Janov

Janov (German: Johannesthal) is one of the smallest towns in the Czech Republic and is situated in the western part of the Microregion Osoblažsko in the Petrovický stream valley, where the landscape steeply rises up to the ridges of Hrubý Jeseník. Currently, there are less than 400 inhabitants living in the town. The town was founded in 1251 by Bishop Bruno of Schaumburg and obtained its town rights in 1535 when it was assumed that there are rich deposits of precious metals around the town and its mining will bring prosperity and wealth. Although the assumptions were not met and there are no signs of precious metals mining around Janov, already granted privileges gave the town an urban character featured by a square which has preserved...