Hrádek (Frýdek-Místek District)

Infobox City
official_name = Hrádek
native_name = Gródek
nickname =
settlement_type = Village
motto =

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imagesize =
image_caption = View of the village

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image_shield = Grodek CoA.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = none
pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Czech Republic
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Czech Republic
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Moravian-Silesian
subdivision_type2 = District
subdivision_name2 = Frýdek-Místek
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Pavel Tomčala
established_title = First mentioned
established_date = 1577
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 9.79
area_metro_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of = 2006
population_note =
population_total = 1775
population_density_km2 = auto
latd = 49
latm = 36
lats = 47
latNS = N
longd = 18
longm = 44
longs = 35
longEW = E
elevation_m = 353
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 739 97
website = [http://www.obechradek.cz/ http://www.obechradek.cz/]
footnotes =

Audio|Hradek.ogg|Hrádek (Polish: Audio-nohelp|Grodek.ogg|"Gródek", _de. Grudek) is a village in Frýdek-Místek District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic, on the Olza River. It has a population of 1,756 (2001 census), 42.8% of whom are Poles, [cite web |url= http://www.czso.cz/sldb/sldb2001.nsf/obce/512176?OpenDocument |title= 2001 census data |accessdate= |author= |date= |work= |publisher= Czech Statistical Office ] the highest percentage of all municipalities in the country. The village lies between the mountain ranges of the Silesian Beskids and the Moravian-Silesian Beskids, in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia.

The beginnings of the village can be traced back to the 12th century, when a small fort was built on a trade route running through the Jablunkov Pass. A settlement grew up around the fort. The small fort and its neighboring settlement were completely destroyed by the Magyars in 1447. Gródek was first mentioned in a written document in 1577. The village began to develop more briskly at the end of the 18th century, when about 900 people working mainly in agriculture lived there. After 1880 sandstone was exploited; its exploitation lasted until the outbreak of World War I.

After the division of Cieszyn Silesia in 1920, the village became part of Czechoslovakia. Following the Munich Agreement, in October 1938, Hrádek and the whole Zaolzie region were annexed by Poland. The village was then annexed by Nazi Germany at the beginning of World War II. After the war it was restored to Czechoslovakia.

There is a legend connected with the ancient fort. Notable local landmark "Skała Bełki" (Bełko Rock) is supposed to be the place of death of the infamous legendary knight Bełko, who plundered merchants and murdered people. According to one version, he committed suicide when his conscience overwhelmed him; according to the second version, he fell down with his horse into the Olza River chasing a mirage of victims of his cruelty.

__NOTOC__

People

* Władysław Młynek - Polish poet and writer, was born here

Footnotes

References

* cite book
last = Cicha
first = Irena
coauthors = Kazimierz Jaworski, Bronisław Ondraszek, Barbara Stalmach and Jan Stalmach
title = Olza od pramene po ujście
publisher = Region Silesia
year = 2000
location = Český Těšín
pages =
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 80-238-6081-X

External links

* [http://www.obechradek.cz/ Official website]