. It is especially Štursa’s bronze sculpture “The Injured One” in front of the artist’s native house, a statue of František Palacký or a bust of T. G. Masaryk. In the place of the original Protestant house of prayer there is a bust of Jan Amos Komenský, a work of sculptor Julius Pelikán.
Nové Město na Moravě is a popular destination for those who admire summer or winter sports. There are ideal tracks for cross country skiing; a famous race called “A Golden Ski” has been organized here since the year 1934.
After the Battle of the White Mountain the counter-Reformation in Nové Město and its surroundings was very consequential. The Protestants were very happy about the Toleration Patent and they chose the Reformed confession. The congregation was officially established in the year 1783. The first worship took place here at the end of the year 1782. A small toleration house of prayer was built already in the year 1784 and after various alterations it served until the year 1897 when a foundation stone for a construction of a new church was laid. Vienna architect Ferdinand Glaser designed a building in a Neo-Classicist style and the church was built by a builder Josef Sadílek. Glaser also designed the interior equipment which remained unchanged until now. In September 1898 there was a ceremonial worship to consecrate the church. The church was being repaired several times and it serves a big, live congregation which looks after it very carefully. Near the church across the garden there is a rectory which replaced the original one, not suitable anymore, in the year 1947.
In Nové Město na Moravě there is also a Protestant cemetery where a national artist Vincenc Makovský, a congregation member is buried. A former Synodical Senior of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren (ECCB) ThDr. Josef Křenek is also buried here.