Called Frýdlant nad Ostravicí until 1950, Břidličná probably emerged from an old settlement named Skalka mentioned in the domain register of Olomouc back in 1320 which had been founded some time in the late l3th century. At that time, iron ore and gold bearing sand was discovered in the mountainous area along the Moravice River and the brook of Polička. Toward the end of thc l3th century, a gold panning equipment was installed upon the Moravice that did not survive the flood in the middle of the l4th century. The first hammer mill was born in 1290 and a sawing mill followed in 1300. The place was deserted several times (Hungarian Wars at the end of the l5th century, the 30-Year War, the PrussianAustrian Wars of the l8th century). The longest lifeless period followed the Hungarian wars (about 100 years long) after which the plague came into the region and the town was not restored before 1574. The hammer mill vanished with the l8th century. The place had a glass work and a brewery at that time. Between 1852 and 1930 a flax mill operated here. The installation was purchased by Franke and Scholz who started an aluminium product and foil factory, today's Kovohutě Břidličná. The company developed into an expanding European producer with dominating position on the Czech market of aluminium foil and rolled products. Tb.e region used to be part of the Olomouc Bishopric property and went to the Sovinec Domain in the early l5th century. Following the Battle of the White Mountain the Sovinec property went to the German Knights' Order which held it until 1939. Jan Starší Kobylka of Kobylí was the most outstanding among Sovinec's owners and his coat-of-arms decorates the only building of historic value in the place - the church built by Vavřinec Eder of átiavnica after 1586. In 1785 the natural scientist and European mineralogist Albín Heinrich was born here. The village has an indoor swimmingpool, a large gymnasium with sauna, a small calibre shooting range, a good shopping network and the Eliška Guest-House offering accommodation all around the year. Situated at the feet of the Ash Mountains (Jeseníky), Břidličná is a suitable base for walking and cross-country sküng trips. Karlov is the place of excellent sküng terrain with abounding ski lifts. There are several outstanding mineral water springs in the neighbourhood.