Hlučín Region

Hlučín Area ("Hlučínsko" in Czech, "Hultschiner Ländchen" in German) is an area of Czech Silesia in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. Its area is 316 km². The most important city is Hlučín.

History

* Archaeological finds suggest that the area is inhabited since 4500 - 2500 BCE.
* Medieval bishoprics in both Olomouc and Vratislavia (Breslau) were trying to control it, finally Olomouc won the dispute.
* In 1742, after 1st Silesian War it became part of Prussia (until then it belonged as part of Moravia to the Habsburg Monarchy). Differencies in culture, traditions and economical development to the rest of Moravia grew up during the time, mainly caused by Germanization.
* After World War I the area became place of international dispute as it was inhabited by a large minority of Czech speaking people ("Moravci", see [http://www.tr62.de/maps/Silesia-national.html population map] ). On February 4 1920 the area was handed over to Czechoslovakia, as part of Treaty of Versailles though its people felt more as Upper Silesians and, mostly, Imperial Germans (no referendum was held).
* Minor border corrections followed in next few years.
* In October 1938 it was annexed by Nazi Germany as a part of areas lost by Czechoslovakia in accordance with the Munich agreement. However, as distinct from other lost Czechoslovakian domains, it was not attached to Sudetengau (administrative region covering Sudetenland) but to Prussia (Upper Silesia).
* After the Second World War Hlučínsko as like the rest of Sudetenland returned to Czechoslovakia.
* In 1993 Hlučínsko became part of independent Czech Republic.

Municipalities

Cities are bolded.

Bělá (Bielau) - Bohuslavice (Buslawitz) - Bolatice (Bolatitz) - Darkovice (Groß Darkowitz) - Dolní Benešov (Beneschau) - Hať (Haatsch) - Hlučín (Hultschin) - Hněvošice (Schreibersdorf) - Chlebičov (Klebsch) - Chuchelná (Kuchelna) - Kobeřice (Köberwitz) - Kozmice (Kosmütz) - Kravaře (Deutsch Krawarn) - Ludgeřovice (Ludgierzowitz) - Markvartovice (Markersdorf) - Oldřišov (Odersch) - Píšť (Sandau) - Rohov (Rohow) - Služovice - Strahovice (Strandorf) - Sudice (Zauditz) - Šilheřovice (Schillersdorf) - Štěpánkovice (Schepankowitz) - Třebom (Thröm) - Velké Hoštice (Groß Hoschütz) - Vřesina (Wreschin) - Závada (Zawada bei Beneschau)

The municipalities cooperate in micro-region "Sdružení obcí Hlučínska" since 1992.

Attractions

Hlučínsko lies between Beskydy Mountains (east) and Jeseníky Mountains (west). Opava River flows through Hlučínsko. The area attracts tourists, especially for its cycle trails. There are many historical buildings, unique architecture and folk customs.

Main attractions are:
* natural reservation Dařanec near Vřesina
* castles in Hlučín, Kravaře, Šilheřovice, Dolní Benešov, Velké Hoštice, Chuchelná and Oldřišov
* open-air-museums in Bolatice and Kobeřice
* museum of fortifications in Hlučín
* church buildings in Ludgeřovice, Hněvošice, pilgrimage place in Píšť
* Hlučín lake and other places for swimming

See also

* Museum of the fortifications Hlučín
* Czech Silesia

Literature

* Ludmila Hořká: "Národopisné paběrky z Hlučínska", (1948)

External links

* [http://www.hlucinsko.info/ Official website (in Czech)]