The municipality is situated in south eastern part of the basin Lanškrounská kotlina at the foothill of the wooded chine Hřebečovský hřbet of the intermountain zone Třebovské mezihoří below the saddle Třebovické sedlo. The brook Lukovský potok is running trough this area. The first references to the local settlement date back to 1304, the village probably belonged to the Zbraslav monastery. It is very likely that the original name was Damnikov or Damníkův dvůr, the germanised variant of the name Damík was Taming which was later changed into Thomigsdorf. Later, the village belonged to Lichtenštejn domain. The village is crossed by the road no. 43 heading to the town Lanškroun that is situated 6 km from the village. The road is further heading to resorts in the mountains Orlické hory and to Kladsko, in Poland. In 1890’s the old church was pulled down. Its fragments may be found in the cemetery wall surrounding the St. John the Baptist Church that was build in the Neo-Gothic style in 1898 which is also the dominant of the village. The Baroque parish, having a garret roof, is next to the church. There is basic infrastructure (gas supply, water-supply, phone lines and paved roads), two shops, two restaurants, grammar school, nursery school, health care centre for both adults and children and hairdresser’s. The wood surrounding the village is a perfect place for recreational activities – cycling, walking, mushroom or blueberry picking – of both locals and tourists. There are a football ground, three tennis grounds, a volleyball ground and a gym belonging to the grammar school in the village. Local inhabitants are actively participating in the firemen association, gymnastics club Sokol and huntsmen association.
Detailed information (adapted from the source "Vlastivěda Lanškrounska"): The village Damníkov is situated along the banks of the brook Lukovský potok, 6 km in south east of the town Lanškroun at the foothill of the chine Hřebečovský hřbet. The first reference to the village Damníkov (Tamichsdorf) is in the deed of the king Václav II (dated back to 1304) confirming donation of the Lanškroun region to the Zbraslav monastery. The name of the village is derived from the name of person Damík – this is evidenced by the Czech version of the name of the village – Damykow – first used in 1393. Today’s version is actually a mistake – in 1854 the authorities ordered to use the name Damníkov, because they presumed that then name Damíkov was colloquial. In documents related to the foundation of Litomyšl bishopric and forming the deanery in 1849 is the village listed as parish. The agreement by which the Zbraslav monastery exchanged Lanškroun and Lanšperk regions for more suitable properties located closer to Prague owned by the Litomyšl bishop in 1358 did not include Damníkov. Cistercian monks (of the Zbraslav monastery) sold villages Damníkov (and Trpík situated nearby) separately later. At the end of the 14th century or at the beginning of the 15th century (under unknown circumstances) the village became property of the Augustinian monastery in the town Lanškroun that was founded by the Litomyšl bishop Petr Jelito in 1371. It is very probable that Lanškroun monks had the gothic church built. The church was intended to protect parishioners during danger. Its massive tower with embrasure could change into a safe shelter by removal of the outside wooden stairs. However, in 1421 Augustinian monks had to leave the town Lanškroun and settle in the safe city Olomouc. Later, they decided to stay permanently there and they claimed restitution of their abandoned properties in Bohemia, however in vain. Although their claims concerning, among others, the village Damníkov were expressly confirmed by the king Jiří z Poděbrad, finally, the former bishopric properties, including monastery villages remained in hands of aristocracy. One of the first aristocrats who owned (more precisely occupied) the Lanškroun region, including Damníkov, originally owned by Augustinian monks, was Čeněk ze Šárova. His brother Jan Šárovec acquired the castle Lanšperk and the area surrounding the castle in the same way. Brothers owned both former bishopric properties from 1430’s until 1450’s. In 1441 the owner Čeněk ze Šárova na Lanškrouně granted the privilege of the Damník reeve’s office to Václav Herman. The reeve’s office included half hide of grounds, a one-wheel mill and the right to have craftsmen (smith, baker, butcher, tailor and shoemaker). In addition to that, the reeve was granted (upon payment of a fee) a right to brew and tap beer (the reeve’s privileges could be traced until recently – the house No. 2 was called reeve’s mill, the house No. 5 was called reeve’s smithery and the former reeve’s tap bar in the house No. 3 was closed in 1872 and it moved into the newly built house No. 233). Before 1460 the property of brothers Čeněk ze Šárova and Jan Šárovec was acquired by a powerful aristocrat Zdeněk Kostka z Postupic. Brothers were merely possessors, i.e. they could not prove their ownership title by any legal documents. During 1450’s Zdeněk Kostka z Postupic acquired titles to the properties of Lanškroun, Lanšperk and Jablonné nad Orlicí regions, i.e. all former properties of the bishopric. When he acquired properties hold by these two brothers, his house