Where the Kresha's Came From:

    There are several listed place names for the Kressa/Kresha 'homeland'.  It is known today as Nova Hradecna and is located in the northeast central Czech Republic, about 25 miles from the Polish border.  You can find it at lattitude 49.85 and longitude 17.1.  Among other names, it was called Markersdorff in German.  Nearby is Nova Dedina, the birth place of Cecilia Girikovska, Teodor II's first wife.

Nova Hradecna's location in the Czech Republic

Close up map:

    Nova Hradecna has been in a number of different countries, depending on the time in history.  Among them Moravia, Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Czechoslovakia.  When Teodor and Cecila sent their children away, it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Franz Joseph was the Emperor.  Vienna, capital of the empire, is only about 75 miles south. Click here for a summary of Moravian history to get a better idea of what was going on at the time.

    The times have changed, but the area is still looks much like it was back then.  That is part of its charm.

Below are the ruins of Castle Brnicko, not far from Nova Hradecna and a day hike from the town:

The region is a valley and Nova Hradecna is a small town with houses along the road, with small 25-30 acre farms behind the houses:

From Google Maps

Here are more photos of the town:

Notice the Nova Hradecna flag on the T-shirts!