níkeli

Níkel is a small municipality located in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic within the Zlín Region. The village lies in the foothills of the Moravian-Silesian Beskids, where its landscape is characterized by gentle hills, dense mixed forests and a network of small streams that feed into the Beskydský brook.

The earliest written reference to Níkel dates back to the 12th century, when it was mentioned in a charter granted by the Bishop of Olomouc. Over the centuries the settlement developed primarily as an agricultural community, with local farmers cultivating corn, potatoes and pastureland for cattle. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the area gained a modest economic boost from small-scale nickel mining and smelting operations, which left a lasting imprint on the village’s cultural heritage.

Today the population of Níkel is approximately 1,200 inhabitants. Modern livelihoods are a mix of agriculture, forestry and commuting to larger nearby towns for industrial and service-sector jobs. The community maintains traditional Czech cultural practices, including local festivals held in the fall, which showcase regional folk music, dance and cuisine such as svíčková served with bread dumplings.

Níkel is also known for preserving several historic wooden churches and a 15th‑century fortified manor house that now houses a small local museum. Hiking trails in the surrounding hills attract visitors during spring and summer, offering scenic views of the valley and opportunities for wildlife observation.