Veselí nad Moravou
A historic town and municipality on the Morava River in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Veselí nad Moravou is a town and municipality in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Morava River, approximately 21 kilometres northeast of Hodonín, in a transition zone between the Lower Morava Valley and the Vizovice Highlands. The municipality has about 11,000 inhabitants and consists of the urban core of Veselí nad Moravou together with the municipal parts of Milokošť and Zarazice. Its territory includes the Radošov hill, which reaches 246 metres, and a section of the Baťa Canal along the Morava River. The settlement has medieval origins. A water castle and associated settlement were recorded in 1261, while a town called Veselí was established around 1370–1375. The original settlement later developed separately and became known as Předměstí Veselí, or the suburb of Veselí. The town and its estate passed through the hands of several noble families. In the sixteenth century, Hynek Bilík of Kornice acquired Veselí and transformed the castle into a Renaissance residence. The town and suburb suffered repeated destruction during the Thirty Years’ War, when both were burned several times and the castle was looted. The Chorinský family acquired the Veselí estate in 1731. Under their ownership, the castle was rebuilt in a Neoclassical form between 1834 and 1840. The town’s modern name was adopted in 1886, when Veselí was renamed Veselí nad Moravou to distinguish it more clearly from other places called Veselí. Railway connections followed soon afterward: lines linking the town with Brno and Rohatec were constructed in 1887 and 1888, strengthening its role as a regional transport centre. A major municipal consolidation occurred in 1919, when Veselí, Předměstí Veselí and the previously independent Jewish community were merged into one municipality. Zarazice was incorporated in 1950 and Milokošť in 1964. Both settlements subsequently became urbanistically connected with the town. In the 2021 census, the three municipal parts had populations of 8,822 in Veselí nad Moravou, 730 in Milokošť and 803 in Zarazice. Veselí nad Moravou’s identity is strongly connected with its preserved historic centre and cultural heritage. The centre is situated on an island formed by the Morava River and is protected as an urban monument zone. Important landmarks include Bartolomějské náměstí, the Church of Saint Bartholomew, the Church of the Virgin Mary, the former Servite monastery and the Church of the Holy Guardian Angels. Panský dvůr, a seventeenth-century manor and agricultural complex, now accommodates visitor, cultural and exhibition functions. Veselí nad Moravou Castle remains an important historic feature, although wartime damage and later inappropriate use left it in need of continuing repair; its park and fishpond system are accessible to the public, while the castle itself is not generally open to visitors. Today the town functions as a local administrative, cultural, transport and tourism centre. It is located on an interregional railway route from Brno toward Uherské Hradiště and on a regional route connecting Hodonín with Vrbovce in Slovakia. The Morava River, the Baťa Canal, the historic centre, municipal museums and galleries, and the castle park contribute to its tourism offer. Veselí nad Moravou also maintains sister-city relationships with Crespellano, now part of Valsamoggia in Italy, Malacky in Slovakia and Żnin in Poland.
