Štramberk

Štramberk Castle, remembered today mainly through its surviving cylindrical tower known as Trúba, is one of the defining landmarks of the small town of Štramberk in Moravia. Almost nothing else of the original medieval stronghold has survived, yet the tower still dominates the skyline enough to serve as a symbol for the whole region.

How do you get there?

Štramberk sits in the Moravian-Silesian Region, close to Kopřivnice and Nový Jičín, at the foothills of the Beskids mountain range. The castle hill rises directly above the town's historic square, so reaching the tower means a short but fairly steep walk uphill from the centre. The town is a popular day-trip destination from Ostrava and from other stops along the Lachian Gate of the Beskids tourist route.

Where did the stronghold come from?

The exact founding date of the castle is unknown. Historians place its construction sometime after 1200, most likely on the initiative of the noble Benešovice family or the Přemyslid princes, on a hill overlooking an important trade route. In the 13th century the castle belonged to the Knights Templar, and after the order was dissolved in 1312 it passed to the Bohemian king John of Luxembourg. Between 1333 and 1346 it was held by the Moravian margrave Charles, later crowned King Charles IV, and afterwards by margrave Jan Jindřich, generally credited as the founder of the town of Štramberk itself. His son, margrave Jošt of Luxembourg, inherited the estate next, and until 1433 the castle remained in the hands of the Lords of Kravař, a Moravian-Silesian branch of the Benešovice family.

Why is only a ruin left today?

After 1533 the castle gradually lost its military importance as owners preferred more comfortable residences elsewhere, and it fell into decline. A depiction from 1722 still shows a two-wing layout with outbuildings and two square bastions, but in 1783 the front section of the complex collapsed and the site was effectively abandoned from then on. The only part to survive intact was the cylindrical watchtower, which locals simply called "Kulatina" — today it is known as Štramberská Trúba.

From ruin to lookout tower

Standing roughly 40 metres tall with a diameter of about 10 metres, the tower spent decades as an unroofed ruin before it was substantially rebuilt between 1901 and 1903 on the initiative of Dr. Adolf Hrstka, following a design by the Prague architect Kamil Hilbert. The restoration added a roof, partially reconstructed the outer walls, and built two gateways leading into the former castle courtyard. Since then Trúba has functioned as an observation tower, offering views over the Beskids and the surrounding Moravian-Silesian foothills. The Gothic tower has belonged to the town of Štramberk since 1994.

Legends attached to the castle

A handful of local legends have grown up around the site. One explains why the castle was not built on the neighbouring Kotouč hill instead — according to the story, dwarves from the Devil's Hole cave sabotaged the construction there. Another tells of three knightly brothers who each built a separate castle with a tower, so that they could signal one another across long distances using flags; Trúba is said to have been one of these watchtowers.

Frequently asked questions

What remains of the original Štramberk castle? Essentially only the cylindrical watchtower survives, known today as Trúba — the rest of the complex was demolished or collapsed after 1783.

Who owned the castle during the Middle Ages? It passed through the hands of the Knights Templar, King John of Luxembourg, margrave Charles (the future Charles IV), margrave Jan Jindřich, and the Lords of Kravař.

When was the Trúba tower turned into a lookout point? It was rebuilt between 1901 and 1903 to a design by architect Kamil Hilbert, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Adolf Hrstka.

What can you see from the top of the tower? The tower offers panoramic views over the Beskids mountains and the Moravian-Silesian foothills surrounding Štramberk.