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Strakonice is situated at an altitude of 382 m at the confluence of the rivers Otava (Wottawa) and Volyňka (Volinka) in South Bohemia. Strakonice was first mentioned in 1243, when the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) obtained the castle of Strakonice which became the order's residence. From 1260 until 1730, Strakonice was the residence of the order's Grand Prior. After 1730, it was a deanery of the Knights of Malta. Strakonice obtained the status of a town prior to 1308. The Jewish cemetry of Strakonice, with tombs dating from 1736 until the 20th century, is recognized as a cultural monument.

The picture on glass no.2447 [left] shows a view of the square, Palackého náměstí with the Baroque Marian column. The column was erected in 1730–1740 in place of an earlier column of 1586 which had been erected to commemorate the plague epidemics. The building in the background [right] is the former Town Hall, which was built in 1903 after the old town hall of 1820 had been destroyed by a fire.

Nové Strakonice

Nové Strakonice (Neu-Strakonitz) [left] today is part of Strakonice.

The church of St. Prokop [left] belongs to the oldest parts of the castle of Strakonice. The Romanesque-Gothic church was founded in the 13th century and originally was dedicated to St. Vojtěch. The monumental tower was added to the church in 1714–1722. Parts of the church were modified in Baroque style during the 18th century. Among the treasures of the church are a Gothic folding altar dating from around 1250 and the so-called Madonna of Strakonice, the original of which is kept in the National Gallery of Prague.