German name: Ober Hermanitz Population: 484 Number of houses: 143 Area: 1574 ha Geographical location: 49o58' N / 16o40´ E Altitude: 537 m n.m. Telephone: 465 391 212 Address: OÚ 561 33 Horní Heřmanice 129 E-mail:
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Website:www.hornihermanice.cz .The sub-mountain village is situated on the very Bohemian-Moravian border, bellow the most eastern parts of the mountains Orlické hory, around 600 metres above sea level. The village was created by integration of originally separated villages – Horní Heřmanice, Dolní Heřmanice and Rýdrovice. The foundation of villages Horní Heřmanice and Dolní Heřmanice dates back to the 13th century. The fist written reference is on a deed from 1304. The village Rýdrovice was founded later, around 1790. The most important buildings are church and rectory. The St. George’s Church was designed by the Italian architect Antonio Salla and it was build between 1706 and 1712. The entire church complex, including cemetery gate and chapel, has been declared a cultural monument. The brick-wall rectory was built in 1749. The village is proud of the new school building (built in late 1980’s) and renovated cultural centre with a restaurant. The folk architecture has been preserved in well-maintained wooden houses situated in the village centre. This proves well-preserved environment, landscape and nature. Both near and far neighbouring villages were literally made for walking, cycling and winters sports – a small ski lift (suitable for young skiers) is in the very village centre. The chine tourist trail through hills Bukovohorská hornatina that crosses the upper part of the village offers marvellous views on Czech and Moravian landscape during entire year. The highest points of the trail, i.e. hills Suchý vrch and Buková hora, are almost at 1000 metres AMSL. The well-known ski resort Čenkovice – having cross-country skiing tracks and ski lifts at disposal is only 10 km away. The tourists will be interested by the World War II borderline fortification – certain parts were opened to public – in the Králicko area. The pilgrim church on Hora Matky Boží near to Králíky is also worth of seeing. More ambitious tourists will be satisfied by climbing on the mountain Kralický Sněžník (1424 metres above sea level) to the springs of the river Morava or by a trip to the mountains Jeseníky. Swimmers shall try the dam in Pastviny surrounded by romantic nature. The border crossing point Dolní Lipka that is 15 km away enables access to Poland.
Detailed information (adapted from the source "Vlastivěda Lanškrounska"): The municipality Horní Heřmanice is spread in a brook valley (the brook is left tributary of the river Moravská Sázava), 12 km north east of the town Lanškroun. It consists of three, originally independent villages – parts: Horní Heřmanice, Dolní Heřmanice and Rýdrovice. These parts were administratively integrated in recent history. The village Dolní Heřmanice that actually forms a single settlement with Horní Heřmanice was integrated in 1970. The village Rýdrovice that is situated 2 km in northern direction was integrated the same year. The first written reference to Horní Heřmanice and Dolní Heřmanice (Hermansdorf) can be found in the donation deed issued by the king Václav II in favour of the Zbraslav monastery in 1304. The village was given the name of the village locator as it was usual in the colonisation period. The village Rýdrovice was founded many years later – in 1790 – by partition of the grounds belonging to the former hereditary reeve’s office (house no. 19). The name of the village Rýdrovice is derived from the surname of an administrator of the Lanškroun domain – František Rieder. After the exchange of property between the Zbraslav monastery and the Llitomyšl bishop in 1358, the village Heřmanice remained a part of the Lanškroun domain until 1409. Then, the bishop Jan Železný pledged Heřmanice, Jablonné nad Orlicí and villages in surrounding area in favour of the aristocrat Jan Strýček ze Střížkova. After the Hussite wars – in 1453, Zdeněk Kostka z Postupic reintegrated the village Heřmanice into the Lanškroun-Lanšperk region. In 1540 Jan z Pernštejna pledged Lanškroun region in favour of Václav Černohorský z Boskovic, however he kept the Jablonné nad Orlicí area. He integrated this area into Lanšperk domain and he sold this domain to Petr Bohdanecký z Hodkova four years later. The Lanškroun and Lanšperk regions were integrated again – having the main seat in the town Lanškroun – by Vratislav z Pernštejna in 1564. Until the end of feudalism, the history of the village Heřmanice is identical to the history of other villages in the Lanšperk-Lanškroun domain which was property of the house Lichtenštejn since 1622. During the difficult times of the Thirty Years’ War the village Heřmanice was twice threatened by the troops crossing the region. First, the 14 cornets of the imperial army that were marching from the city Opava to Reich plundered both Horní Heřmanice and Dolní Heřmanice, then a division of the Swedish army that after the battle at the Jankov controlled Eastern Bohemia destroyed the village Horní Heřmanice – the soldiers burned out the entire village as a punishment for non-paid contributions. On the hand, the village remained untouched during the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763), although the imperial army led by general Laudon crossed the village. At the beginning of the 18th century, the architect Antonio Salla built on the site of former wooden church the Baroque St. George’s Church. The foundation-stone was laid down in 1706 and the building was finished in 1712. The church was administrated by the pastor from Jablonné nad Orlicí. However, in 1748 the filial church in the village Heřmanice was promoted to the parish church with an own pastor. The dean of Hradec Králové chapter – Pavel Bernard Lyer, born in the village Heřmanice, deserves credit for establishing the local parish. The rectory was built between 1752 and 1753. The list of historical monuments in the village Horní Heřmanice includes cemetery charnel house (17th century), several sculptures, e.g. a statue of St. John of Nepomuk (1760) near to rectory, a cross in front of the church (1788), and the oldest folk architecture buildings date back to the 18th century, the house no. 85 (1790) and the mill having house no. 103 (1748) are on the list of cultural monuments. The oldest and still existing associations are the Brigade of voluntary firemen (founded in 1884) and Gymnastics club Sokol (founded in 1912). In addition to that, there were agricultural companies, e.g. agricultural association (founded in 1890) and diary cooperation Svépomoc (Self-help, founded in 1926) at turn of 19th and 20th century. Today, there is a gardening association, huntsmen association and education club. Although the village Heřmanice had always been Czech, it was integrated into Sudetenland during World War II. However, linguistically it formed – together with nearby situated municipalities, e.g. Jamné, Bystřec, Koburk, Horní Čermná and Nepomuky – an island of Czech language. After World War II, a united agricultural co-operative was founded (1953). However, it was soon dissolved and re-established several years later (1959). In early 1980’s, the local united agricultural co-operative integrated the co-operative in neighbouring village Výprachtice. Later, co-operatives were separated again. The electrification of the village Heřmanice was carried out in late 1940’s and it was finished in 1948. Today, there are two food shops (in Horní Heřmanice and in Dolní Heřmanice) that are managed by the company Hermas a.s., a restaurant and many small companies, nursery school and a grammar school. Children attend four grades here and higher grades in village Výprachtice. The village Horní Heřmanice has 477 residents.
German name: Ober Hermanitz
