Velká Kraš

Municipality in Olomouc, Czech Republic

Flag

Coat of arms

50°21′47″N 17°8′47″E / 50.36306°N 17.14639°E / 50.36306; 17.14639Country

Czech RepublicRegionOlomoucDistrict JeseníkFirst mentioned1256Area

• Total21.48 km² (8.29 sq mi)Elevation

252 m (827 ft)Population

(2023-01-01)^[1]

• Total726 • Density34/km² (88/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal code

790 58

Websitewww.velkakras.cz

Velká Kraš (German: Groß Krosse) is a municipality and village in Jeseník District in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 700 inhabitants.

Geography

Velká Kraš is located about 15 kilometres (9 mi) north of Jeseník and 85 km (53 mi) north of Olomouc, on the border with Poland. It lies on the border between the Žulová Hilly Land and Vidnava Lowland. The highest point is the hill Smolný vrch at 404 m (1,325 ft) above sea level. The Vidnávka river flows through the municipality.

History

The first written mention of Velká Kraš is from 1256.^[2]

During the World War II, the German occupiers operated two forced labour subcamps of the Stalag VIII-B/344 prisoner-of-war camp in the village. Four POWs attempted to escape from one of the subcamps and were killed by the Germans, and then buried in nearby Vidnava.^[3]

From 1973 to 1990, Velká Kraš was a part of Vidnava.^[2]

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1869	1,515	—
1880	1,574	+3.9%
1890	1,621	+3.0%
1900	1,630	+0.6%
1910	1,492	−8.5%

Year	Pop.	±%
1921	1,573	+5.4%
1930	1,643	+4.5%
1950	956	−41.8%
1961	1,049	+9.7%
1970	952	−9.2%

Year	Pop.	±%
1980	853	−10.4%
1991	776	−9.0%
2001	907	+16.9%
2011	733	−19.2%
2021	677	−7.6%

Source: Censuses^[4]^[5]

Transport

Velká Kraš is located on the railway line of local importance Javorník–Lipová-lázně.^[6]

Sights

The most valuable monument is the Church of Saint Florian. It was built in the Neoclassical style. The construction was finished in 1799.^[7] The second church in Velká Kraš is the Church of the Virgin Mary, which dates from the beginning of the 19th century.^[8]

Twin towns – sister cities

Velká Kraš is twinned with:^[9]

Neuburg an der Donau, Germany

References

^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
^ ^a ^b "O obci" (in Czech). Obec Velká Kraš. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
^ "Working Parties". Lamsdorf.com. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Jeseník" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 7–8.
^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
^ "Detail stanice Velká Kraš" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
^ "Kostel sv. Floriána" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
^ "Kostel ve Velké Kraši čeká oprava" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
^ "Partner und Freunde" (in German). Neuburg an der Donau. Retrieved 2020-09-18.