VYSOČINA REGION
The Region is characterised by its rugged terrain, high altitude, and low population density. The Region is attractive because of its comparatively low levels of air pollution and relatively healthy forests. The Vysočina Region also offers many fine opportunities for summer and winter stays, as well as the possibility of visiting a number of valuable historical and cultural monuments. There are three UNESCO monuments in the Vysočina Region. They are the historical centre of Telč, the Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk on Zelená hora near Žďár nad Sázavou, and the Jewish Quarter with Cemetery and Basilica of St Procopius in Třebíč. Besides urban tourism, the future of tourism in the Region will undoubtedly rest on various forms of tranquil, environmentally-friendly stays. This is supported by a dense network of tourist trails (approx. 2 900 km), the development of bicycle routes, and the gradually emerging agrofarms providing accommodation.
ECONOMIC POTENTIAL The Region accounts for more than one-third of the total potato production in the Czech Republic. The Region also holds first position in the harvesting of fodder crops cultivated on arable land and in maize production (17 % of national output). With regard to livestock production, the Vysočina Region specialises in cattle and pig rearing. As concerns economic growth, the Region’s most important economic sector is industry. In the past few years, industrial production in the Region has been very dynamic and has favourably influenced the entire regional economy. Much credit for this is due to the intensive development of industrial parks along the D1 motorway (Jihlava, Humpolec, Velké Meziříčí), which was followed by massive direct foreign investment in industrial output in the Region. The most important industrial sectors in the Vysočina Region are metalworking, engineering, and the automotive industry, specifically the manufacture of car components. The leading industrial enterprise in the Vysočina Region is Bosch Diesel, which manufactures diesel fuel injection pumps for the automotive industry. Another important engineering enterprise in the Region is Motorpal Jihlava, which has a similar production programme to Bosch Diesel. The largest clothing manufacturing enterprise in the Region is the traditional underwear manufacturing firm, PLEAS Havlíčkův Brod, owned by the interna-
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tional SCHIESSER GROUP AG, based in Switzerland. An important industrial employer in the Havlíčkův Brod District is Futaba Czech, the supplier of components for the automotive industry, which started production in the Havlíčkův Brod-Baštinov locality in 2005. The construction of this plant on a greenfield site was the first investment project of the Japanese concern in continental Europe. Another foreign investor to locate a plant in the Region, specifically in the Pelhřimov District, is Valeo Compressor Europe — an important employer in the Region — manufacturing compressors for car air-conditioning units. Its customers include leading global car manufacturers (Renault, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Mercedes, Toyota, Volvo, Nissan, and others). Engineering is represented in the Pelhřimov District by the traditional manufacturer of agricultural machinery, AGROSTROJ Pelhřimov. In recent years, the firm has significantly broadened its production range and increased its output. ŽĎAS company is a prominent industrial enterprise in the Žďár District. It is one of the most advanced Czech engineering firms. For more than 65 years, it has been a modern and reliable manufacturer of forming machines, rolled products’ processing machines, metallurgical products, and pressing tools. Its production halls are fitted with high-quality machines for heavy- and light-duty machining, assembly, and product testing. The firm supplies its products to nearly 50 countries worldwide. The Vysočina Region has the most vast timber reserves in the Czech Republic, with a well-developed woodworking industry. The most important enterprises in this area are Stora Enso, Kronospan, and Sapeli – the largest and historically the oldest door manufacturer in the Czech Republic. DDL – Dřevozpracující družstvo cooperative – is another large firm operating in the timber production and wood-processing sector, with a 60-year tradition in sawn wood and wood-based panel manufacture. The glass industry is a traditional manufacturing branch in the Region, represented by smaller export-oriented firms, such as CRYSTALITE BOHEMIA s.r.o. Another manufacturing firm is Bohemia Machine at Světlá nad Sázavou, the cradle of original Bohemian crystal cut glass. It is a recognised manufacturer and supplier of high-quality glassmaking machines, to which it has recently added the manufacture of luxury modern-style crystal products under the BOMMA trademark. Another interesting project
Photo: © CzechTourism archives, Author: Jaroslav Mareš
The Vysočina Region has an advantageous central location not only within the Czech Republic, but also in the whole of Europe. The D1 motorway, the E59 road, and the Vysočina railway corridor offer the opportunity to reach important European transport hubs and major cities quickly. The closest airport, Brno-Tuřany, can be reached by car from most of the towns in the Region in one to two hours, and Václav Havel Airport Prague can be reached in two hours. Vienna International Airport is 2.5 hours away. The territory of the Vysočina Region is administratively divided into five districts.
