Štramberk is a cosy little village in the eastern Czech Republic, with an old castle and small colourful houses climbing up a hill. We went here the day before yesterday (40 min by bus from Ostrava) and got to visit a cave where they found traces of Neanderthals. We also had the opportunity to try Štramberk's speciality: cakes made to resemble severed ears ...
Innehållsförteckning
Šipka Cave in Štramberk
The Šipka Cave is located in a lush environment on a hilltop with a nice view of the village of Štramberk. The cave is best known for the discovery of a Neanderthal child's jaw in 1880. Now you can wander around the green environment and think about how Neanderthals once lived... Did they run around here hunting with spears?
Štramberk's ears
When a tourist comes to visit Štramberk, there are two things to do: drink beer from a local brewery and buy gingerbread cookies with severed ears. Why this now? Well, in 1240 this part of the Czech Republic was attacked by Tatars, and to show their leaders how many they killed, they cut off and saved the ears of each dead person.
Fort Kotouc in Štramberk
The population fled and hid in the impregnable fortress of Kotouč. The Tatars were waiting outside to attack, but thanks to a fierce storm and the release of water from a dam, the population managed to flood the Tatar camp and survived. Thus, to commemorate their escape from a terrible fate, today people bake and eat cakes that resemble 'ears'...
Camping in Štramberk
Update: A few years after our first visit to Štramberk, we ended up in this cosy village again. This time, we travelled by camper van and stayed at the Camp u Kateriny campsite, which is located right next to the village. There are now nice pitches for motorhomes and they are also modernising with new fresh cabins.
Next to the reception there is an area with more cabins, and when we were here it seemed that there were camp activities in that part of the campsite. Next to the campsite there is also a nice little church.
Facts about the Czech Republic - 30 things you (might) not know
Facts about the Czech Republic! Did you know that the sugar cube and soft contact lenses come from the Czech Republic? Or...
Becherovka in Karlovy Vary - and a Czech meal
In cooperation with Czech Tourism Do you know Becherovka, and maybe you have even heard of...
Spa in the Czech Republic - visit to Dvůr Perlová Voda
Spa in the Czech Republic! After several months on the road in a cramped motorhome, it was really...
Houska Castle in the Czech Republic - over the gateway to hell
Houska Castle in the Czech Republic is a Gothic building, which you can find a few miles north of...
Trosky Castle in the Czech Republic - a landmark ruin
The Trosky Castle in the Czech Republic is a landmark in the Czech nature reserve Bohemian Paradise. The two...
Travelling to Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic by plane and bus
In partnership with Czech Tourism Travelling to Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic by air and...
Kynžvart Castle in the Czech Republic - among mummies and snake skins
In cooperation with Czech Tourism Kynžvart Castle in the Czech Republic is a beautiful historic castle, where...
Hazmburk Castle in the Czech Republic - and Libochoviche Castle
The castle of Hazmburk in the Czech Republic is today a ruin, but despite this it sits mightily at the top of...
Restaurants in Prague - and a food tour
Restaurants in Prague is what we're going to talk about today. We recently visited the capital of the Czech Republic where...
What to do in Hradec Králové in the Czech Republic - 15 tips
What to do in Hradec Králové in the Czech Republic? This Czech city is, despite being...
Christmas market in Prague - one of the best in Europe
The Christmas market in Prague is an experience. From the end of November until Christmas, the...
Beer spa in the Czech Republic - how does it work?
In partnership with Czech Tourism Beer spa in the Czech Republic - how does it work? We have...
The fairytale town of Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic
When you enter the gates of Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, you have to pinch...
What to do in Prague - 30 tips for sights and experiences
What to do in Prague? We have visited the capital of the Czech Republic several times, and after...
Pravcicka Brana - the largest sandstone arch in Europe
In cooperation with Czech Tourism Pravcicka Brana is Europe's largest natural arch of sandstone and...
Tisá in the Czech Republic - filming location for Narnia
Tisá in the Czech Republic is an area of stunning mountain formations, Tiské stěny, in the northern part of the...
Hiking in Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic
We have done a hike in Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic, which was incredibly nice. It...
Camping and swimming in the Czech Republic - at Kostelec nad Orlici
Now we have travelled on to experience some camping and swimming in the Czech Republic. After...
Mikulov Castle and Central Europe's largest wine barrel
There are many fine castles and vineyards in the Czech Republic, especially south of Brno. We...
Kutna Hora and the skeleton church in Sedlec
The Czech town of Kutna Hora is located seven kilometres east of Prague and is listed on the...
Sloup Castle in the Czech Republic - a fascinating place to visit
The castle Sloup is located in the Bohemia / Bohemia region in the north of the Czech Republic....
Cool treetop course in Krkonoše, northern Czech Republic
The treetop course in Krkonoše, in the north of the Czech Republic, offers a wonderful nature experience. You walk high up...
Drinking well - in the Czech Republic the tradition lives on
In cooperation with Czech Tourism Drinking wells was something that was done in the past, both in...
