The Chapel of St Mary Magdalene and the underground remains of the Gothic fortress give Štítina two tangible points of reference for its cultural history. There are also marked cycling routes, events and a railway station on line 316 between Opava and Ostrava. The town lies in the foothills of the Nízký Jeseník.

Religious architecture, fortress and remembrance

The Chapel of St Mary Magdalene is a cultural monument. Its religious architecture is conceived in the Renaissance spirit, with an octagonal ground plan. An octagonal ground plan means that the basic shape has eight sides; the Renaissance reference identifies its architectural style. Masses are still celebrated in the chapel on 22 July, the feast day of its patron saint. If you are planning a trip specifically for this occasion, check the date in advance.

The Gothic fortress was later transformed into a four-winged Renaissance manor house. The above-ground section was demolished in 1988; the underground remains are considered valuable evidence of an important medieval noble residence in the Opava region. The chapel is notable for its religious Renaissance design, while the manor house illustrates the transition from a Gothic fortress to Renaissance architecture. This brings two distinct questions into focus: how is a religious building designed, and how did a medieval noble residence change?

The monument to Private Ivan Kubince is also listed as a cultural monument. It commemorates a soldier of the 1st Czechoslovak Tank Brigade who was tortured to death on 18 April 1945 during the liberation of Štítina. The town’s history thus brings together religious architecture, medieval rule and remembrance of the war.

Events with different focuses

The Memoriál Ivana Kubince volleyball tournament has been held in early May each year since 1966. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the specific date for your chosen year. Štivadlo offers a different cultural focus: since 2002, the Municipality of Štítina has hosted the regional showcase of amateur rural theatre groups; ŠAMU is its main organiser. The tournament is the sporting event with a clearly established date, while Štivadlo adds regional amateur theatre to the picture of Štítina.

Cycling and getting here

Cyclists can choose between two marked routes. Cycling route 6055 runs through Branka u Opavy, Raduň, Nové Sedlice, Štítina, Kravaře and Kobeřice. The marked Radegast Opava cycle tourism route passes through Štítina along Hlavní and Palackého streets. The distinction is useful: route 6055 can be followed by its sequence of towns, while Radegast Opava is identified by its route through Štítina’s streets. As route conditions can change, check for current information before setting off.

Štítina railway station is on line 316 between Opava and Ostrava. If travelling by train, checking the timetable for your chosen travel date is the next practical planning step.

Discover more destinations: Vítkov, Bratříkovice, Sudice, Velké Heraltice, Skřipov, Jakartovice, Jilešovice, Štěpánkovice.

For the broader travel overview: Opava District.