Konice (; german: Konitz) is a town in

Prostějov District Prostějov District ( cs, okres Prostějov) is a district (''okres'') within the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the city of Prostějov. List of municipalities Alojzov - Bedihošť - Bílovice-Lutotín - Biskupice - Bohus ...

in the

Olomouc Region Olomouc Region ( cs, Olomoucký kraj; , ; pl, Kraj ołomuniecki) is an administrative unit ( cs, kraj) of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western and central part of its historical region of Moravia (''Morava'') and in a small part of t ...

of the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

. It has about 2,700 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

Villages of Čunín, Křemenec, Ladín, Nová Dědina and Runářov are administrative parts of Konice. Nová Dědina forms an exclave of the municipal territory.

Geography

Konice is located about northwest of

Prostějov Prostějov (; german: Proßnitz) is a city in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 43,000 inhabitants. The city is known for its fashion industry. The historical city centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an Cultural ...

and west of

Olomouc Olomouc (, , ; german: Olmütz; pl, Ołomuniec ; la, Olomucium or ''Iuliomontium'') is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 99,000 inhabitants, and its larger urban zone has a population of about 384,000 inhabitants (2019). Located on t ...

. It lies on the border between the Drahany Highlands and

Zábřeh Highlands Zábřeh (; german: Hohenstadt) is a town in Šumperk District in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 13,000 inhabitants. Administrative parts Villages of Dolní Bušínov, Hněvkov, Pivonín and Václavov are administrative p ...

. The highest point is the hill Runářovský vrch at above sea level. The Romže River flows through the town.

History

The first written mention of Konice is from 1200. It was probably the site of a fortress, which protected a trade route from

Moravia Moravia ( , also , ; cs, Morava ; german: link=yes, Mähren ; pl, Morawy ; szl, Morawa; la, Moravia) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia. The m ...

to Bohemia. After the settlement was founded, the fortress became a manor house. After Konice changed hands several times, it became a property of the Lords of Švábenice, who held it from 1434 to 1655. After several property disputes, it was bought by the

Hradisko Monastery Hradisko Monastery or Monastery Hradisko (Czech language: ''Klášter Hradisko'' or ''Klášterní Hradisko'', or simply ''Hradiště''; colloquially also: ''Moravský Escorial'', English: ''Castle Monastery'' or ''Hillfort Monastery'') is a f ...

in 1699. The monastery was abolished in 1784 and its propertives were managed by the state. Konice was bought by the entrepreneur Karel Příza in 1825. He reconstructed the local castle and moved there in 1830. His family owned the estate until 1945. In 1970, Konice obtained the status of a town.

Demographics

Economy

The largest employer is the textile company ''Moděva Konice''. It was founded in 1931 and resides in Konice since 1949.

Transport

Konice lies on the railway line of local importance leading from

to Dzbel.

Sights

The most important monument is the Konice Castle. This Baroque castle replaced the old fortress in 1705. The parish Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was first indirectly mentioned in 1371. It was and rebuilt into its current form in 1699–1709. It houses a unique wooden pulpit.

Notable people

Jaroslav Krejčí Jaroslav Krejčí (27 June 1892, Konice, Margraviate of Moravia – 18 May 1956) was a Czech lawyer and Nazi collaborator. He served as the prime minister of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia from 28 September 1941 to 19 January 1945. Aft ...

(1892–1956), lawyer and Nazi collaborator * Pavel Trávníček (born 1950), actor * Jan Březina (born 1954), politician *

Miloslav Vlček Miloslav Vlček (born 1 February 1961) is a Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythi ...

(born 1961), politician

In popular culture

The town appeared in the Czech film ''

Dark Blue World ''Dark Blue World'' ( cs, Tmavomodrý svět) is a 2001 film by Czech director Jan Svěrák, the Academy Award-winning director of ''Kolya'', about Czech pilots who fought for the British Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. The scre ...

''.

References

External links

* {{authority control Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Prostějov District