ÿþ<html> <head> <title>Telc, about Unesco Heritage Town!</title> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="town-styles.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="nav-bar.css" /> </head> <body> <h2>Tel   One of the most beautiful towns in the Czech Republic</h2> <p><strong>The protected historical centre of Tel  was added to UNESCO s list of world cultural heritage sites in 1992. Tel  is a perfectly preserved small medieval town surrounded by protective lakes and dominated by a chateau which gained its current appearance thanks to two periods of reconstruction in the late Gothic and Renaissance eras. The square also has some impressive townhouse facades dating from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. </strong></p> <p>This one-time royal fort, founded in the 13th century at the crossroads of several busy trade routes, gained its current appearance in the 16th century when the chateau and the historical centre were rebuilt. The Jesuits, who were active in the town, also played their part in this development. In addition to the chateau and surrounding English style park, one of the most celebrated places of interest in Tel  is its square. This is a unique complex of Renaissance and Baroque townhouses whose arcading and facades were constructed according to a single plan. This set of townhouses with decorated gables came about thanks to one Zachariáa of Hradec. Zachariáa was a great admirer of Italian Renaissance architecture, and had his chateau rebuilt in this style, making it one of the best examples of Renaissance era architecture in the Czech lands. The historical interiors (Blue and Gold Salons, the Knights Hall with its timber panel ceiling) are packed full of grand decoration period features and priceless collections. In the chateau garden visitors will find a gallery devoted to the painter Jan Zrzavý. In the former burgrave s house there is also a museum housing ethnographical collections (and a mechanical nativity scene) and an exhibition on the history of the town (includes a model of the town from 1895). Tel  Chateau became a centre of culture for the wider area in the early 19th century when the  musical count Podstatský of Lichtenstein was in residence here. This cultural tradition has given rise to many other events such as those held by the Franco-Czech Musical Academy. At present the chateau plays an important role in the arts in Tel , especially in music. History has bequeathed the Highlands Region a great number of historical sites, of which three  Tel  town centre, the Church of St John of Nepomuk near }ár nad Sázavou and the Jewish Quarter in TYebí   have been added to UNESCO s list of world cultural heritage sites. In addition to its architectural treasures, the Highlands Region is been blessed with incredibly beautiful countryside. The landscape is crisscrossed with hundreds of kilometres of marked hiking trails which lead walkers through picturesque villages, meadows and forests. Ecologically the region is one of the best preserved areas in the country, and is often called the green heart of the Czech Republic. The region s rivers and lakes, favourites among windsurfers and anglers, only add to the idyllic scene. And it s also ideal country for horse riding and cycling as there is a well-marked network of cycle tracks. Glassmaking has a well-founded tradition in the Highlands Region, and local museums usually feature collections of glass in their exhibitions. </p> <br /> <br /> <div id="navbar"> <ul><li><a href="index.html" class="current">Home</a></li> </div> </body> </html>