Did you know that wherever you travel, you’re likely carrying an image of Kroměříž with you? That is—if you happen to have a 1,000 CZK banknote in your wallet. It features none other than the tower of the Archbishop’s Palace in Kroměříž. But how did the town earn such an honour?
It all goes back to the revolutionary year of 1848, when members of the Imperial Council of the Habsburg Monarchy suspended their session in Vienna and sought a safer place to continue their meetings. On the recommendation of František Palacký, the Archbishop’s Palace in Kroměříž was chosen as the venue for this historic assembly. Overnight, the town became the centre of European politics—filled with ministers, soldiers, journalists, and above all, representatives working on a new constitution with strong democratic principles.
However, by December, the young Emperor Franz Joseph I ascended to the Austrian throne, crushed the Vienna uprising, and presented his own constitution. On 7 March 1849, he dissolved the inconvenient Kroměříž assembly, had the town occupied by the military, and dismissed the representatives. Although the Kroměříž Constitution was never enacted, it is still regarded as a cornerstone of parliamentary democracy in Europe.
This pivotal moment in history inspired renowned graphic artist Oldřich Kulhánek, the designer of Czech banknotes, to feature František Palacký and the Kroměříž Palace on the 1,000 CZK note, which is the most widely circulated banknote in the Czech Republic.
And while the banknote itself is the best possible promotion for Kroměříž, you can pick up a special souvenir edition for free at the local Tourist Information Centre.