Strakonice Castle

Strakonice Castle rises on a rocky spur at the point where the Volyňka river meets the Otava, and ranks among the oldest castles in the Czech Republic.

Who founded the castle?

The castle was built between 1220 and 1235 by the Bavor family of Strakonice, a noble house that controlled this part of South Bohemia. Setting it on a spur above the confluence of two rivers gave the site natural water defences on two sides, a common choice for strongholds founded in that era.

Why did knights and a noble family share one castle?

As early as 1243, Bavor I handed over the eastern part of the castle to the Order of Saint John, the knightly order known today as the Knights of Malta (the Sovereign Military Order of Malta). From that point on, the castle had two owners at once for several centuries: the Bavor family kept the western half, while the Knights of Saint John ran their portion as a commandery. Splitting ownership of a single fortified site between a noble family and a religious military order was unusual for this part of Europe. At the start of the 15th century, the Order bought out the remaining share and took over the whole castle, ending the long period of joint ownership.

Where does the "Dudákov" nickname come from?

Local tradition tells of an oversized set of bagpipes with eight pipes, an instrument so large it needed eight pipers to play and four bearers just to carry it. According to the story, the bagpipes proved too big for the castle courtyard, so the players took them out into the town instead, and the instrument's booming sound carried across Strakonice. That is how the town picked up its nickname "Dudákov" — Bagpipe Town — a name that has stuck and still shapes the town's identity today.

What is inside the castle now?

The castle houses the Museum of the Central Otava Region (Muzeum středního Pootaví), covering the history of the area around Strakonice and the course of the Otava river. Alongside the general collection, the museum is building up a bagpipe collection intended to become the largest of its kind in Central Europe. The castle's courtyards are also where the town's bagpiping tradition comes to life during its main festival.

When is the bagpipe festival held?

Every even-numbered year, the castle courtyards host the International Bagpipe Festival (Mezinárodní dudácký festival), the largest event of its kind in the Czech Republic, drawing pipers from across Europe. For visitors, this is the best time to see the castle filled with music and to understand why bagpipes became Strakonice's defining symbol.

How should you plan a visit?

The castle sits right in the centre of Strakonice, on the bank of the Otava, so it's easy to combine a visit with a walk through the old town. It's worth checking ahead of a trip whether renovation work is under way, since parts of the museum exhibition are occasionally closed as the bagpipe collection is expanded.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Strakonice Castle? It was built between 1220 and 1235, making it nearly 800 years old and one of the oldest castles in the Czech Republic.

Who owned the castle? For several centuries it belonged jointly to the Bavor family of Strakonice and the Knights of Saint John (Knights of Malta), who held the eastern part from 1243 and the entire castle from the early 15th century onward.

Why is Strakonice called "Dudákov"? Because of a legend about giant eight-piped bagpipes that were too large for the castle courtyard and had to be played out in the streets, giving the town its nickname as the "bagpipe town."

What can you see at the castle today? The castle is home to the Museum of the Central Otava Region and a growing bagpipe collection, and every even year it hosts the International Bagpipe Festival.