Strakonice

Strakonice consists of eight municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):{{cite web |title=Public Census 2021 – basic data|url=https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4690&katalog=33475&pvo=SLD21043-CO|work=Public Database|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|language=cs|date=2022}}

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• Strakonice I (13,395)
• Strakonice II (4,527)
• Dražejov (1,384)
• Hajská (63)
• Modlešovice (188)
• Přední Ptákovice (2,190)
• Střela (85)
• Virt (77)

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The name is derived from the personal name Strakoň, meaning "the village of Strakoň's people".{{cite book |last=Profous|first=Antonín|title=Místní jména v Čechách IV: S–Ž|url=https://mjc.ujc.cas.cz/search.php|pages=181–182|year=1957|language=cs}}

Strakonice is located about {{convert|51|km}} 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 at {{convert|564|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.

The town is situated at the confluence of the Volyňka and Otava rivers. There are several fishponds in the territory, the largest of which are Velkoholský rybník and Blatský rybník. In the municipal territory there are the Bažantnice u Pracejovic Nature Reserve and the Tůně u Hajské Nature Monument.

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

{{Weather box|width=auto

|location = Strakonice

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|collapsed = Yes

|Jan high C = 0.8

|Feb high C = 2.5

|Mar high C = 8.3

|Apr high C = 13.5

|May high C = 18.7

|Jun high C = 21.8

|Jul high C = 23.6

|Aug high C = 23.0

|Sep high C = 19.2

|Oct high C = 13.0

|Nov high C = 6.0

|Dec high C = 2.4

|year high C = 12.7

|Jan mean C = −2.3

|Feb mean C = −1.2

|Mar mean C = 3.5

|Apr mean C = 7.9

|May mean C = 12.8

|Jun mean C = 16.0

|Jul mean C = 17.8

|Aug mean C = 17.2

|Sep mean C = 13.7

|Oct mean C = 8.3

|Nov mean C = 3.0

|Dec mean C = -0.3

|year mean C = 8.0

|Jan low C = -5.4

|Feb low C = -4.9

|Mar low C = -1.2

|Apr low C = 2.4

|May low C = 6.9

|Jun low C = 10.3

|Jul low C = 12.0

|Aug low C = 11.5

|Sep low C = 8.2

|Oct low C = 3.7

|Nov low C = 0.0

|Dec low C = -3.0

|year low C = 3.4

|Jan precipitation mm = 48

|Feb precipitation mm = 40

|Mar precipitation mm = 45

|Apr precipitation mm = 46

|May precipitation mm = 75

|Jun precipitation mm = 83

|Jul precipitation mm = 92

|Aug precipitation mm = 81

|Sep precipitation mm = 58

|Oct precipitation mm = 45

|Nov precipitation mm = 45

|Dec precipitation mm = 54

|precipitation colour=green

|year precipitation mm = 712

|source 1=Climate-Data.org{{cite web |title=Strakonice|url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/58728/|publisher=Climate-Data.org|date=2013-12-11}}}}

File:ST hrad od JZ Rumpal aJelenka DSCN5627.JPG

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.{{cite web |title=Historie města|url=https://www.strakonice.eu/content/historie-mesta|publisher=Město Strakonice|language=cs|access-date=2021-08-21}}{{cite web |title=Střípky z historie|url=https://www.hradstrakonice.cz/hrad/historie.asp|publisher=Strakonice Castle|language=cs|access-date=2021-08-21}}

From 1402, the Knights Hospitaller owned the whole castle as well as the surrounding estate. 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 lost its significance.

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.

{{historical populations

|align=none|cols=3

|1869|8327

|1880|9246

|1890|8733

|1900|8789

|1910|8715

|1921|9001

|1930|11398

|1950|12056

|1961|14297

|1970|17478

|1980|21731

|1991|24705

|2001|23800

|2011|22690

|2021|21909

|source=Censuses{{cite web |title=Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011|url=https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/historicky-lexikon-obci-1869-az-2015|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|language=cs|date=2015-12-21}}{{cite web |title=Population Census 2021: Population by sex|url=https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4429&katalog=33515&pvo=SLD21001-OB-OK|work=Public Database|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|date=2021-03-27}}}}

