South Bohemia

Southern Bohemia, it is a wonderful locality of ponds, peatbogs, woods, lovely silhouettes of medieval small towns, churches and farmhouses. The visitor will be attracted mainly by local architecture and harmony of nature. Accommodation in Jižní Čechy is requested by many tourists just because of nature beauties and due to number of historical sights, spas and ideal conditions for water sports and cycling. You will be convinced of the fact that Southern Bohemia is really hospital area if you visit autumn international gastronomic festival in České Budějovice and you try traditional fish specialities. Beer and wine in Southern Bohemia streams out in the cosy small pubs and restaurants.

Southern Bohemia and Šumava offer culture, sport and social events. For example: Celebration of quinquefoil rose, Golden path, Hussite Taborite celebrations, Strakonice bagpiper´s festival, Concertino Praga (Jindřichův Hradec), Passion plays (Hořice), Taborite meetings, Holašovice farm celebrations – crafts, habits, gold washing in Písek.

There are many maps for walkers and bikers, thousands of roads and paths for your wanders and horse rides. It is a heaven for hunters, fishermen, there are lot of educational paths, possibilities of water sports (Vltava, Malše, Lipno etc.), winter sports – ski areas for cross country skiing and downhill skiing (Kramolín), golf.

Southern Bohemia, it is quiet holiday and rest in a beautiful environment and atmosphere of historical towns.

Architecture and Southern Bohemia – this lovely area is presented as a unique one with UNESCO sights – Český Krumlov with its chateau complex including the baroque theatre and natural amphitheatre and a pearl of south-bohemian country baroque Holašovice were entered into UNESCO list. Our ancestors left here a lot of castles (Rožmerk, Nové Hrady), chateaus (Český Krumlov, Třeboň, Červená Lhota), forts (Žumberk, Cuknštejn), ruins (Dívčí kámen, Helfenbruk), Cistercian monasteries in Vyšší Brod and Zlatá Koruna and also the city centres themselves in České Budějovice, Český Krumlov, Třeboň, Jindřichův Hradec, Hussite Tábor or Písek.

České Budějovice

Confluence of big south-bohemian rivers Vltava and Malše was chosen by Czech King Přemysl Otakar II. for founding of České Budějovice to strengthen his power position in southern Bohemia. Regular plan of newly established royal town, the centre of which is created by the square belongs to the top of medieval urbanism.

The town was becoming strong thanks to the goodwill of monarch and the favourable position at long-distance trade roads. Czech monarchs repaid generously to citizens of Budějovice for their loyalty by giving of numerous privileges, assuring the economic prosperity. Already in turn of 13th and 14th century two magnificent temples were finished here and the town was embraced by firm fortification walls.

The nineteen’s century entered the town life by revolutionary technical progress and also by development of modern Czech society. Horse-drawn railway, built during 1825-1832 as the first one in European continent, linked České Budějovice with Linz in Upper Austria, and together with Vltava navigation, operated by Vojtěch Lanna, speeded up the transport of goods in north-south direction. This facts stimulated trade and industry development. In 1847 Viennese Company Hardtmuth moved its business of pencils and ceramics production to České Budějovice and the town acquired its first big factory. Also at that time small Civic brewery, was moved to Linz suburb, close to railway, where it had a further prospective of development. In 1895 its antipole was established, Czech joint-stock brewery, today´s Budějovický Budvar, which brought the town fame in many countries in the world. Number of inhabitants was in nineties of 20th century fluctuating around 100 000.

Hluboká nad Vltavou

The best known historical sight of this town is chateau Hluboká. It was established at the place of royal castle from the 13th century; it changed the owners from significant Czech aristocratic families and underwent several crucial modifications. However it was family of Schwarzeberg, who entered the history of Hluboká. They had the chateau rebuilt during 1840 -1871, in new gothic style, inspired by English royal castle Windsor. Simultaneously a new castle park was established, close to which there is hunting manor Ohrada with ZOO. Along the roads and on the pond´s dams the oak alleys were planted here which nowadays allow the pleasant walks or bike rides. Today´s Hluboká nad Vltavou provides number of opportunities for recreation, sport, eating and culture experiences.

