History in data
At the dawn of history, the Varnsdorf valley belonged to the landscape called Zagvozd, inhabited by the Lusatian tribe of the Milcans. Historians assume that this area belonged to the Great Moravian Empire. From the earliest times, therefore, the local belonging to the Bohemian principality, later a kingdom, dates back to the Czech Republic.
The oldest local nobility, belonging partly to the area of legends, is the family of the Lords of Varnsdorf. This family is documented as the owner of a number of surrounding villages until the 15th century, but its ownership of Varnsdorf is still unknown.
The original village was founded in the first half of the 13th century, the oldest known written record of Varnsdorf dates back to 1357. In the Zittau church register Varnsdorf is referred to as Wernordivilla (i.e. Wernar's village).
The village belonged to the Tolštejn manor and belonged, among others, to the Berk and Šlejnic families.
1494 Tolštejn is bought by Jindřich of Šlejnic. During the reign of this nobleman, Varnsdorf was granted the following rights: throat, war, grain storage, free trade and crafts, and the right to sell salt.
1535 Varnsdorf adopted Lutheranism.
1611 King Matthias passes through Varnsdorf on his way to Budyšín.
1641-1684 Owners change frequently in connection with religious beliefs.
1641-1643 Swedes fight with the Imperialists in the area between Varnsdorf and Studanka. Looting of the town takes place.
1648 Swedes leave, taking mainly cattle with them.
1681 Varnsdorf and the whole estate are bought by the Liechtensteins. It was in their possession until the land reform in 1919.
1689 The village of Nový Varnsdorf was founded by the parcelling of the "Lower Court" (i.e. today's VII and VIII districts).
1700 Floriánsdorf (Hrádek and the surrounding area) is founded. The villages were named after individual members of the Princely House of Liechtenstein.
1727 Karlsdorf, today's VI. district, is founded.
1756-1757 During the so-called Seven Years' War, war skirmishes between Prussia and Austria took place in the area.
1771 Damascus production begins in the town.
1777 Construction of the Dean's Church of St. Peter and Paul on the square, one of the most beautiful late Baroque interiors in northern Bohemia, is completed.
1777 Production of hair fabrics in Varnsdorf, especially velvet (Fröhlich company founded).
1783 Old Francental, today's V. district, is founded.
1794 New school built.
1800 New Francental, today's District III, is founded.
1801 The flying shuttle is introduced in the weaving industry.
1804 First steam engine put into operation, Emperor Franz II. offers Old Varnsdorf to be promoted to a town during his visit, but the municipal representatives refuse.
1813 During the Napoleonic Wars, Austrian and French garrisons alternate in the town.
1819 The first printing roller is installed to print cardboard.
1821 Crown Prince Ferdinand - later Emperor Ferdinand V - visits the town.
1829 huge fire in Burza, surrounding buildings and the church tower, in which the bells melted.
1830 The first ever liturgical performance of Beethoven's entire Missa solemnis - a festive mass. Today, a commemorative plaque on the church wall commemorates this event.
1839 The road to Rumburk via Studanka was completed - the connection with Dolní Podluží was completed, thus enabling a new connection to the interior of Bohemia.
1847 Archduke Franz Joseph - later Emperor Franz Joseph I - visited Varnsdorf.
1849 five villages were merged with Old Varnsdorf into one village with the common name Varnsdorf, the resulting village was the largest with its population in the whole of Austria.
1850 a district court was established in Varnsdorf.
1851 the gendarmerie starts its activity.
1859 Zittau - Liberec line opened.
1863 Volunteer fire brigade (Freiwillige-Turner Feuerwehr) established.
1868 (28 July) Varnsdorf was promoted to a town by "the supreme decision of His Apostolic Majesty Emperor Franz Joseph I". At that time, 14,000 inhabitants already lived there.
In 1871, Varnsdorf became a station on the Grossschönau - Varnsdorf line, where the lines of the two railways - Austrian and Saxon - crossed.
1872 the Neo-Romanesque church at Studánka was consecrated.1879 a folk library was founded.
1888 local telephone was introduced.
1890 May Day was celebrated for the first time in Varnsdorf.
1896 Varnsdorf native sculptor Vincenc Pilz died in Vienna. Two of his works are in the Old Catholic Church in Varnsdorf.
1897 (28 July) Flood, the first car with a petrol engine passed through Varnsdorf.
1900 The biggest strike of textile workers in Varnsdorf before World War I.
1904 (May) opening of a sightseeing restaurant on Hrádek. It was built with self-help and voluntary contributions of citizens.
1905 (3 December) consecration of the evangelical church, which was heated by air.
1911 Sokol was founded in Varnsdorf. Completion of the construction of the church "without a tower" - St. Charles of Boromea.
1914-1918 World War I also affected Varnsdorf - food shortages, ration cards, typhus epidemic, martial law declared.
1919 a Czech school was established, later located in today's Erbenova Street, in the building of today's waterworks. The municipal administration put many obstacles in the way of the school.
