Commune of Walce

Location: in the south part of the Poviat of Krapkowice, along the left river bank of Odra, in the triangle: between Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Głogówek and Krapkowice. The national way Opole – Racibórz runs through the commune, being an access road the highway A-4 and to a cross-border point in Cahłupki.
It borders communes of: Krapkowice, Zdzieszowice, Reńska Wieś and Głogówek;
Administrative composition - village of Walce and 9 villages of: Ćwiercie, Brożec, Dobieszowice, Grocholub, Kromołów, Rozkochów, Stradunia and Zabierzów.
Area: 65 km2
Number of inhabitants: 6 548 inhabitants, whereof 2084 live in Walce. An average density of population amounts c.a. 100 persons per 1 km2

It is worth seeing and visiting…

   «•»  Village of Brożec
Going with the way Krapkowice-Racibórz, in Żużela you should turn right and move toward the village of Brożec. Its founders were Cistercians from Lubiąż in Lower Silesia. The next owner was the Order of Norbertan Sisters from Czarnowąsy. A parish was created in Brożec in 1319 thanks to the Order. For the first time the village was mentioned in 1228 as Brosci, in 1282 as Brosez. Its origin descends from a word bróg, that is to say heap, rick, with a suffix -ec.
At the entrance to the village we stumble across two crosses: one from 1901, and second probably raised to honor of killed the World War I. When we get to a cross-road, a little chapel of Saint John Nepomucen greets us. A figure of the saint was put first at a church, but after its repair it was moved into the equally worthy place - to the nearby little chapel, built by Walenty Namysło. During war- activities inhabitants gathered around it to the May- service and prayed for the peace.
Soon we get to the baroque- church of All Saints, built into 1779 by the priest Klose on a place of the old, wooden one. The most precious moving ancient monuments at the church: the XVIII-century picture All Saints Canonization, the baroque- wooden font, the richly decorated ambo of polychrome wood from 1721 with figures of 4 evangelists and with a sculpture of Christ Salvator on the canopy, the wooden, baroque- confessional from the 2nd half of the XVIII century and baroque- sculptures of Saint Peter and Paul. A moment of rest we can find in the Grotto of Lourdes, built in years 1975-1977 on a place of the churchside cemetery.
Opposite the church, there is over hundred year old elementary school, and near, on the left hand, there is a chapel with restored in the 80s of the last century, an oil- picture of God’s Mother of Consolation. It was built by Florian Barton in the style of so-called „Dorfbarok” (popular in those times in Bavaria, on Silesia and in Czech). Soon we pass a monument raised after the World War I, worshipping killed inhabitants, also those who lost their lives in the World War II. Close by the monument you can admire a fire truck from 30s of the last century. It is proper also to look into an old, brick- stone granary from the XIX-century, situated within buildings of the former grange. In the nearest future, a museum of agricultural equipment will be situated there.

   «•»  Village of Kromołów
From Brożec we go to the oldest village in the commune- to Kromołow. The first mention about it, recorded in a form of Cromolou, originated from 1193. It referred to an inn situated at a cross-road from which a part of earnings was paid to the Order of St Vincent in Wroclaw. It would confirm the fact that the amber- „track” led there from Opole to Moravia. There also exist forms: Cromolowiz (1282), Kramulowitz (1312) and Kramalau (1534). Etymology of the name descends from the XII-century nickname Kromoła. The hamlet of Czerniów belongs also to the village with a belfry on a wooden column.
Entering the village, we come up to the sumptuous chapel-belfry built in 1870, thoroughly renewed in 1998. On one of the wall, there are boards commemorating killed soldiers during the World War II. In the center of the village, close by a schoolhouse, the 800-year- history of Kromołow commemorates an inscription: Cromolou 1193-1993 curved on a commemorative obelisk, situated on an underpinning red brick work.

   «•»  Village of Ćwiercie
Going with the way toward Rozkochow, soon we get to the smallest, picturesquely situated among meadows and field’s coppices, the village in the commune which name Ćwiercie is strictly connected with a former partition of the ground and farming. It descends from the cultural name - the common word ćwierć, that is to say quarter. For the first time it was noted in 1568, when its owner became the count Hans von Redern who bought the village with the neighboring Rozkochow. Well-known is also a record Schwärtze (1784).
Going through the village, we pass a chapel, and then a monument to the honor of killed in the World War I in the form of the brick- plinth topped with a cross with a commemorative board.