Dobrá Voda u Českých Budějovic

Detail of picture Dobrá Voda by České Budějovice. It is the former sought-after place of pilgrims, spa and a resort. In the middle of 16th century gold mining was under way here and there are up to now some reminders visible, such as rests of adits, dumps and flumes. The most significant sight in the municipality sure is baroque pilgrimage church of Mary Grievous from 1733-1735. Baroque stations of the cross with modern pictures of the painter from local painter, Renata Štolbová leads to the church. Directly at the main road we discover the chapel with a spring of water, being formerly curative, the place is entangled with legend about magic rescue of a miner who got lost in underground adits. Dobrá Voda by České Budějovice.

Holašovice The village was established in 13th century along the vast rectangular village square. It originally belonged to the property of the monastery of Vyšší Brod. Its exceptionality lies in preserving the precious complex of folk architecture build of bricks. The entire village square is edged by picturesque farms in the original medieval arranging, adjusted in style of farm baroque from 19th century. In 1960 some of Holašovice buildings were enrolled to the state list of culture preserves, in 1995 Holašovice was announced the preserve and in 1998 it was entered into the list of world culture and nature heritage of UNESCO.

Český Krumlov Town of Český Krumlov has been becoming more and more the aim of domestic and foreign visitors. No wonder because the town has preserved till nowadays as the medieval constructional and historical sight, being situated picturesquely in the meanders of Vltava River. The uniqueness of the town caused, that it was announced as the preserve in 1963. The significance of Český Krumlov as the outstanding historical sight was enhanced by the fact that world organization UNESCO accepted it among the sights of world significance that should be extra treated, supported and should be given extra attention. The unique urbanistic complex contains more than 300 historical buildings and it has absolutely unrepeatable atmosphere.

The state castle and chateau of Český Krumlov belongs with its architectonic level among the most significant sights of the area of central Europe. In the original ground plan disposition, material composition, interior installation and architectonic detail there is preserved the constructional development from 14th till 19th centuries.

Třeboň

Town of Třeboň is one of the most beautiful south-bohemian towns, the beginnings range to the 12th century and the history of which was written by families and personalities of good repute: family of Rožmberk since 14th century, Jakub Krčín from Jelčany was working here in 15th century – founder of Svět and Rožmberk ponds. Last member of family Rožmberk – Petr Vok was replaced by family of Švamberk and since 1620 family of Schwarzenberk. The town abounds in many places of interest, however it is mainly known because of its beautiful renaissance architecture and baths. The curative qualities of peat had been used by citizens of Třeboň region for centuries. The real start of bath business is connected with 1883 when the first bath house was built up close to the historical centre, called “Berta’s baths”. Further development of bath business came in the second half of 20th century when Třeboň was given the status of bath town in 1960. In 1975 the modern bath complex was completed in a quite environment at the bank of pond Svět (World), called “Aurora Baths”. The altitude of Třeboň is 433 m above the sea, it has mild climate.

Tábor

Town of Tábor is situated at the northern edge of southern Bohemia, at the boundary of Třeboňská pánev and Vlašimská vrchovina, 83 km to south from the capital of Prague and 60 km to north from České Budějovice (centre of Southern Bohemia). Tábor is the second biggest town in Southern Bohemia with 37thousand people.

At the place of former fortified settlement Hradiště from period of Přemyslovci, Hussite established the fortified town with a biblical name Tábor in 1420. From here they waged their victorious crusades under the leadership of commander Jan Žižka of Trocnov and Prokop Holý. Birth of Tábor municipality is connected with name of Jan Hus, big reformer of the Catholic Church. After the Hussite was beaten, Tábor acquired the privilege from hands of empire and Czech king Zikmund Lucembruský in 1437, which accorded the town with status of royal town.

Photographs South Bohemia