Skryje (Rakovník District)

Skryje is a municipality and village in Rakovník District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 200 inhabitants. The historic centre of the village is well preserved and is protected by law as a village monument zone.

Skryje
Church of Saint Michael the Archangel
Church of Saint Michael the Archangel
Flag of Skryje
Coat of arms of Skryje
Skryje is located in Czech Republic
Skryje
Skryje
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°57′54″N 13°45′52″E / 49.96500°N 13.76444°E / 49.96500; 13.76444
Country Czech Republic
RegionCentral Bohemian
DistrictRakovník
First mentioned1239
Area
 • Total
15.05 km2 (5.81 sq mi)
Elevation
332 m (1,089 ft)
Population
 (2024-01-01)[1]
 • Total
154
 • Density10/km2 (27/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
270 42
Websitewww.skryje.cz

Etymology

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The word skryj denoted a person who was hiding or who was hiding something. The name Skryje denoted the village where such people lived.[2]

Geography

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Skryje is located about 15 kilometres (9 mi) south of Rakovník and 40 km (25 mi) west of Prague. The northern part of the municipal territory lies in the Plasy Uplands, the southern part lies in the Křivoklát Highlands. The highest point is the hill Vlastec at 612 m (2,008 ft) above sea level. The municipality is situated on the right bank of the Berounka River. The entire municipality is located within the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area.

History

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The first written mention of Skryje is from 1239, when it was owned by the Kladruby Abbey.[3] From 1375 to 1601, the village was owned by various lower nobility. From 1601 until the abolition of manorialism, Skryje was part of the Křivoklát estate.[4]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1869597—    
1880592−0.8%
1890546−7.8%
1900498−8.8%
1910510+2.4%
YearPop.±%
1921476−6.7%
1930434−8.8%
1950295−32.0%
1961265−10.2%
1970199−24.9%
YearPop.±%
1980204+2.5%
1991163−20.1%
2001144−11.7%
2011151+4.9%
2021153+1.3%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Transport

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Bridge over the Berounka

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

Sights

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Educational trail

Skryje is known for paleontological and geological research. The first mention of the collection of local fossils comes from 1832. The village became famous when French geologist Joachim Barrande discovered rich fossil deposits of trilobites in the close surroundings of the village, when he was surveying the terrain for a horse-pulled railway.[7]

Today there is the Monument to Joachim Barrand, which is a small museum with paleontological and geological exposition. Part of the museum is dedicated to a country life at the turn of 19th and 20th century in Skryje and its surroundings.[8]

There is also an educational trail dedicated to fossil sites and creatures whose fossils have been found here. It is still possible to find fossils in several places.[9]

The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel was first mentioned in 1350, already as a parish church. The current Baroque building dates from 1713.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. ^ Profous, Antonín (1957). Místní jména v Čechách IV: S–Ž (in Czech). p. 85.
  3. ^ a b "Skryjský kostel" (in Czech). Obec Skryje. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  4. ^ "Historie Skryjí" (in Czech). Obec Skryje. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  5. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.
  6. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  7. ^ "Paleontologie" (in Czech). Obec Skryje. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  8. ^ "Exposition". Muzeum T.G.M. Rakovník. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  9. ^ "Naučná stezka Po stopě trilobita ve Skryjích" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
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