Imagine living in a village where the echoes of the past resonate with the vibrancy of modern life. That village is Otvovice. Let me transport you to this unique place.
Otvovice is a municipality in the Kladno District. It lies in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. This charming village is home to about 800 people.
Our journey through Otvovice begins with its history. The first written mention of Otvovice dates back to 1228. Anežka Přemyslovna confirmed that Otvovice had to pay tithes to the monastery of St. George at Prague Castle.
Over the centuries, Otvovice was owned by various ecclesiastical holders. In 1420, the village was in the hands of Hussite knights. Later, in the 15th century, it belonged to the Buštěhrad estate. The village became part of Zvoleněves in the 16th century. In the 17th century, it was owned by Mikovice. From 1669, it returned to Zvoleněves until the abolition of serfdom.
The residents of Otvovice were primarily farmers. Craftsmen essential for agriculture also settled here. These included carpenters, locksmiths, and master bricklayers. The village had everything its inhabitants needed to exist.
At the end of the 17th century, coal mines opened. Miners, glassmakers, and others moved to Otvovice. The village transformed into an agricultural-industrial community.
The abundance of coal led to the opening of a glassworks in 1802. It was located above the grove near the road to Trněný Újezd. Another glassworks called Dubodol was built near the mines in 1815. Glass production developed here. It still exists today.
Otvovice built its own school in 1859. The school was expanded in 1888 and 1889. After modernization, it still serves its purpose today.
Notably, Otvovice is the birthplace of the singer Lucie Bílá. She continues to live here with her son.
In 1932, Otvovice had a population of 1219. The village had a post office, a telegraph office, and a police station. There was also a volunteer fire brigade. Businesses included a doctor, a brickyard, and several inns.
The village also had a chapel. The Chapel of St. Procopius stands above the road in the center of Otvovice. It is a pseudo-Gothic rectangular building from the 1830s. The original chapel was built in 1716. It was destroyed in 1832 during a cholera outbreak. A new chapel was built on the same site in the pseudo-Gothic style.
Another point of interest is the Otvovice Rock natural monument. It is a slate rocky elevation with thermophilic steppe vegetation. It is located northeast of Otvovice.
Otvovice has been home to several notable people. These include war pilot Josef Burger. Also Antonín Vidim. He was a communist mayor executed in Drážďany. There is a memorial plaque for him in Otvovice. Jan Hrubý, a Czech rock violinist, also hails from here.
In terms of transport, the II/101 road passes through Otvovice. It connects Kladno and Kralupy nad Vltavou. Otvovice lies on the Kralupy nad Vltavou–Kladno railway line. Train transport began on this line in 1856.
Today, Otvovice combines its historical roots with modern life. The village continues to evolve. It offers a unique blend of the past and present.