1920 Martial law declared (until 1921), probably because of smuggling, looting and demonstrations against poor supply.
1922 Great drachot in Varnsdorf, the chronicles state that it was the biggest in the Czechoslovakia.
1923 5500 unemployed in Varnsdorf district.
1930 Census, out of a total population of 22 793, 1512 are Czech.
1932-1934 The consequences of the world economic crisis hit Varnsdorf the hardest.
1939-1945 during World War II Varnsdorf was not directly affected by war actions, the town was also not bombed.
1942 A large fire at the town hall burned down the richly decorated meeting hall and it was not rebuilt in its original form.
1945 (9 May) in the morning the first Red Army troops arrived in Varnsdorf on the square.
1945, the Lusatian-Serbian composer Bjarnat Krawc was accommodated in Varnsdorf (in No. 2408 - here is a memorial plaque), later the whole family.
1945 Varnsdorf Philharmonic Orchestra founded, renaming of streets on 25 June.
1946 Jirásek Theatre Association, which started in the years before the First World War, resumed its activity.
1947 (5 March) Varnsdorf strike. There are many partial studies and opinions about this chapter of modern history.
1948 (25 November) The Lusatian-Serbian composer Bjarnat Krawc died and is buried in the local cemetery.
1949 Reorganisation of the state administration, introduction of the regional system instead of the existing provincial one, Varnsdorf is in the Rumburk district, in the Liberec region, bus connection with Liberec started.
1950 The Elite racing club and the Velveta racing club were opened.
1951 opening of the newly renovated theatre (original building from 1891).
1954 Czechoslovak Television broadcasts in Varnsdorf for the first time.
1955 The Secondary Industrial Engineering School (today's MCKV) was established.
1956 merger of the physical education units into a single one - SLOVAN Varnsdorf.
1959 reorganization and specialization of medical facilities, the following hospital departments remained in Varnsdorf: children's, orthopedics, gynecology and maternity.
1960 a polyclinic was established in the town.
1961 reorganization of the territorial division of the state: Varnsdorf is in the district of Decin, in the North Bohemian Region.
1963 permanent theatre scene established, which provides theatre, concert and stage life in the town and its surroundings.
1963 - 60th anniversary of the founding of the national company TOS (founded in 1903 by Arno Plauert), since 1915 the famous horizons have been produced here.
1967 The foundation stone of the new Velveta water treatment plant was laid, the construction of a wide-screen cinema began, the town was visited by President A. Novotný, the local newspaper Voice of the North began to be published, the construction of a new stadium began, the Seifhennersdorf border crossing was opened.
1968 spontaneous May Day celebrations were held, large turnout without the usual organisation by the local authorities, after the August events many people left the town and emigrated, the border crossing to the GDR was closed.
1969 the present bells in the church of St Peter and Paul were consecrated - they are named St Charles (950kg), St Mary (450kg) and St Joseph (230kg).
1970 Border crossing reopened, first for freight traffic, later for tourists.
1971 Panorama cinema opened, pensioners' club opened, beach at the "Mašíňák" pond completed.
1973 The Panorama Hotel was approved, the statue of K. Gottwald was unveiled.
1974 opening of the new fabric treatment plant Helveta.
1975 Voice of the North cancelled, opening of the stadium in the basin.
1976 Two buildings demolished to the detriment of the appearance of the square: the restaurant and the Stock Exchange, earthquake recorded on 6 May.
1978 major fire at the new Velveeta water treatment plant, border crossing changed to international long-distance category 1 - with all countries of the world.
1980 Studánka village merged with Varnsdorf, children's health centre opened (house no. 1254).
1986 construction of an ice rink with an artificial ice surface completed.
1987 Sports hall, nursing home, construction of bus station completed.
1989 public rally in support of students, establishment of the Civic Forum in the town, removal of the monument to K. Gottwald, completion of the Edison Primary School.
1990 (5 January) - public plenary session of the Municipal Council in the Panorama cinema, by acclamation of the citizens present the plenary session of the Municipal Council was completed, a new council was elected by direct election of deputies, the first issue of the renewed Voice of the North was published, renaming of some streets mostly to the 1945 status.
1991 New town market opened, a residential centre for pre-school children with sensory impairments established, new post office opened, construction of a sewage treatment plant completed. The first auctions are held in the town, one of the forms of privatisation. Sales difficulties begin in Varnsdorf's enterprises. A town police service is established.
1992 Completion of the reconstruction of the town office building, approval of a binding zoning plan for the construction of the town centre, adoption of an ordinance against prostitution (modelled on Dubí u Teplice). Operational difficulties of enterprises resulting from non-compliance with customer contracts, a frequent cause being the break-up of the RVHP. Enterprises resort to unpopular measures (e.g. production cutbacks, associated earnings restrictions, lay-offs, etc.).
1992 (13 December) the largest bell from the Dytrych family workshop was consecrated in the Church of St. Charles of Boromia (without a tower), the ceremony was performed by Bishop Josef Koukl. The bell is characterized by the use (one of the last) of the state emblem of the Czechoslovak Republic.