Velké Opatovice

Velké Opatovice (German: Groß Opatowitz) is a town in Blansko District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,600 inhabitants.

Velké Opatovice
Town
Velké Opatovice Castle
Flag
Coat of arms
Velké Opatovice
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°36′45″N 16°40′46″E
Country Czech Republic
RegionSouth Moravian
DistrictBlansko
First mentioned1308
Government
 • MayorKateřina Gerbrichová
Area
 • Total25.93 km2 (10.01 sq mi)
Elevation
376 m (1,234 ft)
Population
 (2021-01-01)[1]
 • Total3,623
 • Density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
679 63
Websitewww.velkeopatovice.cz

Administrative parts

Villages of Bezďečí, Brťov, Korbelova Lhota, Svárov and Velká Roudka are administrative parts of Velké Opatovice.

History

The first written mention of Opatovice is from 1308. There were two fortresses owned by different lords. It was originally two separate villages called Horní ("Upper") Opatovice and Dolní ("Lower") Opatovice. In 1848 they were merged and name Opatovice. The "Velké" adjective (meaning "great") was added in 1888. It 1969, the municipality became a town.[2]

Economy

Velké Opatovice is home to one of the largest employers in the region, P-D Refractories CZ company, which is a manufacturer and distributor of refractory products and raw materials. The predecessor of the company, which mined claystone in the area, was founded in 1892. From 1950, the company was known as Moravské šamotové a lupkové závody (i.e. "Moravian grog and fire clay plants"). In 2000, it was acquired by the international Preiss-Daimler Group and renamed.[3]

Transport

Velké Opatovice is located on the Velké Opatovice – Skalice nad Svitavou railway of local importance.

Culture

As well as the town museum located in the castle, Velké Opatovice has a gallery devoted to sculptor Karel Otáhal, the creator of a lifesize statue of Smetana located in the castle grounds. The gallery displays over 40 of his busts and many drawings.

Sights
Osvobození Square with the Church of Saint George

The Velké Opatovice Castle is the main monument. The Baroque castle was built on the site of a Gothic fortress in 1757. The Art Nouveau modifications were made in 1913. Since 1924, it is a property of the town. After a fire in 1973, it was partially repaired in the late Baroque style. Today the castle complex houses the town hall, a cinema, and two museums.[4]

The Moravian Cartographic Centre is focused on historical development of cartography, especially in the Czech Republic and on geodetic and cartographic instruments and aids. The main exhibit is a plastic map of the lands of Moravia and Silesia with an area of 100 square metres (1,100 sq ft).[5]

The Museum and Monument of Velké Opatovice presents historic and ethnographic collections, local industry, and works of local artists. It also includes the memorial hall of the sculptor Karel Otáhal, who lived here for 29 years.[6]

The Church of Saint George was built in 1790–1791 and replaced an old Gothic church from the late 14th century. Its main attraction is the altar sculpture from 1951 by Karel Otáhal, depicting St. George fighting with the dragon.[7]

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic

Velké Opatovice is twinned with:[8]

References
  1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2021". Czech Statistical Office. 2021-04-30.
  2. "O městu Velké Opatovice" (in Czech). Město Velké Opatovice. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  3. "History". P-D Refractories CZ a.s. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  4. "Zámek Velké Opatovice – architektonický skvost s krásným parkem" (in Czech). Czech Tourism. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  5. "Moravské kartografické centrum ve Velkých Opatovicích" (in Czech). Czech Tourism. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  6. "Muzeum a Památník města Velké Opatovice" (in Czech). Czech Tourism. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  7. "Kostel sv. Jiří Velké Opatovice" (in Czech). Czech Tourism. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  8. "Partnerská města" (in Czech). Město Velké Opatovice. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
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