Štítná nad Vláří-Popov

Štítná nad Vláří-Popov is a municipality in Zlín District in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,100 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The municipality is made up of the villages of Popov and Štítná nad Vláří.

Etymology
The name Štítná is probably derived from the Czech word štít (i.e. 'shield'). The village was a defensive fortress (figuratively "shield") against Tatar invasions. The name Popov is derived from the word pop, which is an old Czech term for a priest. It refers to the fact that the village was a originally church property.

Geography
Štítná nad Vláří-Popov is located 27 km southeast of Zlín, on the border with Slovakia. It lies in the White Carpathians mountain range and in the eponymous protected landscape area. The highest point is at 776 m above sea level. The Vlára River flows through the municipality.

History
The first written mention of Štítná and Popov is from 1374. Both villages belonged to the Brumov estate. In 1964, the municipalities of Štítná nad Vláří and Popov were merged.

Transport
Popov is located on the railway line Bylnice–Bojkovice.

Sights
The main landmark of the municipality is the Church of Saint Joseph, located in Štítná nad Vláří. It was built in the Baroque style in the second half of the 18th century.

Twin towns – sister cities
Štítná nad Vláří-Popov is twinned with:
 * 🇸🇰 Košeca, Slovakia