What whispers of history echo through the streets of Štěrboholy? This seemingly quiet Prague suburb holds a dramatic past. Štěrboholy wasn’t always part of the bustling city. It began as a humble village founded in 1371. Imagine the rural landscape, a stark contrast to the urban sprawl surrounding us today. For centuries, Štěrboholy remained a quiet village under the ownership of the Prague archbishopric. It wasn’t until 1968 that Štěrboholy became part of Prague.
Štěrboholy’s story took a dramatic turn during the Seven Years’ War. On May 6, 1757, the fields surrounding Štěrboholy became a battlefield. This was the site of the Battle of Prague. Frederick the Great of Prussia clashed with the Austrian forces led by Charles Alexander of Lorraine. The Prussian victory was hard-won. A key figure, Prussian Marshal Kurt Christoph von Schwerin, lost his life in the conflict. Even in victory, Frederick lamented the heavy price paid. He remarked that the laurels of victory had wilted with Schwerin’s death.
Today, Štěrboholy is a cadastral area within Prague 10. Its population, once a mere handful of villagers, has grown to 2,464. The area covers 2.97 square kilometers. The echoes of cannon fire have faded, replaced by the sounds of modern life. Yet, beneath the surface, the spirit of Štěrboholy’s past remains. A reminder of a time when this quiet suburb played a pivotal role in European history.