Horní Benešov, which is situated in the foothills of the Jeseníky Mountains, flourished thanks to the exploitation of gold, silver, copper and iron ore. This is where the creator of the Porsche calendar and the grandfather of a US presidential candidate were born.
Horní Benešov obtained town privileges from Přemysl Otakar II in 1271. Periods of prosperity always gave way to periods of plundering, either by Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus or the Swedes during the Thirty Years’ War.
The ancestors of John Kerry, who was a US presidential candidate that ran against G. Bush in 2004, came from this town. John Kerry is the grandson of Fritz Kohn, who was born to the family of a brewer in Horní Benešov.
The artist Walter Gotschke, who became famous worldwide for his Mercedes, Volkswagen, Fiat, Austin, Nissan and Porsche calendars, is another celebrity of Horní Benešov.
The local square, with the Church of St. Catherine, shows the town’s rich history. Lichovské šance is nearby. This is the location where soldiers entrenched themselves, perhaps, during the Thirty Years’ War. The local hilltops provide a great view of Mount Praděd.