Głogówek

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Głogówek, also known as Oberglogau in German, is a small historic town in southern Poland, in Opole Voivodeship. It lies on the Osobloga River, about 35 kilometers from Opole and close to the Czech border. The name comes from the Polish word for hawthorn, a plant once common in the area. The town is known for its well-preserved medieval core, Market Square, and many old buildings. Since 2009 it has been officially bilingual in Polish and German because a German minority remains in the region.

Głogówek covers about 22 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of around 212 meters. As of 2019, about 5,600 people lived there.

History in brief
- The first certain mention of the town in Silesia is from 1212; it received town rights in 1275.
- It was part of the Duchy of Opole, came under Bohemian rule in 1327, and then the Habsburg Empire in 1532.
- In the late 16th century it was owned by the Oppersdorff family, who supported Catholicism.
- The town suffered heavy damage during conflicts in the 17th and 18th centuries, including a major fire in 1765.
- In the 18th century it came under Prussian control and later became part of the German Empire in 1871.
- After World War I, most residents voted to stay with Germany in the Upper Silesia plebiscite.
- During World War II the town hosted a prisoner-of-war/work site, and in 1945 it returned to Poland.
- The old church bell survived the war and was returned to the town in 1994; the Marian column was restored in 1960.
- A regional museum was opened in the castle in 1975. The local football team is Fortuna Głogówek.

Głogówek remains notable for its cultural heritage and bilingual character, reflecting its mixed history in Silesia.