Klimkovice (German: Königsberg) is a spa town in Ostrava-City District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 4,500 inhabitants.

Klimkovice
Town square
Town square
Flag of Klimkovice
Coat of arms of Klimkovice
Klimkovice is located in Czech Republic
Klimkovice
Klimkovice
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°47′17″N 18°7′33″E / 49.78806°N 18.12583°E / 49.78806; 18.12583
Country Czech Republic
RegionMoravian-Silesian
DistrictOstrava-City
First mentioned1398
Government
 • MayorJaroslav Varga
Area
 • Total14.64 km2 (5.65 sq mi)
Elevation
252 m (827 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total4,516
 • Density310/km2 (800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
742 83
Websitewww.mesto-klimkovice.cz

Administrative parts edit

Villages of Hýlov, Josefovice and Václavovice are administrative parts of Klimkovice.

Geography edit

Klimkovice is located about 5 kilometres (3 mi) west of Ostrava. It lies mostly in the Moravian Gate lowland. The northern part of the municipal territory lies in the Nízký Jeseník range. There are several small ponds around the town.

History edit

Klimkovice was probably founded by Beneš I of Kravaře, who owned the area between 1383 and 1398. The first written mention of Klimkovice is from 1386, when it was already a town.[2]

In 1766, presence of hard coal was discovered in Klimkovice and it was the first discovery of coal in the Moravian-Silesian Region. However, it was not mined.[3]

According to the Austrian census of 1910, 91.2% of the inhabitants were Czech-speaking and 8.5% were German-speaking. Most populous religious group were Roman Catholics (98.4%).[4]

Demographics edit

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18692,531—    
18802,754+8.8%
18903,003+9.0%
19002,979−0.8%
19103,269+9.7%
YearPop.±%
19213,399+4.0%
19303,877+14.1%
19503,689−4.8%
19613,495−5.3%
19703,423−2.1%
YearPop.±%
19803,551+3.7%
19913,628+2.2%
20013,770+3.9%
20114,165+10.5%
20214,306+3.4%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Economy edit

Klimkovice is known for a small spa. The spa uses iodine-bromine waters with a high salt content. The spa treats diseases of the musculoskeletal system, neurological and gynecological diseases, diseases of the circulatory system, and metabolic disorders.[7]

Transport edit

The D1 motorway from Brno to Ostrava passes through the municipal territory. The Klimkovice Tunnel is located on it.

Sights edit

 
Klimkovice Castle and the Church of Saint Catherine

The Klimkovice Castle is a Renaissance castle, built in 1578–1579 on the site of a medieval fortress. Its current appearance is a result of reconstructions after fires in 1854 and 1945. It is connected by a covered corridor with the adjacent Church of Saint Catherine. Today the castle houses the municipal office, the cultural and information centre of Klimkovice, and a museum. The castle gardens were turned into a town park in 1946–1954.[8][9]

The Church of Saint Catherine in the centre of Klimkovice dates from the end of the 14th century. The tower was added in the second half of the 15th century. The church was built in the Gothic style; later Renaissance and Baroque modifications were made. A reconstruction took place after a fire in 1854.[10]

The Church of the Holy Trinity was built in the Renaissance style in 1525–1529. It is a former cemetery church.[11]

Notable people edit

Twin towns – sister cities edit

Klimkovice is twinned with:[12]

References edit

  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. ^ "Welcome to Klimkovice" (in Czech). Kulturní a informační centrum Klimkovice. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  3. ^ "Klimkovice jsou lázeňským městem s Ostravou na dohled" (in Czech). Petr Žižka. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  4. ^ Ludwig Patryn (ed): Die Ergebnisse der Volkszählung vom 31. Dezember 1910 in Schlesien, Troppau 1912.
  5. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Ostrava-město" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 1–2.
  6. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  7. ^ "Lázně Klimkovice – relaxační, lázeňské a wellness pobyty a procedury" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  8. ^ "Zámek" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  9. ^ "Zámek" (in Czech). Kulturní a informační centrum Klimkovice. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  10. ^ "Kostel sv. Kateřiny" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  11. ^ "Kostel Nejsvětější Trojice" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  12. ^ "Partnerská města" (in Czech). Město Klimkovice. Retrieved 2020-09-22.

External links edit