Hukvaldy () is a municipality and village in Frýdek-Místek District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,200 inhabitants. The municipality is known for the ruins of the third-largest castle in the Czech Republic, Hukvaldy Castle, and is the birthplace of the composer Leoš Janáček.
Administrative division
Hukvaldy consists of five municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):
- Hukvaldy (542)
- Dolní Sklenov (586)
- Horní Sklenov (205)
- Krnalovice (89)
- Rychaltice (683)
Etymology
The name is derived from the Hückeswagen family, who were the first owners of Hukvaldy.
Geography
Hukvaldy is located about southwest of Frýdek-Místek and south of Ostrava. It lies in the Moravian-Silesian Foothills. The highest point is the hill Babí hora at above sea level. The Ondřejnice River flows through the municipality.
History
thumb|Hukvaldy Castle
The Hukvaldy Castle was founded in the 1270s or 1280s by the Hückeswagen family and was first mentioned in 1285. It was a guard castle on the trade route from Olomouc to Kraków. The settlement of Hukvaldy was soon established nearby. The settlement of Sklenov was established under the castle and was first documented in 1294.
Between 1294 and 1307, the Hukvaldy estate was acquired by the bishops of Olomouc, who often pledged it to various noblemen. In the following centuries, the castle was expanded into a massive fortress. In 1762, the castle was destroyed by a fire.
Transport
thumb|Former archbishops palace
The D48 motorway (part of the European route E462) from Nový Jičín to the Czech-Polish border passes through the northern part of the municipality.
Culture
Until 2017, Janáček's Hukvaldy music festival took place in Hukvaldy. Since 2018, it has been a part of the Leoš Janáček International Music Festival in Ostrava. It is one of the most important classical music festivals in the Czech Republic.
Sights
thumb|160px|Monument of Bystrouška
Hukvaldy Castle is the third largest castle in the country. It is gradually being reconstructed. There is an exhibition on the history and architectural development of the castle. Accessible are also well-preserved guard rooms, or the Baroque Chapel of St. Andrew used for concerts. Part of the palace was converted into a lookout tower.