ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA	CZECH REPUBLIC
Pardubický kraj	Pardubice region
Okres: Svitavy

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Svojanov is situated at an altitude of 460 m at the river Křtínka (previously named Svitavice) in the south of the Pardubice region, district Svitavy. The village has a population of about 370 (2017).

The village was first mentioned in 1287. Its history is closely connected to Svojanov castle [left]. The castle was founded around 1262 by Otakar II of Bohemia to protect the Trstěnice route, a former trade route of significant importance. The castle's original German name was Fürstenberg. In 1421 the town was besieged by Jan Žižka and between 1642 and 1645 the town was occupied by the Swedes. After the Thirty Years' War the castle fell into dereliction. In December 1798 the Russian legions marched through Svojanov to fight against Napoleon. In 1910, the castle came in possession of the municipality of Polička and the remaining parts were renovated and reconstructed. In 1992, the castle was restituted to Polička. Presently, the castle is open to the public from March to mid-December. It also has a castle restaurant and a stylish guesthouse.

The Baroque church of St. Peter and Paul [left, no. 3451: left] was built in 1788 and still maintains its original outside form. The interior furnishings predomminately date from the 19th century. Thorough renovation works were finished in 2007.

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svojanov, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svojanov; https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Křtínka; https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burg_Svojanov, https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svojanov_(hrad); http://www.svojanov.cz/en/tips-for-trips]