Town museum and gallery

The Town Museum and Gallery is housed in a villa originally owned by Johann Budig, the Mayor of Svitavy from 1879-1902. The history of the museum reflects the history of the whole town. The first reported museum was founded in a building called Na Strelnici in 1894. It contained many valuable collections, however, at the end of the second world war in 1945 most of them were destroyed. The contemporary museum was opened to the public in 1947 and its collections were made up of confiscated private property together with exhibits from the previous museum, especially objects of regional character. During the renovation of the building in the sixties the objects were transferred to other museums, social organizations and schools, but only a small part of the original collections was returned after completion of renovations.. The museum was converted into the District Museum of Working-Class Movement and remained as such for the next 20 years. The change in the country's political regime in autumn of 1989 enabled the citizens to re-evaluate the past and to regain what the municipal authorities had given up. Part of the museum collections was returned to Svitavy, but only a fragment of Ottendorfer´s library, once the largest German library in the Czech Lands, was rescued. First and above all, however, a new programme concentrating on collecting artifacts representing old forgotten crafts and housework was launched. If you come to see the Museum in Svitavy today, you can see the exhibition of the town history, or you can get to know the native of Svitavy, Oskar Schindler, of the "Schindler's List" movie fame. The museum's halls, that rank among the most beautiful in Eastern Bohemia, contain works of renowned Czech and foreign artists together with those of local authors.

Oskar Schindler's Monument	Historical target for shooting practice showing blessing of the National Homequard banner on 27th October 1848. The distinct look of the town at that time is shown.

Culture

Svitavy summer festivities

Since 1995, Svitavy's summer festivities are held annually in early September. It is a show of cultural and sports activities for citizens and visitors from the surrounding region.
For a week-long period the town changes its common way of life and particularly the historical center comes alive with various attractions. The highlight of the programme are outdoor concerts of various music genres which last long into the night because they are very popular with the visitors.
The year 1996 was very important as the town commemorated the 740th anniversary of its foundation, at the same time celebrating and emphasizing the fact that it is one of the oldest towns in the Czech Republic.

Foundation of Josef Plíva

  Josef Plíva (1871 - 1947)
  Businessman and philanthropist, the founder of a textile factory in Svitavy
  The foundation is housed in the beautiful burgher´s house at 80 Peace Square
  (námestí Míru) in Svitavy. The organization came into being on 28th October, 1990.
  It is aimed at supporting education and culture and at extending international
  contacts of young generation on its way to cultural Europe. It also effectively
  assists in recovering historical places of interest, in improving life environment
  and in charity activities. It is a non-profitable organization which is subsidized by
  establishments, private people from this country and from abroad, and by its members'
  subscriptions and gifts.