   «•»  Rozkochów
To Rozkochow, you can get from three sides: with the Krzywa street, from Walce, also with ways from Ćwiercie and from Głogówek. The first recording: Roscochow proceeds from 1290, whenas Johannes Roscochove is mentioned as a witness in the monastic document from Rud near Raciborz. The later form Roskochow from 1679 is already close to the present one. It originates from a personal name Rozkoch (from 1404). During ages, the village changed owners. First, it was a property of the Order of Norbertan Sisters from Czarnowąsy. Since 1496 Jan Rozkochowski owned it, and then families of: von Redern, von Pûckler, the count Frederic von Harrach. The family von Seher – Thoss was absolutely the last owners of Rozkochow in the years 1853-1945.
If we enter Rozkochów from Walce and at a crossing we turn right, then we stumble across a brick- chapel from 1965 which was raised on a place of an old, wooden from before 200 years. Close by, we can admire a monument of inanimate nature - a gigantic sniggered, the remainder of the Scandinavian continental glacier. Near, there is the second chapel from 1972. Going still, we reach the church of St. Catherine (patron of railwaymen) mentioned already in 1330 and a cloister situated behind it. Officially it is known that since 1350 Rozkochów possessed already the own church and parish. The present block of the brick- church proceeds from 1817. It was rebuilt again in years 1947-1948, because it was damaged during war- activities. Inside, the original presbytery has remained. Among unusually precious ancient monuments, being found in the temple, you should pay your attention to: taking from a palace, fixed into a wall of the church a cast-iron- plate with a bas-relief Solomon Judgment from 1702, the late-Baroque crucifix and neoclassical candlesticks for paschal candle from the turn of the XVIII and XIX centuries.
Going with the main road toward Głogówek, it is proper to stop at the palace – park complex, situated in north-west ends of the village. Its integral part is the late-Baroque palace, raised in 1734 by the family von Pûckler. It was built on walls of preceding one the construction of which is credited to the captain Jan Rozkochowski or his successors Hans von Redern who purchased Rozkochów in 1568. After the World War II a user was the Horse Stable in Moszna. Since 90s of the last century the castle has been in private hands. Behind the palace, there is the 8-hectare antique park from XVIII century through which the little river of Swornica flows. In the north-east part of the park there are buildings of the former grange with an alcohol distillery.

