Jeseník District () is a district in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Jeseník. With approximately 36,000 inhabitants, it is the least populated district of the Czech Republic.
Administrative division Jeseník District is formed by only one administrative district of municipality with extended competence: Jeseník.
List of municipalities Towns are marked in bold:
Bělá pod Pradědem – Bernartice – Bílá Voda – Černá Voda – Česká Ves – Hradec-Nová Ves – Javorník – Jeseník – Kobylá nad Vidnavkou – Lipová-lázně – Mikulovice – Ostružná – Písečná – Skorošice – Stará Červená Voda – Supíkovice – Uhelná – Vápenná – Velká Kraš – Velké Kunětice – Vidnava – Vlčice – Zlaté Hory – Žulová
Geography
Jeseník District borders Poland in the north and west. Most of the district belongs to the territory of the historical land of Czech Silesia, but in the southwest it also extends into the territory of Moravia. The landscape is very diverse and rugged. Most of the territory is hilly; in the south it is mountainous, and in the north it turns into plains. The territory extends into five geomorphological mesoregions: Golden Mountains (west and centre), Hrubý Jeseník (south), Vidnava Lowland (northwest), Žulová Hilly Land (north), and Zlatohorská Highlands (east). The highest point of the district is the Keprník mountain in Ostružná with an elevation of , the lowest point is the river bed of the Vidnavka in Velká Kraš at .
From the total district area of , agricultural land occupies , forests occupy , and water area occupies . Forests cover 59.8% of the district's area, which makes it the most forested district of the country.
There are no significant rivers and bodies of water. The most important rivers are the Bělá and Vidnavka. Both are tributaries of the Eastern Neisse, which originate here and flow across the district from south to north. Notable is also the Černá Opava, a stream that originates here and is one of the sources of the Opava River. The largest body of water is the Velký Pond with an area of .
A large part of the Jeseníky Protected Landscape Area extends into the district in the south.
History Jeseník District is the youngest district of the Czech Republic. It was created on 1 January 1996 by separation from Šumperk District and is thus the only district created after 1960.
Demographics As of 2026, Jeseník District is the least populous district in the country.
Most populous municipalities Name Population Area (km2) Jeseník 10,324 38 Zlaté Hory 3,933 86 Javorník 2,544 77 Mikulovice 2,462 33 Česká Ves 2,258 25 Lipová-lázně 2,020 44 Bělá pod Pradědem 1,701 92 Vidnava 1,192 4 Vápenná 1,161 37 Žulová 1,119 15
Economy The largest employers with headquarters in Jeseník District and at least 250 employees are:
Economic entity Location Number of employees Main activity CS-CONT Zlaté Hory 500–999 Manufacture of containers Zemědělské družstvo "Agroholding" Bernartice 250–499 Animal production AGEL Jeseník Hospital Jeseník 250–499 Health care Priessnitzovy léčebné lázně Jeseník 250–499 Health care Town of Jeseník Jeseník 250–499 Public administration
Transport There are no motorways passing through the district. The most important road is the I/44 road from Šumperk to the Czech–Polish border.
Sights
The most important monument in the district and the only one protected as a national cultural monument is Jánský Vrch Castle.
The best-preserved settlements, protected as monument zones, are: Javorník Vidnava Zlaté Hory Rejvíz Údolí (Horní Údolí and Dolní Údolí)
The most visited tourist destinations are the Rejvíz educational trail in Rejvíz and Rychlebské bike trails in Černá Voda.
Notable people
References
External links
Jeseník District – profile on the Czech Statistical Office website