Jihlava, Regional capital in Vysočina Region, Czech Republic
Jihlava is a city in the Vysočina Region, about 110 kilometers (70 miles) southeast of Prague. The old town sits on the Jihlava River at roughly 520 meters (1700 feet) elevation, forming a center between the historic landscapes of Bohemia and Moravia.
In the early 13th century, the discovery of silver deposits transformed a small Slavic market settlement into a major mining town. The mining laws issued here during the Middle Ages were later adopted by other mining towns across Central Europe.
The city's name likely derives from an old Czech word for needle, possibly referring to the pointed shape of nearby hills. Gothic townhouses and arcades shape the old town center, where pedestrian zones serve as meeting points for locals and visitors.
Highway access via the D1 allows quick travel from Prague or Brno, while regional trains connect surrounding towns. In the town center, trolleybuses run through the main neighborhoods and provide straightforward orientation.
Below the historic center lies an extensive network of medieval mining tunnels and cellars, some of which are open for guided tours. These underground passages once served for ore extraction and later functioned as storage rooms and shelters for town residents.
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