   «•»  Communal village of Walce
From Rozkochow we go to Walce – a seat of the commune, instituted as a result of the administrative reform from 1973 .To „ the capital” of the commune you can also get from: Zabierzow and Kromołow, from Grocholub and Twardawa. The village of Walce has since a long time been an important place on communication tracks: between Głogówek and Krapkowice, Koźle and Strzelce Opolskie, also on the “amber”- trade track from Opole to Moravia, probably through Brożec, Kromołów and Rozkochów.
The colonization on these lands had to exist already c.a. 6000-4500 years BC. in the Stone Age. For the first time, the mention about the village appeared in 1228 in a document of the Opolskie prince Kazimierz, in a form Walchi, afterwards in 1260 in documents of Władysław - a son of Kazimierz who confirms that the village of Walce with many other villages was assigned to the abbey of Norbertans in Czarnowasy where it tithed (before, it tithed to the abbey of Cistercian from Lubiąż). In 1290 a little changed name appeared of the village of Valetz in a document, which assigns tithing to the Wroclavian bishopric. Following documents mention following name-forms: Walicz (1383), Walecz (1447, 1495). Its roots could be taken from original forms Wałecz or Walecz, being descended from a name Wałek// Walek (from 1204). You cannot also exclude the original form Walec (plural. Walce), being descended from the word- core val -- meaning moisture, water.
The village did not avoid also wars: Hussite (1419-1456), Swedish (1618-1648) and Silesian (among other things 1740-1742), finished with the peace agreement in Hubertsburg (1763). Creation of the Poviat of Prudnik was a result, to which Walce with neighboring villages belonged, except for Stradunia, belonging then to the Poviat of Opole. In the XVII and XVIII centuries, the local and neighboring population was decimated with the pest.
On a crossing, it is proper to go to the Zamkowa Street, where Złomexu is situated today. There was once a castle. The family von Schweinchen built it in 1675. Together with the land estate it was the sumptuous seat. In 1815, it was purchased by the family Walliczek, and in 1847 the family von Seher-Thoss. However, in 1929 they lost the castle along with landed estates due to debts. The partition the fortune brought to the efflorescence of the village – a lot of new farms were established, the number of inhabitants considerably grown up. An agriculture school for girls was opened in the palace, and in the end of the World War II an ammunition dump was organized in its cellars which exploded in July 1945 and ravaged almost the whole object. Only the former alcohol distillery was saved. Today, only little has remained. In the fifties of the last century on the place of the palace stores of the Communal Cooperative Farm were built. Unfortunately, today the image of the former splendor of that object we can admire only on old picture postcards.
From there, we go on the main way, we pass the Communal Culture Centre, we get to the crossing, we turn left, and afterwards right and we stop on the nearby natural elevation at the post mansion- complex from the XVIII century, with Prussian wall, covered with hip roof. Numerous trees and decorative shrubs, among them: juniper, black pine, silver- spruce or thujas growing around, add the charm to that object of the former grange.
From the mansion we go back on the main way leading through the village. We travel close by the building of the Voluntary Fire Brigade. On the left hand we pass the coat of arms of Walce and a board commemorating initiating partnership with the Bavarian commune of Berg near Nuremberg. The sumptuous, rococo stone- statue of Saint John Nepomucen appears before us, being placed near a monument to the honor of inhabitants killed during the World War II and the jubilee- obelisk with the commemorative inscription Waltzs 1228-1998, Renovation of Village 1997.
A couple of hundred meters farther, the Neo-Gothic church of St. Valentine greets us from afar, built from the red brick in 1894. An owner of Walce was then Franz von Kochtzitzky. It is proper to know that first mentions about the existence of the church and the parish of Walce proceed from 1330. The first temple was most likely wooden and was situated on the old, churchside cemetery. The following movable ancient monuments are especially precious in the present church: a bronze bell from 1586, as well as late-Baroque candlestick for a paschal candle. Color stained-glass windows fascinate with their own beauty with images of saints: Theresa, Agnes, Margaret and Dorothea. Two neighboring villages of Zabierzów and Grocholub are strictly connected with the church and parish of Walce. At the end of the village a thankful cross bids us good-bye, put by inhabitants of the village in remembrance of the jubilee of 2000 and the safe entering into the third millennium.

   «•»  Zabierzów
Going with a poviat way - to Głogówek, on the central crossing in Walce we turn right and with a communal way we get to the purely agricultural village of Zabierzów, passing on the way the hamlet of Posiłek. For the first time mentioned as Saberovo in a document from 1282, assigning it to the cloister of Norbertan Sisters from Czarnowąsy. Its origin descends from an old Polish personal name Zabierz. In the XVII century the name of the village had a form Zabierzau, and in 1650 it was the property of the count Georg III von Oppersdorf - Lord of Głogówek.
In the center of the village, there is a brick- little chapel-belfry from the XIX century with the folk wooden sculpture of Saint John Nepomucen. Going with the main road we also pass: a monument, to honor of killed in both world wars and a stone with a board, commemorating 720-years of the existence of the village of Zabierzów. Close by it, there is a figure of Saint John Nepomucen. At the end of the village, towards Kromołow we stumble across the next quadrilateral little niche chapel.

