The town of Náměšť nad Oslavou has been named Historic Town of the Year 2025, a national award recognizing how municipalities use state funding to restore cultural heritage.

The competition is organized by the Association of Historical Settlements of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, together with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry for Regional Development.

The award focuses on the effective use of grants from the Ministry of Culture aimed at preserving urban heritage reserves and zones. This year’s winner was selected from 13 finalists in the 32nd edition of the competition. In 2024, the title went to Moravská Třebová.

According to the jury, Náměšť nad Oslavou has taken a consistent and structured approach to restoring historic buildings, while maintaining close cooperation with the National Institute for Historic Preservation, which manages the local chateau. The town is also home to the Žižka oak, considered one of the oldest oak trees in the country.

Recent restoration work in the town has included the renovation of a former manufactory building as part of a heritage regeneration program. In previous years, the town repaired a historic bridge and installed replicas of Baroque statues along it. Work has also begun on the old town hall, with plans underway to restore its interiors.

Alongside the main award, the Ministry for Regional Development recognized Kolín in Central Bohemia and Nový Jičín in the Moravian-Silesian Region, each receiving 100,000 crowns.

The same financial reward was granted to regional winners. Kadaň, which previously won the national title in 1995, received special recognition for its long-term approach to preservation.

The Czech Republic currently has around 40,000 immovable cultural monuments, along with 39 urban heritage reserves and 255 heritage zones.

The Historic Town of the Year award is traditionally presented to mark the International Day for Monuments and Sites on April 18.

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