Mount Praděd in the Czech Republic - down the mountain on a scooter
Mount Praděd is located in the north-east of the Czech Republic and is 1492 metres high. We went up to...
Pačinek Glassworks, Czech Republic - decorated garden and church
Pačinek Glassworks was one of the greatest experiences during our trip through the "Crystal Valley" in...
Czech food - 20 dishes and drinks from the Czech Republic
Czech food - what is it like? This summer we visited the Czech Republic again, for perhaps the 20th time....
Liberec, Czech Republic - 7 things to see and do
Liberec in the Czech Republic is the fifth largest city in the country. Here you are greeted by beautiful...
Handmade Christmas decorations in the Czech Republic - a UNESCO heritage site
Handmade Christmas decorations in the Czech Republic, made from blown glass beads, have a long tradition. Now the manufacturing process has...
Besedické skály - great hiking in the Czech Republic
Besedické skály is a hiking area in the Czech Republic filled with amazing rock formations. We did...
Kroměříž Gardens and Castle - Unesco World Heritage Site in the Czech Republic
Kroměříž Gardens and Castle is located in the town of Kroměříž in the eastern Czech Republic. The gardens are together with...
This trip was a press trip. The images, thoughts and opinions are, as usual, our own.
Lennart says:
I would also choose the beer!
18 July 2016 - 7:01
Jenn - forever abroad says:
It's good that they are at least just ears.... But still a bit creepy.
18 July 2016 - 8:25
Elisabeth says:
You always learn something new!
18 July 2016 - 8:38
Ama de casa says:
How nice it looked to be there! And castles... You rarely get away from them... 😉.
Cowardly not to take ears to the beer! 😀
18 July 2016 - 9:44
Steve says:
The first picture really does justice to a really cosy village.
It's hard to enjoy the cakes and think about their origins at the same time.
18 July 2016 - 10:06
Geddfish says:
Thank you 😀 I feel welcome 😉 .
And I like both castles and churches, great!
Of course you had to taste Czech beer, and the ears, they were actually made of ginger, VERY healthy, so one of those would have gone down with me, who doesn't usually eat sweets, haha 😉.
PS.Today I am showing camping pictures in my house 😀.
18 July 2016 - 10:06
Ditte says:
It's interesting and fun to visit something off the beaten track of tourism and fun to come here.
I would have definitely tried the beer and even taken a piece of the cake...
18 July 2016 - 10:32
✫Fru Eriksson says:
Oh, soooo beautiful!
/Have a good time
18 July 2016 - 10:47
Anja says:
...and thanks for letting us see the colours of Helena....! 🙂
18 July 2016 - 12:53
Kattis says:
Haha sounded very appetising with cut off ears...had also chosen the beer!:) The village looks very cosy.
18 July 2016 - 14:40
BP says:
What a great photo of Štramberk. Looks like a lego building or a village built by a model railway. Incredibly delicious!
The ears are a somewhat macabre story, so I probably would have skipped them and tried the local beer instead.
18 July 2016 - 15:33
Ikas USA says:
Fy how unpleasant. But I had still eaten the "ears" 🙂 And drank the beer of course! Lovely pictures and interesting post!
18 July 2016 - 17:37
towe says:
Exciting cakes 🙂
18 July 2016 - 19:26
Veiken says:
I had taken both cake and beer. You can't miss anything! 🙂 It looks really cosy!
18 July 2016 - 20:14
Matts Torebring says:
When I checked your post this morning, I both smiled and laughed. It was the funniest card I have ever seen. All those colours of the houses were some of the strangest views one can see.
18 July 2016 - 20:43
steel city anna says:
Absolutely wonderful pictures from this beautiful country 🙂
19 July 2016 - 0:01
admin says:
Lennart, 😉
Jenn, haha yes... (and they were not overly similar either ;))
Elisabeth, right? 😉
Ama de casa, and there are always a lot of stairs... 😉.
Steve, a bit different to say the least... but maybe an educational way to give a history lesson 😉 .
Geddfish, I will of course check in with you as soon as I have a bit more time (busy schedule here...).
Ditte, we also find it interesting and fun to go to places you haven't heard much about before!
Mrs Eriksson, it was a nice and cosy little village!
Anja, 😉
Kattis, the beer was good!!!
BP, didn't the village look a bit like a toy village from the other side?
Ikas USA, the beer was good! 🙂
Veiken, haha, good attitude! 🙂
Matts, it almost looked a bit like a toy village 😉.
Steel city Anna, glad you like the pictures!
19 July 2016 - 4:43
Marias Memoarer says:
What a cosy place! 🙂
19 July 2016 - 12:49
Anna, Travel on a Cloud says:
So beautiful! But scary story with the ears. I understand that they were not so appetising. I would have had a valid reason to refrain: They were hardly "bez lepku", hehe... 😉 Glad you liked the beer!
20 July 2016 - 15:35
admin says:
Maria, a cosy little town!
Anna, the "ears" were not unappetising in any way (not very similar to ears haha) but perhaps looked a bit dull. And they were definitely not bez lepku 😉.
20 July 2016 - 18:11