The historically Czech village of Petrovice is situated 11 km in south west of the town of Laškroun. Its population is 240. Several old cottages and farms have been preserved and on the hill Hůra there used to be a gothic wooden stronghold of the Petrů family.
Detailed information (adapted from the source "Vlastivěda Lanškrounska"): A small sub-mountain village of Petrovice is situated 11 km in north west of the town of Lanškroun in a narrow valley between two hills. A part of the village is also Blahotinec, three alone-standing houses and the former Podhorní mlýn (Mill under the hill) on the brook Čermenka and its existence dates back to the late 16th century). The history of the village of Petrovice begins, as history of many neighbouring villages, during the medieval colonisation of this region ordered by the family z Drnholce (therefore, the village has typical colonisation name, it was named after the locator) The fist written reference to the village is in the donation deed of the king Václav II (dates back to 1304). The king gave the region and the castle Lanšperk to the Zbraslav monastery. In 1358 the village of Petrovice (belonging to the Jablonné nad Orlicí district) is referred as the part of Lanšperk domain in deeds relating to the exchange this domain between the Zbraslav monastery and Litomyšl bishop. However, archives remain silent on the further history of the village. It is likely that the village of Petrovice was separated from the Lanšperk region around 1409, when the Litomyšl bishop Jan Železný pledged the town Jablonné nad Orlicí and six neighbouring villages in favour of Jan Strýček ze Střížkova. However, it is also possible that the village was pledged, similarly as the neighbouring village Bystřec, in favour of a local squire. In any case, the village was property of a local manor that is not mentioned in archives. The names of owners of the stronghold and the village reappear in 1540. Before this year, brothers Václav and Jan Petrovští z Petrovic sold the property to Jan Strachota z Kralovic, Master of Orlice, who integrated this property into his domain. However, he sold the village Petrovice to his son Burjan Strachota in 1544 and the latter sold the village to Hynek Blíživský z Blíživa fifteen years later (1558). Hynek Blíživský z Blíživa kept the village until 1585. This year was fatal for the owner of the Petrovice stronghold and his family – the region was struck by the plague epidemic. Hynek Blíživský z Blíživa, himself, his mother Maruše, his children Adam, Alenka, Maruška and David did not survive. The heir of the property – Adam Blíživský – had his father, brothers and sisters buried in the church in near village Dolní Čermná. The wild temperament of Adam Blíživský was evidenced in a story that happened in the Petrovice stronghold and that was recorded by the historian August Sedláček. After the death of Adam Blíživský (1597), the heritage was acquired by Vratislav Václav Licek z Rýzmburku who resided in Petrovice for two decades and died around 1619. His older son Adam, the heir of the his property, died in 1624 and left his brother, younger Vratislav’s son, Ladislav Licek z Rýzmburku debts and therefore the latter was forced to sell Petrovice. In October 1624, the stronghold and village of rovice was bought by the owner of the large Lanškroun domain – Karel z Lichtenštejna – since then, the history of the village Petrovice is identical to the history of other villages in this region. The old Petrovice stronghold was not used anymore after the integration into the Lanškroun domain. The construction was probably built in the newly established manor farm (no. 1). This manor has been reconstructed many times. Only a part of original construction has been preserved. Nevertheless, local inhabitants still claim that the stronghold used to be on the hill Hůra – actually, there are ruins of fortification, but these ruins are believed to be a former observation station – due to its strategic location with view on the landscape. The education in the village of Petrovice dates back to 1806. The school building was constructed several years lager in 1874 and was used for a hundred years. Since 1974 the pupils from the village of Petrovice has been commuting to the village of Dolní Čermná. The old school building was reconstructed between 1978 and 1979 for the purposes of the nursery school. Also, in religions matter the inhabitants of the village of Petrovice were dependant on the village of Dolní Čermná. During the Thirty Year’s War the rectory in the village of Dolní Čermná was abandoned and the village was administrated from the town of Ústí nad Orlicí. The rectory was re-established in 1670, having in its parish district, among others, the village of Petrovice. The local inhabitants built a wooden chapel that was destroyed by fire in 1874. A new brick-wall St. Francis Xavier’s Chapel, surrounded by a small cemetery was finished in 1889. The grounds of the former manor farm in the village of Petrovice (that the administration of the manor farm rented to the local farmers) became property of these farmers as the result of the land reform after the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic. The mutual savings bank was founded in 1924, its profits and profits of rental of the hunting grounds were used to purchase of machines facilitating farming. After 1945 (during the collectivization period), the Agricultural and machine co-operative was founded in the village of Petrovice in May 1947. The first attempt to found the united agricultural co-operative (in 1953) failed. Eventually, the co-operative was founded four years later. The village of Petrovice was self-governed, since 1850 by the Municipal office and since May 1945 by the Local National Committee until 1989. The local inhabitants refused the administrative integration into the village of Dolní Čermná. Therefore the independent Municipal office was re-established after the municipal elections in November 1990. Recently, many projects were carried out, such as local water supply (in 1993) or construction of the cultural centre (in 2001). The municipality has been involved in the Countryside reconstruction programme and in 1995 it won the first prize in the East Bohemia region – a golden ribbon; it won the green ribbon two years later. The cultural life in the village has always been rich. Since 1896 the Brigade of voluntary firemen has been the key-stone of both association and cultural life. The Theatre club that was founded in 1912 and since 1921 it bears the name – with approval of the writer – Divadelní spolek Aloise Jiráska (The Theatre Club of Alois Jirásek) proudly presents a play premiere each year. It is also the owner of the extraordinary curtain painted in 1924. The mutual savings bank was founded in the same year. The local organisation of the Czech Red Cross plays also an important role in the cultural life of the village. Its members organise children’s events, charity and provide old persons care. There is also Hunting Association and Gardening Association. Children and young people may join the Scout-Junák association or NAPAL Club (Help nature and fun). Although there are not significant monuments in the village of Petrovice, many buildings that have been preserved form the picturesque character of a sub-mountain village. The already mentioned pseudo-style St. Francis Xavier Chapel (1889), the organ has recently been renovated (2000). Many original log cabins are invaluable evidence of the historical folk architecture. In 1991 the Holy Virgin Chapel on the hill Hůra was renovated and re-consecrated. The chapel was built above a spring that is believed to have healing effects. However, it was pulled down in 1983. The wayside shrine in front of the house no.17 and the sand-stone cross (1851, renovated in 1999) in front of the church should be mentioned among sacred monuments. The incomplete list of the monuments should include the memorial to the victims of the World War I that was made by Karel Sršeň, sculptor living in the town of Česká Třebová, in 1922. Today there are 72 houses, including 20 houses that are used for recreational purposes, in the village. The population is 238 and in spite of the general trend of depopulation, the number of inhabitants of the village of Petrovice is increasing..
German name: Petersdorf
