Zlín Region Introduction

The Zlín Region is situated in the eastern part of the Czech Republic and its area of 3,964 square kilometers makes it the 11th largest autonomous administrative unit of the Czech Republic. The region is inhabited by nearly 600,000 people.

There are 304 municipalities in the region, 30 of which are towns. The regional administration is located in Zlín, which is also the region‘s largest city.

The area of Zlín boasts developed industry with long traditions of engineering, the production of tyres and other rubber based products, plastics, leather products as well as steel industry, leather and chemical processing. In the long run, the building industry is one of the top branches; the aviation industry also plays a role.

The area is crossed by two main railway corridors enabling the operation of international Intercity and Eurocity services. One of the region’s top priorities is, however, the inevitable improvement of the road transport network.

The economic prosperity of the entire region is influenced to a considerable extent by the young and dynamically growing Tomáš Baťa University, which co-operates with the Zlín Region on copious development projects.

The region boasts also a remarkable variety of landscape as well as cultural heritage. It offers mountains, natural reserves, spas, fertile farming lands, the picturesque vineyards of Moravian Slovakia, the perfect architecture of historical parks, archaeological excavations with many findings from the era of the Great Moravian Empire, numerous buildings of national cultural heritage as well as the unique Functionalist complexes of Baťa’s era.

The cultural uniqueness of the region also stems from the fact that it is a region where three pronounced ethnographic areas meet: Wallachia, Moravian Slovakia and Haná.

The Zlín Region has also won great renown by housing the Days of the People of Goodwill in Velehrad, a charity event connected to the nation-wide pilgrimage to celebrate the mission of Cyril and Methodius, the International Festival of Films for Children and Youth, the Summer Film School in Uherské Hradiště, and many popular folklore festivals such as the Kings Ride in Vlčnov, the Summer of Kunovice, Festivals in Liptál and Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Haná Festival Chropyně and many others. The Forfest festival of spiritual music, which takes place in Kroměříž, the renewed salons of fine arts in Zlín and the Prostor Zlín exhibition of contemporary avant-garde arts have also helped spread the fame of the region far and wide. Motor racing fans will certainly know the Barum Rally, which has recently been awarded Europe‘s highest coefficient.