Vrbětice

Vrbětice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈvr̩bjɛcɪtsɛ]) is a village and municipal part of Vlachovice in Zlín District in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It is located in the valley of the river Vlára.

Vrbětice
Village
Wooden bell tower
Vrbětice Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°6′48″N 17°56′24″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Zlín
District	Zlín
Municipality	Vlachovice
First mentioned	1318
Area
• Total	6.16 km2 (2.38 sq mi)
Elevation	338 m (1,109 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	343
• Density	56/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	763 24
Website	www.vlachovice.cz

History

The first written mention of Vrbětice dates back to 1318.^[2] Although Vrbětice is in the immediate vicinity of Vlachovice, the village has always belonged to the Hošťálková rule and was at no time subject to Vlachovice. Serf conditions in Vrbětice were very mild. With the exception of forest work, its residents were exempt from forced labour.^[3] In the 1620 land register, a hereditary bailiff is documented for the first time in Vrbětice.^[4]

In 1850, after the abolition of patrimonial, Vrbětice formed a municipality in the district administration Uherský Brod and the judicial district Valašské Klobouky.^[5] The first school was built here in 1882.^[6]

In 2014, a series of explosions occurred in a military warehouse in Vrbětice. Presumably, the explosion was caused by the Russian GRU agents.^[7]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 346 —     1880 410 +18.5% 1890 399 −2.7% 1900 389 −2.5% 1910 412 +5.9%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 401 −2.7% 1930 364 −9.2% 1950 382 +4.9% 1961 424 +11.0% 1970 441 +4.0%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 398 −9.8% 1991 398 +0.0% 2001 391 −1.8% 2011 341 −12.8% 2021 343 +0.6%
Source: Censuses[8][9]

Sights

The main landmark and the only protected cultural monument is a timbered wooden bell tower from the 19th century. It is located in the centre of the village.^[10]