owned the whole region, exactly as did the bishopric earlier. Since 1450’s the history of the village of Damníkov was identical to the history of other villages in Lanškroun region. The village Damníkov (as many other villages in this region) was situated on Czech-German language border – neither Czechs nor Germans had prevailed entirely. The decoration of the former church evidenced these changes, for instance a sign on an interior church wall made in 1511 proves that at the beginning of the 16th century, the majority of parishioners must have understood Czech. However, at turn of 16th an 17th centuries German probably prevailed – according to inscriptions on the church bell that was made by Jan Benešovský in 1601 and this situation did not change until 1950’s. The Damníkov parish, first mentioned in 1349, disappeared in the period after the Bílá hora (White Mountain) battle. In 1677 it was re-established. In this period was the village Damníkov administrated by the pastor of the town Lanškroun. During the complicated period of the Thirty Years’ War there were many disputes between Lanškroun burghers and their pastors. According to a testimony of the Damníkov reeve and aldermen given in 1660, the priest in the village worked thoroughly. However, he asked for unusually high payments for performed acts, for instance the wedding had always been for 3 kreutzers, a hen and wedding cakes. Recently, they had been asked for a gulden or 60 groschens. Other fees had been increased too: for the baptism they had to pay 10 Bohemian groschens instead of 3 kreutzers and for the funeral they had to pay a gulden or 60 groschens instead of 6 groshens. Further, the archives reveal that these doubtful activities were supported by local teacher who issued to every person going to the town Lanškroun in order to organise a baptism, a wedding or a funeral a certificate listing his property. Therefore, the priest knew exactly financial situation of every parishioner who could not refuse to pay under pretext of poverty. The original gothic church in Damníkov – photos of the church and a model are exhibited in the Lanškroun museum – was gradually falling into disrepair. Moreover it was not sufficient for the increasing number of believers. In late 1820’s a construction of a new church was considered. The construction was planned to begin in 1830. The first negotiations were held, the wood was supplied, however, after the temporary roof of the nave and tower was laid down, the enthusiasm of local parishioner disappeared and preparations were stopped. In 1853 a construction plan of the new church was drawn. The entire reconstruction was delayed until 1885 when the general renovation of the church was planned (with a budget amounting to 15,000 guldens). After long negotiations with the donator – Prince of Lichtenštejn – the local parishioners decided (in 1892) to build a new church. The church was being built during 1895-98 in the neo-gothic style. The near old church was pulled down in 1898 and some of its construction elements were built in to the wall surrounding the cemetery. Among other sacred monuments in the village Damníkov should be mentioned the statue of St. Prokop (1710) in front of the church from. Unfortunately, a younger column with a statue of St. John of Nepomuk (1713) was pulled down in 1980’s. The first reference to the school education in Damníkov dates back to 1630’s – the name of the teacher was recorded – it was Valentin Stark. Allegedly, former old school building was on the place of today’s rectory, but it was pulled down in 1754. A school having only one class-room and a teacher’s flat was built close to the brook and it was renovated and enlarged several times (last reconstruction was carried out in 1893). The old building of reeve’s office was used as school in the second half of the 20th century. In late 1970’s the modern building of the current grammar school was constructed. The first post office in the village Damníkov was opened in 1903 (it was actually a collecting place). Ten years later, there was a post office (with a postmaster) equipped with a telegraph (since 1912) and later a telephone (the telephone service was provided also to near villages Květná, Trpík and Anenská Studánka. The electrification was carried out in 1932. Among the oldest associations in the village Damníkov is the Brigade of voluntary firemen, founded in 1873 (Freiwillige Feuerwehverein). In 19th century was founded the association of war veterans (1878, Veteranenverein), the savings bank association (which was changed into Raiffesenka in 1889). During the period of the First Republic there were following associations: Gymnastic club (1935, Turnverein) St. Hubert association (1922, St. Hubertusverein), Theatre and choral association. After the expulsion of Germans and repopulation of the village by people from upcountry, the association of voluntary firemen was restored (e.g. a unique fire engine originally drawn by horses was preserved), gymnastics club or association of huntsmen. Now, the municipality of 600 residents has a post office, grammar school, nursery school, health care centre, two restaurants and culture centre. Sport facilities are represented by a football ground, three tennis-courts and a volleyball ground..
German name: Thomigsdorf
