Mikulčice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈmi.kul.tʃi.tsɛ]) is a municipality and village in Hodonín District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,000 inhabitants.

Mikulčice
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Flag of Mikulčice
Coat of arms of Mikulčice
Mikulčice is located in Czech Republic
Mikulčice
Mikulčice
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 48°48′59″N 17°3′4″E / 48.81639°N 17.05111°E / 48.81639; 17.05111
Country Czech Republic
RegionSouth Moravian
DistrictHodonín
First mentioned1141
Area
 • Total15.30 km2 (5.91 sq mi)
Elevation
165 m (541 ft)
Population
 (2024-01-01)[1]
 • Total1,991
 • Density130/km2 (340/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
696 19
Websitewww.mikulcice.cz

Administrative parts

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The village of Těšice is an administrative part of Mikulčice. Mikulčice and Těšice are urbanistically fused.

Geography

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Mikulčice is located about 6 kilometres (4 mi) southwest of Hodonín and 52 km (32 mi) southeast of Brno, on the border with Slovakia. It lies in a flat landscape of the Lower Morava Valley. The municipality is crossed by the Kyjovka River. The Czech-Slovak border is formed here by the Morava River.

History

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From the 6th until the 10th century, a Slavic fortified settlement existed 3 km southeast from the modern village on the site called Mikulčice-Valy. The settlement was one of the main centres of the Great Moravian Empire, plausibly its capital city. Excavations unearthed the remnants of twelve churches, a palace, and more than 2,500 graves (including a horse burial).[2]

The first written mention of Mikulčice is from 1141. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was first mentioned in 1353. At the beginning of the 15th century, a fortress stood here. The fortress was probably destroyed during the Hussite Wars.[3]

The village was heavily damaged by the 2021 South Moravia tornado.[4]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
18691,574—    
18801,805+14.7%
18901,915+6.1%
19002,022+5.6%
19102,004−0.9%
YearPop.±%
19211,980−1.2%
19301,981+0.1%
19501,924−2.9%
19612,011+4.5%
19701,898−5.6%
YearPop.±%
19801,737−8.5%
19911,751+0.8%
20011,906+8.9%
20111,881−1.3%
20211,895+0.7%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Economy

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Saints Cyril and Methodius monument

The local economy is predominantly based on agriculture and tourism.

Transport

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The I/55 road (the section from Břeclav to Hodonín) passes through the municipal territory.

The railway line Přerov–Břeclav runs through Mikulčice, but there is no train station. The municipality is served by the station in neighbouring Lužice.

Sights

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The foundations of a 9th-century church in Mikulčice-Valy

The main landmark of Mikulčice is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The original Gothic building from the mid-14th century was replaced by the current structure around 1500. In 1605 and 1683, the church burned down and was reconstructed. In the 1730s, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style, but the Gothic core has been preserved.[7]

The Mikulčice-Valy site is the main tourist attraction. It is freely accessible. It includes an exhibition with archeological finds from this area, administered by the Masaryk Museum in Hodonín. Since 1962, the site has been protected as a national cultural monument.[8]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. ^ Berend, Nóra (2007). Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' C. 900–1200. Cambridge UP. pp. 216, 321. ISBN 9780521876162. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Historie obce". Obec Mikulčice (in Czech). Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  4. ^ "Mrtví, zavalení, všude trosky. Sedm obcí na Moravě zpustošilo tornádo". iDnes (in Czech). Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Hodonín" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 3–4.
  6. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  7. ^ "Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  8. ^ "Historie expozice" (in Czech). Masarykovo muzeum v Hodoníně. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
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