   «•»  Grocholub
Going with the Poviat way- Głogówek - Stradunia in short time we get to the village of the grateful name of Grocholub to which belongs the hamlet of Swornica. For the first time it was noted in the form Grocholuba (1228), afterwards Grocholube (1282). Probably it originates from the nickname Grocholub Historically, the village passed the same fates as the village of Zabierzów.
At the entrance a work- in- metal accent of a dinosaur greets us, situated nearby a private estate. In the village, there also is over 90-year - old schoolhouse, at present a nursery school. In the center we can admire: the antique, 4-storeyied XIX-century chapel with a belfry, a semicircular brick- monument to honor killed in the World War I with a figure of Jesus Resurrected, while on the nearest crossing - a cross- monument raised in 1936 to honor of Adolf Baron (13. 04. 1866 - 17. 01. 1934), native inhabitant of Grocholub who was a mayor of the town of Krapkowice in years 1898-1932. His grave is situated on a cemetery in Gogolin.

   «•»  Dobieszowice
Going from Walce to Twardawa you can not skip the village of Dobieszowice. For the first time mentioned in 1267 as Dobreschiezi. In 1532 the name Dobeschowitze was noted. It descends from an old Polish personal name, patronymic (from a father) Dobiesz (from 1136). The owners of the village changed during the ages. In the XV century Dobieszowice was owned by Anna Dobierzowska, in the XVI century - to the count von Pûckler, since 1669 to the count von Redern – Lord of Krapkowice, in the XVIII century - to owners of Dobra, the family von Seher-Thoss, and before the war to the family Deloch. Through many years, a mill and an alcohol distillery worked there, and a school existed since 1864.
Worthy attention objects: a brick- little chapel-belfry from the XIX century and built in the modern style the parish church of St. Anna. It is proper to know that in 1938 the Cricket-like play team (called palant) of Dobieszowice won the vice-championship of Germany.

   «•»  Stradunia
At the very busy way from Opole to Raciborz the last communal village of Stradunia lies. You can also get there with the way from Walce or to cross by ferry from Zdzieszowice to Mechnica, and turn right on the national way toward Krapkowice. Its name is doubtless connected with water net, transferred directly onto the settlement from the original river- name Strad -unia, because an old Polish word strada, stradać meant work hard, cultivate with difficulty. The first mention about the village proceeds from 1228, whenas the village was assigned to the Norbertan Sisters from Czarnowąsy. However archaeological researches prove that first forms of the colonization took there a place in the Stone Age (6000-4500 years BC.). For sure, in the period of Middle Ages the colonization was arranged along the river of Stardunia, flowing Odra.
Passing the village it is proper to stop at the building of the Voluntary Fire Brigade, to walk just opposite to the comparatively young Neo-Gothic church Of Jesus Heart, built in 1922 by the inhabitants of the village. Old people tell some authentic story connected with the construction of the church. Probably on 13 September 1921 the old miller Umlauf finished his work an hour before midnight. Tired, he got out the mill and sat down on a bench. Then over the barn, glowing column of fire appeared to him which remained in the sky for long time. Terrified, he went to his friends and with them to the rich innkeeper in the village - Alexander Woszczyna. After the lengthy discussion they found that that column of the fire had pointed the place, where temple should be built. The decision of the old Woszczyna was taken immediately. He delivered his own habitable and farm buildings to the family Smykała, so that to build the church at the place of their farm over where the fiery column appeared. The old innkeeper also began the construction of his new dwelling house (at present a parsonage), but was not his fate to settle in, because he died, when the pavers finished to put a pavement round the building.
The most precious ancient monuments at the church: a picture of Heart of Lord Jesus, a figure – Holy Mary Virgin and St. Joseph, the Franciscan altar with a picture of Christ taken off from the Cross by Joseph of Arymatea, an altar of Virgin Mary with figures of St. Agnes and St. Aloysius and a picture of Holy Mary Virgin. From the church- tower at noon, we can listen bells’ pealing from which one originates from 1813 and was moved from the nearby two- storey chapel- belfry.











On the crossing, we turn right on the way leading to Walce. Near a shop there is a chapel-belfry from 1st half of the XIX century. Going still, we pass on the left hand side the second little chapel from 1921 and between Stradunia and Grocholub- a cross from 1909. Going from Stradunia to Krapkowice, nearby one of the private estates, there is the XIX-century little column chapel of the Tatar type.
It is proper also to look at the ecological estate „Old Odra” of total length of 1,5 km extremely rich in river flora and fauna which was established at the end of the XIX century, whenas the river regulation took place.