July

Kierpień is a village located in the Opole Voivodeship, within the Prudnik County, historically tied to Upper Silesia. It lies on the Niemodlin Plain, near the Osobłoga River. The first mentions of the settlement date back to the 13th century, when Duke Władysław of Opole donated the village to the Cistercian order. The parish church dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dated to 1300, is an architectural monument that underwent reconstructions in 1660 and 1792. Kierpień was a site of national tensions, especially after World War I, when rising Polish agitation met with resistance from German inhabitants. In the 1921 plebiscite, the vast majority of votes were in favor of Germany. Over the years, the village underwent various administrative changes due to wars and political transformations, including shifts in voivodeship divisions. The presence of the German minority is notable in Kierpień's community, and residents use the Prudnik dialect. Among interesting facts, the village suffered from floods in 1903 and 1997 and had its own seal featuring an image of a carp. Kierpień is also home to the German Circle of Friendship, and public transport provides connections to Głogówek. The village has a Volunteer Fire Department and a Police Station. It is worth adding that Julius Zupitza, a renowned philologist, was born in Kierpień, highlighting its cultural significance. The parish cemetery, an inn, and residential houses listed in the municipal register of monuments bear witness to the area's rich history and culture.