ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA	CZECH REPUBLIC
Moravskoslezský kraj	North Moravia and Silesia (Ostrava) region
Okres: Nový Jičín

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Odry is situated at an elevation of 274 m on the Odra (Oder) river in the Nový Jičín district of the Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic.

The village Vyhnanov on the left bank of the river was first mentioned in 1234 as a possession of the Cistercian monastery of Tišnov. However, this settlement perished in 1241 during the invasion of the Golden Horde of Batu Khan. In order to protect this place against further Tatar invasions, a castle was founded here in 1253. This stronghold, situated at the border between Moravia and Silesia, became the residence of the Odra estate, of which Albert of Šternberk, bishop of Olomouc, is mentioned as first owner. The village that originated below the castle was named Odra or Oderaw and was mentioned in documents as early as 1346. Odry was chartered as a town in 1357 according to the municipal code of Troppau (Opava). Towards the end of the 14th century a border dispute arose between Moravia and Silesia. Odry was incorporated into the Silesian duchy of Opava in 1481. The border dispute, however, continued until 1493, when a new border was agreed upon. This border, finally declared official in 1613 by Emperor Matthias II, remained unchanged until 1943. Between 1428 and 1435 Odry was a seat of the Hussites. During the later centuries, Odry was owned by several different aristocratic families. The German name Odrau was used since the late 17th century. In 1730, the former, Gothic, stronghold was replaced by a new, Baroque, residence château. In the early 19th century Odry was purchased by the princes of Fürstenberg. After the abolition of the lordship over lands and subjects in 1848, Odrau was formally established as a municipality. In 1866 Odrau was connected to the railroad system of the Austrian Northern Railway (Kaiser-Ferdinand-Nordbahn, see Bohumín). At the time, Odrau was the seat of a judicial circuit within the district Neutitschein (Nový Jičín). After 1945 the German population of Odrau was disowned and expelled.

The church of St. Bartholomew [background centre] was built in Baroque style in 1691–1692 in place of an older, Gothic, church that had been built in 1373. The church tower holds a bell from 1374 which is thought to be the oldest still existing bell of Moravia.

Gregor MENDEL (1822–1917), biologist and founder of genetics, was born in the nearby village of Hynčice (Heinzendorf), which is part of the municipality Vražné (Petersdorf). [Note: There is another village called Hynčice, which is part of the municipality Město Albrechtice in the district Bruntál.]