Stiedra) combines a setting shaped by forests and numerous ponds with a rich local history. The castle, parish church and two fortification sites are central to a cultural trip; at the same time, the landscape is particularly well suited to cycling tourism. You can focus your stay on architectural history or combine culture and cycling as separate interests. The castle, church, former fortified manor and Štědrý Hrádek Castle, located near Štědrá, are distinct historical sites.
Castle and church: exploring the building phases
The Baroque Štědrá Castle was built in the western part of Štědrá between 1730 and 1734 by Count Ferdinand Jakub Kokořovec z Kokořova. The building may have followed a plan by the architect Tomáš Haffenecker. After a fire in 1744, the castle was restored and enlarged in the Late Baroque style. To understand the castle’s history, it is worth considering its construction and the later restoration and enlargement as separate building phases.
The Parish Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was built in the first third of the 14th century west of the village square, in the upper part of the municipality, and was originally Gothic. After a fire in 1680, it was remodelled and enlarged in the Baroque style. Its exterior façades and windows were renovated in 1718; after 1995, the church was fully reconstructed. Thus, the Gothic origins, Baroque remodelling and later work on different parts of the building all come together at one site. The church is occasionally accessible. Check locally before your visit to find out whether it is open.
Two fortification sites with different histories
The Gothic fortified manor of Štědrá was founded on a slope in the eastern part of the village by the beginning of the 13th century at the latest. Extensive remains of the former fortification have survived to this day. The small Gothic castle of Štědrý Hrádek is a different historical site: it stood near Štědrá on a steep rocky spur by the Borecký potok and had two moats. Its founding is thought to date to the mid-14th century. Their different locations and dates help distinguish the fortified manor from the castle: the surviving remains of an earlier-founded site contrast with a castle site dated to a later period.
Ponds, forests and cycling tourism
The surroundings also give a stay its own focus. Woodlands and numerous ponds shape the landscape around Štědrá, which is particularly well suited to cycling tourism. This landscape-focused experience complements the architectural history of the churches, castle and fortification sites. If you would like to combine culture and cycling, Stiedra) offers two distinct themes for planning your trip, without requiring you to follow a specific route.
Getting there and access
Visitor information for the 2026 church event lists bus and train connections from the direction of Žlutice or Toužim. The church is listed as occasionally accessible; the castle is occasionally open to the public during cultural events. Access should therefore not be understood as having regular opening hours. Before visiting, check locally whether the church is accessible and whether a suitable cultural event is taking place at the castle.
Discover more destinations: Bergstadt Platten, Grasengrün, Schönthal, Theusing, Kohlhau, Uitwa, Hochofen, Gießhübl-Sauerbrunn
Return to the main travel overview: Karlovy Vary District.
