Uherské Hradiště (; , ) is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 24,000 inhabitants. The agglomeration with the two neighbouring towns of Staré Město and Kunovice has over 36,000 inhabitants. The town is the centre of Moravian Slovakia. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone. Administrative parts Town parts and villages of Jarošov, Mařatice, Míkovice, Rybárny, Sady and Vésky are administrative parts of Uherské Hradiště. Etymology The name can be literally translated as "Hungarian Gord", meaning "a fortified settlement near the Hungarian border". Geography Uherské Hradiště is located about southwest of Zlín. It lies on the left bank of the Morava River, which forms the northern border of the municipal territory. A small river of Olšava flows through the southern part of the territory. The western part of Uherské Hradiště is located in the Lower Morava Valley and the eastern part in the Vizovice Highlands. History A predecessor of Uherské Hradiště was a settlement and fortification system on three island in the Morava River, founded by Slavic tribes in the early 9th century. The settlement disappeared after the fall of the Great Moravian Empire. The town of was founded in 1257 by King Ottokar II of Bohemia to protect the nearby monastery in Velehrad. It was originally named Nový Velehrad ("New Velehrad") and then Hradiště. In 1587, the name Uherské Hradiště was used for the first time. In the 14th century, stone walls were built and replaced the original wooden palisades. In the following centuries, the fortification system has been continuously improved. Due to its location, Uherské Hradiště repeatedly faced raids. The town was threatened by the Cumans in the 16th century, by military clashes during the Thirty Years' War, or by Turkish invasions during the Austro-Turkish War (1716–1718). The town was not conquered until 1742 by the Prussian Army. From 1644 to 1773, the Jesuits acted in the town. Their work increased the cultural and spiritual life of the town. The order founded complex of buildings which included Jesuit college, Church of Saint Francis Xavier and Jesuit school. In the 1780s, Uherské Hradiště ceased to function as a fortress. In the mid-19th century, the town began to expand beyond the walls. Construction growth continued in the late 19th century when representative building were constructed, and in the early 20th century when industrial