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 ...
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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.
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:
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18 July 2016 - 9:44
Mr 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
Goatfish says:
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And I like both castles and churches, great!
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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
Mrs Eriksson says:
Oh, soooo beautiful!
/Have a good time
18 July 2016 - 10:47
Anja says:
18 July 2016 - 12:53
Cattis 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:
18 July 2016 - 17:37
towe says:
18 July 2016 - 19:26
Veiken says:
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:
19 July 2016 - 0:01
admin says:
Jenn, haha yes... (and they were not overly similar either ;))
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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!
Kattis, the beer was good!!!
BP, didn't the village look a bit like a toy village from the other side?
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Steel city Anna, glad you like the pictures!
19 July 2016 - 4:43
Maria's Memoirs says:
19 July 2016 - 12:49
Anna, Travel on a Cloud says:
20 July 2016 - 15:35
admin says:
Maria, a cosy little town!
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20 July 2016 - 18:11