Peak

Wierzch, a village located in the Opole Voivodeship, Prudnik County, boasts a rich history dating back to 1217, when it was mentioned as Virk, meaning "summit" or "peak." Architecturally, it is distinguished by the Church of St. Lawrence, built between 1899 and 1900 on the foundations of an earlier 14th-century church, and listed in the voivodeship register of historical monuments. Inside, visitors can find a 16th-century painting of the Virgin Mary, while outside there are Renaissance tombstones. Wierzch is also home to monuments commemorating residents who fell in World War I and World War II, as well as other structures such as chapels and historic residential buildings. Culturally, the village is inhabited by both the German minority and Silesians, with residents speaking the Prudnik dialect. The German Friendship Circle is active in Wierzch, and the village is also known for the Silesian folk song "Sami dwóch, sami dwóch" ("Just the Two of Us"), collected by ethnographer Adolf Dygacz. An interesting historical note is the story of an American Liberator B-24 bomber shot down over Wierzch in 1944. After World War II, the village came under Polish administration, and residents who knew Polish or the Silesian dialect were allowed to remain. The economy of Wierzch is primarily based on agriculture, and the village boasts some of the best conditions for agricultural production in the Gmina Głogówek. Transportation is provided by national roads and bus connections. For tourists, there are bicycle trails, and the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society (PTTK) has established the Prudnik Land Tourist Badge. The village has a volunteer fire department and is served by security services, including the Border Guard. Notable figures associated with Wierzch include national activist Franciszek Strzoda and the Franciscan brothers Alfons and Wilhelm Rogosz.