Drahany Explained

Drahany
Settlement Type:Market town
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Olomouc
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Prostějov
Pushpin Map:Czech Republic
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates:49.4333°N 16.8975°W
Established Title:First mentioned
Established Date:1310
Area Total Km2:6.76
Elevation M:626
Population As Of:2024-01-01
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:517
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:CET
Utc Offset1:+1
Timezone1 Dst:CEST
Utc Offset1 Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:798 61

Drahany is a market town in Prostějov District in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 500 inhabitants.

Etymology

According to one theory, the name is derived from the personal name Drahan. According to other theory, it is derived from the old Czech word draha (i.e. 'way', 'road') and referred to a road from Brno to Prostějov that led this way.[2]

Geography

Drahany is located about 14km (09miles) west of Prostějov and 30km (20miles) southwest of Olomouc. It lies in the Drahany Highlands. The highest point is the hill Horka at 656m (2,152feet) above sea level. The Velká Haná Stream originates here and flows to the south.

In the western part of the municipal territory is the pond Nebeský. Together with its surroundings, it is protected as a nature monument with an area of .[3]

History

The first written mention of Drahany is from 1310, when the local castle, occupied by marauding knights, was conquered by King John of Bohemia. In 1322, King John sold the village to Lords of Kravaře, who annexed it to their Plumlov estate. In 1348, Drahany was first referred to as a market town. During the Hussite Wars, Drahany was badly damaged and lost its status of a market town. In 1495, the Plumlov estate with Drahany was acquired by the Pernštejn family. During their rule, Drahany developed. The prosperity ended in the times of the Thirty Years' War, during which the village was damaged and depopulated. From 1590 until the establishment of an independent municipality in 1848, Drahany was owned by the Liechtenstein family.[2] [4]

Drahany was again promoted to a market town in 1908. After World War II, the population decreased, as Drahany remained an agricultural municipality without significant industry.[2]

Transport

There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

Sights

The main landmark of Drahany is the Church of Saint John the Baptist. It was built in the late Baroque style in 1790.[5]

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024. Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. Web site: Historie městyse. Městys Drahany. cs. 2024-05-06.
  3. Web site: Nebeský rybník. Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic. cs. 2024-05-06.
  4. Web site: Dobytí hradu obsazeného loupežníky dalo šanci rozvoji městečka Drahany. Czech Radio. cs. 2023-06-16. 2024-05-06.
  5. Web site: Kostel sv. Jana Křtitele. National Heritage Institute. cs. 2024-05-06.