History
The history of Veselí nad Moravou is rooted in a medieval fortified settlement on the Morava River. A water castle and settlement at Veselí were documented in 1261. During the late fourteenth century, approximately between 1370 and 1375, a town was established and took the name Veselí. The earlier settlement continued to develop separately and was later identified as Předměstí Veselí, meaning the suburb of Veselí. In 1526, the estate came into the possession of Hynek Bilík of Kornice. He had the castle rebuilt as a Renaissance residence, giving the settlement a more substantial aristocratic centre. Veselí and its neighbouring settlement endured severe disruption during the Thirty Years’ War. Both were burned on several occasions, and the castle was looted. These events shaped the later rebuilding of the town and its architectural fabric. The Chorinský family purchased the estate in 1731. Their period of ownership included the transformation of the castle into the Neoclassical building seen today, carried out between 1834 and 1840. Other important historic buildings also date from the early modern and Baroque periods. The former Servite monastery was founded in 1714, abolished in 1784 and associated with the Church of the Holy Guardian Angels, whose construction was completed in 1764. The oldest church in the town is the Church of the Virgin Mary, which retains Romanesque-Gothic elements thought to date from the third quarter of the thirteenth century. The town adopted the name Veselí nad Moravou in 1886. Its importance increased with the arrival of railways: connections toward Brno and Rohatec were built in 1887 and 1888. In 1919, Veselí, Předměstí Veselí and the formerly independent Jewish community were united administratively. Later state-led municipal changes brought Zarazice into the town in 1950 and Milokošť in 1964. The two incorporated parts subsequently became physically integrated into the wider settlement. The twentieth century brought further damage to the built heritage. Veselí nad Moravou Castle was damaged during the Second World War and later affected by insensitive uses. Restoration has proceeded gradually, while the castle park and its fishponds remain publicly accessible. The historic centre, located on a river island, has retained enough of its character to receive protection as an urban monument zone. Its principal public spaces and buildings include Bartolomějské náměstí, the Church of Saint Bartholomew, the town museum and the former monastery buildings, some of which now serve as municipal offices. In the contemporary period, Veselí nad Moravou serves as a local centre for administration, culture, transport and tourism. Panský dvůr, originally built as a complex of farm buildings and a large granary in 1646, now houses a regional tourist information centre, a small museum, an art gallery and cultural spaces. The town’s location beside the Morava River and the Baťa Canal supports recreational tourism, while its railway links connect it with other settlements in South Moravia and eastern Moravia. International municipal links include Crespellano, now within Valsamoggia in Italy, Malacky in Slovakia and Żnin in Poland.
- 2021
Census population recorded
[1]The census recorded 8,822 residents in Veselí nad Moravou, 730 in Milokošť and 803 in Zarazice.
- 1964
Milokošť incorporated
[1]Milokošť was annexed to Veselí nad Moravou and later became urbanistically connected with the town.
- 1950
Zarazice incorporated
[1]The municipality of Zarazice was annexed to Veselí nad Moravou.
- 1919
Municipal merger
[1]Veselí, Předměstí Veselí and the formerly independent Jewish community were merged into one municipality.
- 1888
Railway connection to Rohatec
[1]A further railway connection toward Rohatec was completed.
- 1887
Railway connection to Brno
[1]Railway construction linked the town with Brno and formed part of its emergence as a regional transport centre.
- 1886
Name changed to Veselí nad Moravou
[1]The town adopted its current name, distinguishing it from other settlements named Veselí.
- 1834
Neoclassical castle rebuilding
[1]The castle was reconstructed in Neoclassical form between 1834 and 1840.
- 1731
Chorinský ownership begins
[1]The Chorinský family purchased the Veselí estate and subsequently oversaw major rebuilding work.
- 1714
Servite monastery founded
[1]A Servite monastery was established, later becoming part of the town’s important Baroque architectural heritage.
Products and positioning
A regional Czech town positioned around historic heritage, river and canal tourism, cultural facilities, municipal services and transport connections.
Cultural heritage
Historic town centre
The historic centre occupies an island in the Morava River and is protected as an urban monument zone. Its principal features include Bartolomějské náměstí, the Church of Saint Bartholomew, the town museum and a concentration of preserved historic buildings. It forms the core of the town’s heritage and visitor identity.
Heritage tourism
Veselí nad Moravou Castle and park
The castle originated as a medieval water castle and was rebuilt as a Renaissance residence before receiving its present Neoclassical appearance in the nineteenth century. Although damaged during the Second World War and not generally open to visitors, the castle park, fishpond system and associated administration building remain notable public heritage features.
Tourism and culture · 1646
Panský dvůr
Built as a manor and agricultural complex in 1646, Panský dvůr is represented today by a surviving administrative building. It accommodates a regional tourist information centre, a small museum, an art gallery and cultural spaces, making it one of the town’s principal visitor-oriented facilities.
Water-based tourism
Baťa Canal and Morava River recreation
The town’s setting on the Morava River and beside part of the Baťa Canal supports boating, riverside recreation and regional tourism. The canal and river complement Veselí nad Moravou’s historic attractions and contribute to its role as a destination in South Moravia.
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