Piorunkowice

Piorunkowice is a village in the Opole Voivodeship, within the Prudnik County, with a rich history dating back to the 13th century. Located on the Biała Upland, the village lies along the Ścinawa Niemodlińska River, and its climate is moderately warm with annual precipitation of 610 mm. The name of the locality derives from the Slavic word for "thunder," and it appears in medieval documents as Perunchovitz. Piorunkowice was part of the Duchy of Opole and was the site of significant events, such as Hussite attacks on the "Gryżów" castle, which was first mentioned in 1358. The village passed through the hands of various noble families, including the Beess and von Mettich families, losing the castle to Prussia after the First Silesian War. In the 20th century, Piorunkowice transformed due to the influx of people from the Eastern Borderlands. Today, the village features a cultural center and the Catholic Church of St. Michael the Archangel. Piorunkowice is home to historical monuments, including a ruined castle, a 17th–19th-century palace, and a park. The village has a well-developed transport system, including road and bus connections, and a volunteer fire department established in 1947. In 2020, the municipalities of Prudnik and Korfantów took steps to construct a water reservoir to address water shortages in the region. Piorunkowice is part of the Euroregion Pradziad, and its distinctive landscape and history attract tourists, encouraging exploration of the area.