Strakonice
Town
Aerial view
Aerial view
Flag of Strakonice
Flag
Coat of arms of Strakonice
Coat of arms
Strakonice is located in Czech Republic
Strakonice
Strakonice
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°15′41″N 13°54′9″E / 49.26139°N 13.90250°E / 49.26139; 13.90250
Country Czech Republic
RegionSouth Bohemian
DistrictStrakonice
First mentioned1243
Government
 • MayorBřetislav Hrdlička
Area
 • Total34.68 km2 (13.39 sq mi)
Elevation
393 m (1,289 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total22,583
 • Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
386 01
Websitewww.strakonice.eu

Strakonice (Czech pronunciation: [ˈstrakoɲɪtsɛ]; German: Strakonitz) is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 23,000 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

Strakonice is made up of town parts of Strakonice I and Strakonice II, and villages of Dražejov, Hajská, Modlešovice, Přední Ptákovice, Střela and Virt.

Geography

Strakonice is located about 51 kilometres (32 mi) northwest of České Budějovice. It lies mostly in the northern tip of the České Budějovice Basin, but the municipal territory also extends to the Blatná Uplands on the north and to the Bohemian Forest Foothills on the south. The highest point is the hill Velká Kakada with an altitude of 564 metres (1,850 ft).

The town is situated at the confluence of the Volyňka and Otava rivers. There are several ponds in the territory; the largest of them are Velkoholský and Blatský. In the municipal territory there are the Bažantnice u Pracejovic nature reserve and the Tůně u Hajské nature monument.

History

Strakonice Castle

A moated castle on the Otava River was built by the noble family Bavors of Strakonice at the beginning of the 13th century, the first written mention of the castle is from 1235. The first written mention of the village of Strakonice is from 1243, when the Church of Saint Wenceslaus already existed and when Bavors donated a part of the castle and several villages in the vicinity to the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of Saint John. In 1318, Strakonice already was a town.[2][3]

From 1402, the Knights Hospitaller owned the whole castle as well as the surrounding estate.[3] In 1420 the Hussite commander Jan Žižka occupied Strakonice, but failed to capture the fortress. Strakonice Castle experienced an extensive reconstruction to a representation residence of the Grand Priors of the Order in the 16th century, the later modifications were minor only. After the Thirty Years' War, the castle has lost its significance.[2][3]

During the 19th century, the town was industrialized. In the 1860s, the town was connected with České Budějovice and Plzeň by railway, which helped its further development.[2]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18698,327—    
18809,246+11.0%
18908,733−5.5%
19008,789+0.6%
19108,715−0.8%
YearPop.±%
19219,001+3.3%
193011,398+26.6%
195012,056+5.8%
196114,297+18.6%
197017,478+22.2%
YearPop.±%
198021,731+24.3%
199124,705+13.7%
200123,800−3.7%
201122,690−4.7%
202121,909−3.4%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Climate

Strakonice has a cool, wet, and temperate inland version of a humid continental climate (Dfb).

Climate data for Strakonice
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 0.8
(33.4)		 2.5
(36.5)		 8.3
(46.9)		 13.5
(56.3)		 18.7
(65.7)		 21.8
(71.2)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.0
(73.4)		 19.2
(66.6)		 13.0
(55.4)		 6.0
(42.8)		 2.4
(36.3)		 12.7
(54.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.3
(27.9)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 3.5
(38.3)		 7.9
(46.2)		 12.8
(55.0)		 16.0
(60.8)		 17.8
(64.0)		 17.2
(63.0)		 13.7
(56.7)		 8.3
(46.9)		 3.0
(37.4)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 8.0
(46.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.4
(22.3)		 −4.9
(23.2)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 2.4
(36.3)		 6.9
(44.4)		 10.3
(50.5)		 12.0
(53.6)		 11.5
(52.7)		 8.2
(46.8)		 3.7
(38.7)		 0.0
(32.0)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 3.4
(38.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 48
(1.9)		 40
(1.6)		 45
(1.8)		 46
(1.8)		 75
(3.0)		 83
(3.3)		 92
(3.6)		 81
(3.2)		 58
(2.3)		 45
(1.8)		 45
(1.8)		 54
(2.1)		 712
(28.0)
Source: Climate-Data.ORG

Economy

Dudák, the burghers' brewery

Since the 19th century Strakonice was a main production site for fez hats and it also became an industrial centre known for its motorbikes and hand guns production.

Strakonice is also known for its brewery called "Dudák – Burghers' Brewery Strakonice", located nearby the castle. It produces the beer under the brand Strakonický Dudák. The Strakonice Burghers' Brewery is the last brewery in the Czech Republic to still be owned by a town.[6] The tradition of beer brewing in the town started in 1367 and the Burghers' Brewery was founded in 1649.[7]

Transport

Strakonice lies the railway line of national importance heading from Brno to Plzeň via České Budějovice and Strakonice. It is also the starting point of the lines to Beroun, Milevsko, Blatná and Volary.[8]

Culture

International Bagpipe Festival, 2018

Every year, the town hosts the International Bagpipe Festival. The town's bagpipe tradition refers to the famous work of Josef Kajetán Tyl Strakonický dudák ("The Bagpiper of Strakonice").[9] The festival has been held since 1967 and is one of the most important folklore festivals in the world.[10]

Sights

Church of Saint Margaret

Most of the historic buildings were demolished during the 20th century. The Strakonice Castle today serves as a regional museum and gallery. Its exhibitions focus on motorcycles, weapons, bagpipers and the traditional fez production. The Rumpál Tower serves as a lookout tower.[11] Part of the castle complex is the Church of Saint Procopius. It is originally a Romanesque building, rebuilt in the Baroque style with Rococo elements.[12]

The Church of Saint Margaret was built in the late Gothic style with many Renaissance elements in 1580–1583. Baroque modifications were made in 1777. It is among the main landmarks of the town centre.[13]

The Church of Saint Wenceslaus was originally a medieval Gothic church, founded in the 1300s. It was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1720–1730. It is a cemetery church.[14]

The Church of the Virgin Mary is a pilgrimage church located in Přední Ptákovice. It was built in 1771–1774, when it replaced a chapel from 1749.[15]

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

Strakonice is twinned with:[16]

Strakonice also has friendly relations with Rawicz in Poland.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. 1 2 3 "Historie města" (in Czech). Město Strakonice. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  3. 1 2 3 "Střípky z historie" (in Czech). Strakonice Castle. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  4. ↑ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Strakonice" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 15–16.
  5. ↑ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  6. ↑ "Strakonický pivovar Dudák chystá prodej plechovkového piva" (in Czech). Jižní Čechy TEĎ. 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  7. ↑ "Historie" (in Czech). DUDÁK – Měšťanský pivovar Strakonice, a. s. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  8. ↑ "Detail stanice Strakonice" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  9. ↑ "International Bagpipe Festival STRAKONICE" (in Czech). Městské kulturní středisko Strakonice. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  10. ↑ "Mezinárodní dudácký festival Strakonice 2024" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  11. ↑ "Strakonice" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  12. ↑ "Kostel sv. Prokopa" (in Czech). Město Strakonice. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  13. ↑ "Kostel sv. Markéty" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  14. ↑ "Kostel sv. Václava" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  15. ↑ "Kostel P. Marie" (in Czech). National Heritage Institute. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  16. 1 2 "Partnerská města" (in Czech). Město Strakonice. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
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