Šťáhlavy

Šťáhlavy is a municipality and village in Plzeň-City District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,900 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The village of Šťáhlavice is an administrative part of Šťáhlavy.

Geography
Šťáhlavy is located about 14 km southeast from Plzeň. It lies in the Švihov Highlands. The highest point is the hill Maršál at 562 m above sea level. The built-up area is situated on the left bank of the Úslava River.

History
The first written mention of Šťáhlavy is from 1239. In 1784–1789, the Waldschloss Castle (later renamed Kozel) was built. Šťahlavy was then owned by the Czernin family. In the 19th century, the estate was bought by the Waldstein family.

In 1947, Šťáhlavy was incorporated to the Plzeň-Country District and in 1960 to the newly arisen Plzeň-South District. Since 1 January 2007, it is a part of the Plzeň-City District.

Transport
The I/19 road from Plzeň to Tábor briefly crosses the municipal territory.

Šťáhlavy is located on the railway line Plzeň–Horažďovice. In addition, there is a train stop is Šťáhlavice on a short line of local importance from Nezvěstice to Příkosice.

Sights
Šťáhlavy is known for two castles. Kozel Castle was built as a rural aristocratic residence. It was built in the Neoclassical style in 1784–1789. Today it is open to the public and offers guided tours. The castle is surrounded by a large park, founded in 1875–1876. For its value, it is protected as a national cultural monument.

Šťáhlavy Castle was originally a fortress from the mid-16th century, later expanded into a Renaissance castle. The castle is privately owned and inaccessible.