Dačice - the town of sugar cubes

Originally, Dačice was a princely settlement situated at the crossroads of trade routes from Znojmo to South Bohemia and from Humpolec to Austria, where villages had already formed in earlier times. The old Slavic settlement near a ford across the Dyje River developed into a market village. In 1459, Wolfgang Krajíř of Krajk, who resided at Landštejn Castle, acquired the estates of Dačice and Bílkov. The Krajíř noble family came from Carinthia and held Dačice for 150 years.

The Two Castles of Dačice

Dačice is home to two castles. The Krajíř family first built what is now called the Old Castle, a Renaissance fortress with battlements, completed in 1579. A new town district, including a brewery, grew around it, and today, the municipal office occupies part of the building.

The New Castle, also in the Renaissance style, was built for Ulrich Krajíř (+1600) by the Italian architect Francesco Garof da Bissone. In 1728, the estate was purchased by Heinrich Karl, Count of Ostein, who had the Renaissance castle renovated and refurnished. Another influential noble family in Dačice was the Dalbergs, who arrived in 1809. The Dalbergs remained in Dačice until 1940, and one of their last family members was young Tereza, whose portrait was painted here by the then-young František Kupka.

Karl Maxmilian Dalberg was instrumental in the economic growth of Dačice in the 19th century. He established an extensive English park and supported the development of industry, including the foundation of a sugar refinery in nearby Kostelní Vydří. In 1833, a sugar refinery was also founded directly in Dačice, making the town famous worldwide.

The Invention of the Sugar Cube

In 1840, the Swiss Jakob Christoph Rad arrived in Dačice with his large family and took the position of director of the sugar refinery. Allegedly at the suggestion of his wife, he began experimenting with producing sugar cubes in the autumn of 1841. On January 23, 1843, he was granted a privilege for production by the court council in Vienna.

The original building, where the sugar cube was first produced, has long been demolished. Today, the cultural center Beseda stands on its cellar foundations, and in 2003, a memorial plaque was unveiled there in the presence of Rad’s great-great-granddaughter.

Another important site linked to the sugar cube is a monument, erected near the parish church in 1983. Since then, it has become the most visited site in Dačice. In 2012, granite plaques were placed around the monument, providing information about the global invention from Dačice in 12 languages, including Japanese, Greek, Hebrew, Russian, and Chinese.

The sugar cube played a role during the Czech Presidency of the European Union in 2009. The sugar cube motif can be found throughout Dačice, associated with numerous cultural, social, and sporting events. One of the most popular events is the Dačická kostka music and theater festival, held in summer at the castle courtyard. Visitors can also enjoy treats at the Dalberg Café inside the castle. Those taking a walk into the town center will find Café Kostka and pass by several wooden sculptures inspired by the world-famous invention.

Historical Landmarks and Places to Relax

Among the most important Renaissance landmarks, aside from the two castles, are the town hall and a 52-meter-high tower with a viewing gallery. The tower stands next to the massive Baroque Church of St. Lawrence, forming the most recognizable city landmark. Other Baroque monuments include:

• The Franciscan Monastery Complex with the Church of St. Anthony of Padua,
• The statue of the Virgin Mary in front of the New Castle,
• The Cemetery Chapel of St. Roch.

Visitors can relax not only in the castle park but also right in the town center. The Kancnýř Garden, a terraced park, offers plenty of benches in the pleasant shade of lime trees, charging stations for e-bikes and mobile devices, a children’s playground featuring giant sugar cubes, and a book-sharing booth full of interesting books.