Štramberk

Štramberk (Stramberg) is a town in Nový Jičín District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,500 inhabitants. The historic centre of Štramberk is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument reservation.

Geography
Štramberk is located about 7 km east of Nový Jičín and 25 km southwest of Ostrava. It lies in the Moravian-Silesian Foothills. The town is spread on the steep slopes of several hills. The highest point is the hill Bílá hora at 557 m above sea level.

The town is surrounded by several small-scale protected areas, including the Šipka Cave National Nature Monument. This karst cave is the oldest recorded human presence of the territory of the Czech Republic.

History
The first written mention of Štramberk is from 1211, when a village under the eponymous castle was documented. The origin and age of the castle are unknown. In 1359, the town of Štramberk was founded by John Henry, Margrave of Moravia on the site of the village. It obtained various privileges that helped its development.

From the 15th century, Štramberk was the centre of Moravian Church. In 1624, Štramberk was acquired by the Jesuits. During the Thirty Years' War, the town was attacked and devastated several times. The castle was severely damaged. In the 1783, the front part collapsed and the masonry was dismantled.

In the second half of the 19th century limestone mining began here, which started further economic growth. The railway was opened in 1881. Although Štramberk was completely Czech in terms of nationality, it was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938–1945.

Economy
The town is known for its production of Štramberk ears, which is a traditional confectionery produced for about 800 years. The manufactory is protected geographical indication by the European Union and it was the first Czech product with this designation.

Transport
Štramberk is located on the railway line Studénka–Veřovice.

Sport
Every year, the town hosts the finish of the first stage of the cycling race Gracia–Orlová.

Sights
The main landmark of Štramberk is a remnant of the Štramberk Castle, a cylindrical tower called Trúba. It was repaired in 1903–1904 and adapted to an observation tower. The town fortifications have been partially preserved and delimit the original town limits. From the Gothic Church of St. Bartholomew, which stood under the castle, only a prismatic brick bell tower with a wooden gallery has been preserved.

In the historic centre of Štramberk is a unique collection of timbered houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Baroque parish Church of Saint John of Nepomuk is the landmark of the town square. It was founded in 1721 and decorated by Jano Köhler in the early 20th century.

The Šipka Cave is freely accessible. On the Bílá hora hill is a 43 m high observation tower in the shape of a double helix.

Notable people

 * Martin Stephan (1777–1846), pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Dresden
 * Zdeněk Burian (1905–1981), painter; lived here in 1905–1909
 * Jiří Hanzelka (1920–2003), traveller and writer