Březová (Opava District)

49°47′30″N 17°51′56″E / 49.79167°N 17.86556°E / 49.79167; 17.86556Country Czech RepublicRegionMoravian-SilesianDistrictOpavaFirst mentioned1238Area • Total38.93 km² (15.03 sq mi)Elevation520 m (1,710 ft)Population • Total1,406 • Density36/km² (94/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal codeWebsitewww.mestys-brezova.cz

Březová (German: Briesau) is a market town in Opava District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,400 inhabitants.

The villages of Gručovice, Jančí, Leskovec and Lesní Albrechtice are administrative parts of Březová.

The name is derived from the word bříza, i.e. 'birch'.^[2]

Březová is located about 16 kilometres (10 mi) south of Opava and 27 km (17 mi) west of Ostrava. It lies in the Nízký Jeseník range. The highest point is at 537 m (1,762 ft) above sea level. The Moravice River briefly flows along the northwestern municipal border. The Gručovka Stream originates here and flows around the village to the south.

The first written mention of Březová is from 1238. From the mid-14th century until the mid-17th century, it was a town. Since 2018, it has the status of a market town.^[3]

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 1,755 —     1880 1,721 −1.9% 1890 1,671 −2.9% 1900 1,624 −2.8% 1910 1,656 +2.0%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 1,690 +2.1% 1930 1,616 −4.4% 1950 1,067 −34.0% 1961 1,244 +16.6% 1970 1,245 +0.1%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 1,252 +0.6% 1991 1,319 +5.4% 2001 1,294 −1.9% 2011 1,333 +3.0% 2021 1,323 −0.8%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

The I/57 road from Opava to Nový Jičín passes through the municipality.

The main landmark of Březová is the Church of Saint Nicholas. It was built in the Baroque style after 1695. In 1862–1864, it was extended.^[6]