Studénka, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic

🇨🇿 Studénka is a town in Nový Jičín District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. The town is situated on both sides of the historical border between Moravia and Czech Silesia.

Administrative parts The town part of Butovice and the village of Nová Horka are administrative parts of Studénka.

Geography Studénka is located about 13 km (8 mi) north-east of Nový Jičín and 17 km (11 mi) south-west of Ostrava. It is situated on both sides of the historical border between Moravia and Czech Silesia; Butovice and Nová Horka lies in Moravia and the town proper in Czech Silesia.

Studénka lies in a flat landscape in the Moravian Gate. It is situated on the left bank of the Oder River. Two systems of fish ponds are located in the municipal territory. The south-eastern part of the territory, which is a strip along the Oder, belongs to the Poodří Protected Landscape Area.

History The first written mention of Studénka is from 1436. The village of Butovice was first mentioned in 1324 and Nová Horka in 1374. For centuries, Studénka was an agricultural village, and its population was Czech; Butovice was focused on cattle breeding and pond farming and had a predominantly German population.

In 1467–1569, Studénka was owned by the lords of Fulštejn, then it was owned by the Pražma of Bílkov family, who joined it to the Bílovec estate. After the Bohemian Revolt, the properties of the family were confiscated, and in 1634 the village was acquired by Václav of Vrbno, who joined it to the Fulnek estate. In the 18th century, Studénka was bought by the Mönnich family, and in the 19th century it was inherited by the Wahlstatt family.

In 1881 and 1890, the railway lines Studénka–Štramberk and Studénka–Bílovec were opened, and in 1900, a factory for the production of railway cars was established. The factory became the main employer in the region and contributed to the development of the village.

In 1959, until then an independent municipality Butovice was merged with Studénka and Studénka obtained the statute of a town.

Economy The traditional production of railway cars ended in 2006 and the Vagónka Studénka company was restructuralized. Since 2006, the factory has been a manufacturer of metal products known as MSV Metal Studénka.

Transport Studénka lies on the international railway line between Kraków and Prague, and was the scene of the 2008 Studénka train wreck and the 2015 Studénka train crash.

The D1 motorway (section from Přerov to Ostrava) bypasses the town in the north.

Sport SK Studénka is a Czech handball club which plays in the top tier. The football club MSV Studénka and ice hockey club HC Studénka play in the lower amateur tiers.

Sights The Studénka Castle is formed by two Baroque buildings, known as Old Castle and New Castle. The Old Castle was built in 1705 and the New Castle in 1750. A tower was added in 1860–1863. Today the castle is used for cultural and commercial purposes and houses ceremonial hall, library, primary art school, and Railway Cars Museum.

The most valuable sacral building is the parish Church of Saint Bartholomew. It was built in neo-Gothic style in 1880 on the site of an older wooden church from the early 16th century.