Štěkeň

Štěkeň is a market town in Strakonice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 900 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The villages of Nové Kestřany and Vítkov are administrative parts of Štěkeň.

Geography
Štěkeň is located about 7 km east of Strakonice and 46 km northwest of České Budějovice. It lies on the border between the České Budějovice Basin and Blatná Uplands. The highest point is the hill Brdo at 508 m above sea level. The municipality is situated on the left bank of the Otava River. The area is rich in fishponds and small streams.

History
The first written mention of Štěkeň is from 1318. It was the centre of a small estate to which four other villages belonged. From 1648 to 1781, Štěkeň was owned by the Losy of Losinthal family, then it was acquired by the Windisch-Graetz family. In 1784, Štěkeň was promoted to a market town.

Transport
The I/4 road (which connects the D4 motorway) with Strakonice, briefly crosses the northwestern part of the municipal territory.

Sights
The main landmarks of Štěkeň are the castle and the church. The Štěkeň Castle was built in the early Baroque style in 1664–1665, on the site of an older fortress. The façade was modified in 1784 and in the 19th century. The castle is surrounded by a landscape park from the first half of the 19th century.

The Church of Saint Nicholas was built in the Baroque style in 1670. It replaced the Church of the Mary Magdalene, a wooden Gothic church built before 1457. In 1749, the church was rebuilt into its present form. It is an architecturally valuable building.

Notable people

 * Joseph Nicholas of Windisch-Graetz (1744–1802), Austrian nobleman; died here