History of Jablonec nad Nisou

History

While the earliest written record of a settlement along the Nisa River, known as Jablonec, dates back to 1356, it initially did not attain the significance of settlements in more fertile regions within the kingdom during the Middle Ages.

The demise of the settlement occurred in August 1496 when it was razed to the ground by the Lusatian forces, adversaries of the Czech king, Jiří (George) of Poděbrady. Subsequently, during the economic reorganization of the Malá Skála dominion in the 1530s and 40s by the Vartenberks, the original Czech population was gradually replaced by German settlers from the glass-making centers of Nový Bor and the Ore Mountains. These skilled artisans established themselves in this resource-rich region abundant in wood, sand, and water.

In the midst of the Thirty Years' War, Jablonec faced its second devastation on May 2, 1643, leading to the forced exodus of local Lutherans. The Counts Des Fourse acquired a substantial portion of the Jablonec area after the renowned Albrecht of Wallenstein, the owner of Malá Skála dominion during the early stages of the war, relinquished control. The latter half of the 17th century witnessed Jablonec's resurgence, particularly in glass production, culminating in the construction of a new stone church dedicated to Saint Ann in the 1680s.

By the mid-18th century, Jablonec's renowned Jizerské glass makers expanded their offerings to include artificial jewelry, capturing the interest of neighboring regions. Entrepreneurs like Jan František Schwann began exporting local products throughout Europe, marking the town's economic and trading ascension.

Jablonec's transformation into a township was formalized by an Imperial Decree on April 21, 1808, granting the privilege of organizing annual markets and fairs. Despite early global commercial connections in the 1830s and 40s, limited transportation access hindered growth until the construction of the Krkonošská (Giant-Mountains) Road in the late 1840s. Emperor Francis Joseph I elevated Jablonec to town status on March 28, 1866.

In 1868, Jablonec became the official seat of the sheriff, establishing a new administrative district. The aftermath of the Prussian-Austrian War in 1870-1871 propelled Jablonec's glass and jewelry manufacturers to dominate foreign markets, securing a lasting economic boom for nearly half a century.

The early 20th century brought both prosperity and challenges, with the construction of significant buildings like the New Town-hall and the Catholic Church of the Most Sacred Jesus' Heart in the face of economic downturns. The period between 1938 and 1945 saw German occupation of the Jablonec area, followed by the resettlement of the German population after World War II.

Today, Jablonec is gradually shedding the weight of its historical burdens and forging ahead into a brighter future.

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