The town was founded in the mid-13th century by Jaroslav and Havel of the
Markvartice family on a headland above the Jizera river. Subsequently,
the town was owned by the eminent Czech aristocratic families of Vartenberk
and Smiřičtí.
Turnov often suffered from incursions from foreign troops. Lusatian
Knights of the Cross burned it down in 1468 and Swedes in 1643. A great
fire also threatened it in 1707.
In spite of all calamities, crafts developed quickly there. The first
glassworks for the production of "baked glass composites", i.e. artificial
precious stones made of glass, were set up as early as in the 17th century.
In the 16th century, various cutting workshops had already existed, adapting
and cutting precious stones either local or imported. Trading in these
precious stones flourished especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, when
they were exported worldwide. The tradition of the production of jewels
continues at Turnov. A local school of applied arts was already established
in 1884 as the first of its kind in Europe,
focuses on the treatment of stone and metals and the production of
jewels.
At present, Turnov is the tourist centre of the northern part of the
Bohemian Paradise and the ideal starting point for trips throughout the
areas of Hrubá Skála, Malá Skála and Klokočské skály. The town is also
the seat of the administration of the Protected Landscape Area of the Bohemian
Paradise.
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 15 May 2001
Turnov city flag -reverse
image by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 15 May 2001
Some interesting fact about Czech municipal Flags - there are also flags
with different reverse side there, just like in former USSR. It was in
Turnow town, where red field on the backside of flag on City Hall has no
picture at all. It has only white and red vertical stripes.
Aleš Křížan, 29 Jun 2002
Turnov city flagproposal (1993)
image by Jakub Grombíř, 9 Oct 2008
I have some note to flag of the Czech city Turnov. At 1993 year, when
Turnov council decided to make city flag, remarkable local vexillogist
Josef Česák (1921-2008) proposed white flag with red vertical strip at
hoist and red horizontal strip in center: it bears colours of city coat
of arms (Czech national colours too) and has original design, creating
decumbent letter T - for Turnov.
Jakub Grombíř, 9 Oct 2008
![[Turnov city flag]](../images/c/cz-sm-tu.gif)
image by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 15 May 2001, after image at this
site.
![[Turnov flag - reverse]](../images/c/cz-sm_tu.gif)
image by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 15 May 2001
![[Turnov flagproposal]](../images/c/cz-sm!tu.gif)
image by Jakub Grombíř, 9 Oct 2008
![[Turnov city coat of arms]](../images/c/cz-sm)tu.jpg)
image
from this website.
