Darkovice

Darkovice
Municipality
Municipal office
Flag Coat of arms
Darkovice Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°56′9″N 18°13′20″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Moravian-Silesian
District	Opava
First mentioned	1250
Area
• Total	5.14 km^2 (1.98 sq mi)
Elevation	242 m (794 ft)
Population  (2024-01-01)[1]
• Total	1,380
• Density	270/km^2 (700/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	747 17
Website	www.darkovice.cz

Darkovice (German: Groß Darkowitz) is a municipality and village in Opava District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,400 inhabitants. It is part of the historic Hlučín Region.

Geography

Darkovice is located about 22 kilometres (14 mi) east of Opava and 12 km (7 mi) north of Ostrava. It lies in the Opava Hilly Land. The highest point is at 286 m (938 ft) above sea level.

History

The first written mention of Darkovice is in a deed of Pope Innocent IV from 1250, in which it is stated that King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia donated the village to the Cistercian monastery in Velehrad. Before 1265 a new village called Žibřidovice was established near Darkovice, and the oldest pond in the region was established between them. After the death of King Ottokar II, battles for inheritance took place, and Žibřidovice ceased to exist and Darkovice was abandoned during this war.[2]

In 1320, Darkovice became part of the Landek estate and was administered by the burgrave Přesek of Lichnov, who renewed the village. In 1517, Duke Casimir II attached Darkovice to the Hlučín estate. However, Štěpán of Vrbno split this heritage in 1568. By this act, the village fell into the possession of Karel of Vrbno as a part of the Šilheřovice estate.[2][3]

Darkovice was acquired by the Jesuits from Opava in 1673. Their rule led to a series of rebellions in 1734. From 1742 the village belonged to Prussia after Empress Maria Theresa had been defeated. The corvée was abolished here in 1823, 25 years earlier than in the rest of the Kingdom of Bohemia. In 1920, Darkovice became part of the newly established Czechoslovakia.[2][3]

From 1979 to 1990, the municipality was annexed to Hlučín, but since 1990 Darkovice has been an independent municipality again.[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 499 —     1880 567 +13.6% 1890 679 +19.8% 1900 865 +27.4% 1910 872 +0.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 989 +13.4% 1930 1,003 +1.4% 1950 1,090 +8.7% 1961 1,207 +10.7% 1970 1,159 −4.0%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 1,186 +2.3% 1991 1,177 −0.8% 2001 1,217 +3.4% 2011 1,272 +4.5% 2021 1,291 +1.5%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Transport

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

Sights

Church of Saint Hedwig

A cultural monument is the set of objects belonging to the Czechoslovak border fortifications built in 1935–1938. Four such objects are located in the territory of Darkovice.[7]

The main landmark of Darkovice is the Church of Saint Hedwig. It is a modern church built in 2005.[8]

Twin towns – sister cities

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

Darkovice is twinned with:[9]

• Lyski, Poland

References

1. "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
2. "Historie obce" (in Czech). Obec Darkovice. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
3. "Historie obce Darkovice" (in Czech). Lysá hora. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
4. "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. p. 76.
5. "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.
6. "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
7. "Liniové opevnění - pohraniční opevnění Hlučín – Darkovičky" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
8. "Kostel sv. Hedviky" (in Czech). Sdružení obcí Hlučínska. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
9. "Home: Partnerská obec Lyski" (in Czech). Obec Darkovice. Retrieved 2023-08-03.

External links

• Official website