File:23.8.20 2 Strakonice 04 (50259520253).jpg

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 near 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.{{cite web |title=Strakonický pivovar Dudák chystá prodej plechovkového piva|url=https://www.jcted.cz/strakonicky-pivovar-dudak-chysta-prodej-plechovkoveho-piva/|publisher=Jižní Čechy TEĎ|language=cs|date=2017-12-08|access-date=2021-08-21}} The tradition of beer brewing in the town started in 1367 and the Burghers' Brewery was founded in 1649.{{cite web |title=Historie|url=https://www.pivovar-strakonice.cz/|publisher=DUDÁK – Měšťanský pivovar Strakonice, a. s.|language=cs|access-date=2021-08-21}}

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.{{cite web |title=Detail stanice Strakonice|url=https://www.cd.cz/stanice/strakonice/5476102|publisher=České dráhy|language=cs|access-date=2023-06-22}}

File:MDF Strakonice 2018 02 Skotsko 01.jpg

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").{{cite web |title=International Bagpipe Festival STRAKONICE|url=http://en.dudackyfestival.cz/|publisher=Městské kulturní středisko Strakonice|language=cs|access-date=2021-08-21}} The festival has been held since 1967 and is one of the most important folklore festivals in the world.{{cite web |title=Mezinárodní dudácký festival Strakonice 2024|url=https://www.kudyznudy.cz/akce/mezinarodni-dudacky-festival-strakonice|publisher=CzechTourism|language=cs|access-date=2023-06-22}}

File:Strakonice - kostel sv. Markéty, pohled z hradní věže (léto 2021) (1).jpg

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.{{cite web |title=Strakonice|url=https://www.kudyznudy.cz/kam-pojedete/jizni-cechy/prachensko/strakonice|publisher=CzechTourism|language=cs|access-date=2022-03-02}} 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.{{cite web |title=Kostel sv. Prokopa|url=https://www.strakonice.eu/content/kostel-sv-prokopa|publisher=Město Strakonice|language=cs|access-date=2023-06-22}}

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.{{cite web |title=Kostel sv. Markéty|url=https://pamatkovykatalog.cz/kostel-sv-markety-677534|publisher=National Heritage Institute|language=cs|access-date=2023-06-22}}

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.{{cite web |title=Kostel sv. Václava|url=https://pamatkovykatalog.cz/kostel-sv-vaclava-19450664|publisher=National Heritage Institute|language=cs|access-date=2023-06-22}}

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.{{cite web |title=Kostel P. Marie|url=https://pamatkovykatalog.cz/kostel-p-marie-689202|publisher=National Heritage Institute|language=cs|access-date=2023-06-22}}

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• Jan Antonín Losy ({{circa|1650}}–1721), lute player and composer
• František Čelakovský (1799–1852), writer and translator
• Martin Mathias Secor (1841–1911), American businessman
• Leopold Ehrmann (1886–1951), architect
• Riccardo Pick-Mangiagalli (1882–1949), Italian composer
• Xena Longenová (1891–1928), actress
• Josef Skupa (1892–1957), puppeteer
• Věra Machoninová (born 1928), architect
• Marie Poledňáková (1941–2022), film director
• Pavel Pavel (born 1957), engineer and experimental archaeologist
• Roman Turek (born 1970), ice hockey player
• Alexander Salák (born 1987), ice hockey player
• Zdeněk Ondrášek (born 1988), footballer
• Jindřich Staněk (born 1996), footballer
• Vít Krejčí (born 2000), basketball player

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{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic}}

Strakonice is twinned with:{{cite web |title=Partnerská města|url=http://www.strakonice.eu/partnerska-mesta|publisher=Město Strakonice|language=cs|access-date=2021-08-21}}

• {{flagicon|GER}} Bad Salzungen, Germany
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Calderdale, England, United Kingdom
• {{flagicon|SUI}} Lengnau, Switzerland

Strakonice also has friendly relations with Rawicz in Poland.

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Strakonice}}

• {{official|https://www.strakonice.eu/}}

{{Strakonice District}}

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Category:Cities and towns in the Czech Republic

Category:Populated places in Strakonice District

Category:Prácheňsko