The oldest building in Minice u Kralup nad Vltavou stands proudly before you. It’s the church of Saint James the Greater.
Minice u Kralup nad Vltavou a village since 1352 has a rich history. It’s now part of Kralupy nad Vltavou. It was once a significant stop on the main road to Saxony. This location had both advantages and disadvantages. In 1639 Swedish troops under Johan Banér pillaged the village.
Imagine Minice in its prime. A bustling village. Early in its existence Minice boasted a church a school sixteen farmsteads a mill and even a vineyard. The school served children from all the villages along the Vltava’s left bank. The Thirty Years’ War devastated Minice. Only eleven farmsteads remained in 1670. By 1770 thirty-one farmsteads had been rebuilt.
The village grew. By 1848 Minice had 39 houses and 280 inhabitants. The location on the main road to Saxony spurred the growth of several roadside inns. Coal mining also developed nearby starting in the mid 18th century.
For a while Minice was the center of what is now the Kralupy agglomeration. However industrial development favored neighboring Kralupy. Kralupy grew into a significant town. Minice was incorporated into Kralupy in 1960 as its fourth district.
Today Minice retains its village character. The church remains a centerpiece. A monument to the victims of World War I stands nearby. Additional names of victims from the Nazi occupation were later added. The monument was created by Břetislav Vobořil. You can see a similar work by the same artist in Brandýs nad Labem.
Also near the church is the rectory. A commemorative plaque honors Jan Valerián Jirsík who served as a priest in Minice. A notable farmstead dating from 1809 demonstrates traditional folk architecture. There is also the site of an old water mill operational until World War II. The mill is mentioned in written sources as early as 1525. Even the cross of Anna Vršková stands as a testament to Minice’s past. It’s a stone cross replacing an older wooden one. The current cross was erected by the wife of a local carpenter.
Minice u Kralup nad Vltavou. Its history echoes in its stones. It’s a small village with a big past. A place where time and history intertwine. Explore further. Discover more secrets.