Wielkie Kończyce

Kończyce Wielkie is a rural administrative unit (sołectwo) located in the Silesian Voivodeship, within Cieszyn County, in the municipality of Hażlach. Its history dates back to the 13th century, with the first written mention of the village appearing in a Latin document from 1305. The village was part of the Duchy of Cieszyn and was politically tied to the Kingdom of Bohemia. During the Reformation, the local population was influenced by Lutheranism, but it was re-Catholicized in the 18th century. Kończyce Wielkie is home to several important historical monuments, including a Baroque-Classical palace from the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, whose last owner was Countess Gabriela von Thun und Hohenstein, and a palace chapel from 1776. The parish church of St. Michael the Archangel, built in 1777, is one of the largest wooden churches in Cieszyn Silesia. Additionally, the village is home to the over 500-year-old Mieszko Oak, the oldest oak tree in Silesia. The surrounding hills feature viewpoints and cycling trails of varying difficulty, making Kończyce an attractive destination for tourists. Between 2004 and 2005, archaeological excavations in the village uncovered the oldest traces of Homo erectus presence in Poland, dating back to around 800,000 BCE. Thus, Kończyce Wielkie is a place of rich history, valuable monuments, and unique natural heritage.