1. A journey to Loštice

You can look forward to talks about Olomouc markets, various cheeses, small dairies and the great Alois Wessels, who saw further and better into the future than others around him…

It is not known exactly where, who and when the production of tvarůžky began. The history of the Great Story of tvarůžky production is often a mosaic of random references. But we can say this with certainty about the origins of tvarůžky:

The production of tvarůžky is linked to the Haná countryside and its agriculture.

It is impossible to say by name, but in one of the houses in Haná, a woman who processed curd began to try a new process, this was the first step towards the birth of tvarůžky.

We can only say that it was either early in the morning or late in the evening, because she did not have time during the day.

Josef Wessels was the first to produce tvarůžky in Loštice in 1876, followed by his son Alois in 1898. Josef Wessels' descendants are the only producers of Olomoucké tvarůžky today. The cheese got its name from the famous markets, i.e. OLOMOUCKÉ.

In less than 20 years, until 1913, 120 peasant cooperative dairies were established in Moravia and in 1913 they produced over 3,000 tons of curd. This was a great opportunity for cheesemakers and Alois Wessels made the best use of it. He opened the door to large-scale production and his “Tvarůžkárna“ factory became the largest of them all.

Josef Wessels started the production of tvarůžky in Loštice in 1876.

Alois Wessels turned his father's business into the biggest tvarůžkárna in Moravia.

Alois Wessels with his employees, Loštice, Palackého 57, after 1910

The oldest documented mention of tvarůžky is from Olomouc (10 January 1583). The first photograph of tvarůžky production was taken just before 1886 in Prostějov and the first photograph in Loštice itself before 1900. The historical photograph (after 1909) is a photograph from the courtyard of house No 57 in Loštice. Alois Wessels is standing amidst his employees. His descendants at the same address are the last producers of Olomouc tvarůžky - A.W. Ltd.

The first written mention of tvarůžky comes from the inventory of the estate of one of the owners of the Edelmann Palace in Olomouc (1583).

Just before 1900, the first photograph of tvarůžky production in Loštice was taken. It is unique because it shows the main stages of tvarůžky production.

Shortly after 1909, a photograph was taken of Alois Wessels standing amidst his employees. This is also the period when the dizzying rise of his cheesemonger factories began.

Prostějov market before 1900, there are also important tvarůžky cheesemongers documented at the same time . The oldest photograph of tvarůžky production is documented before 1886 in Prostějov.

Proceed to room 2 »

« Back