České Budějovice
České Budějovice - Budweis - is the capital of the southern part of the Czech Republic (South Bohemia). It was founded in 1265 by Přemysl Otakar II on the border of the Rosenberg estates as a demonstration of his royal power.
As with almost every town in the Czech Republic, the city of Budweis boasts a rich and eventful history. Over the centuries, a unique old town was formed in the heart of the city. While strolling through its streets, you can admire historical architecture of the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Recently, the old town has been declared a conservation zone.
Also, technical monuments can be found in Budweis. For example, remnants of the first continental horse-drawn railway, which in 1832 connected České Budějovice with Linz in Austria, can still be seen today. You can visit it at the Horse-drawn railway museum.
Budweis is of course best known as a brewery centre; beer has been brewed here since the 13thcentury. Citizens of Budweis strongly guarded their right to brew beer. For example, in 1619, Budweiser guards destroyed the competitive brewery in Rudolfov, including the whole mining town. At present, there are two breweries in Budweis: Budvar, where the genuine Budweiser beer (not the American one!) has been brewed since the beginning of the 19th century, and Samson, the town brewery, founded in 1795.
Points of interest in the old town
Přemysl Otakar II Square and Town Hall
Gothic and Renaissance houses with arcades and decorated facades, baroque Samson's fountain (1721-1727).
St. Nicholas Cathedral and Black Tower
The cathedral was founded in 1265 (construction was completed at the end of the 14th century), rebuilt in the Baroque style, facade with sculptures; a tower with six bells was built in the 16th century as a cathedral belfry and watch-tower.
Piarist Square and Dominican convent with the Church Sacrifice of Virgin Mary
Convent and church was founded in 1265 (construction was completed in 1300), church in Gothic and Neo-gothic style (rebuilt mostly in the 14th, 17th and 19th centuries), unique frescoes from the 14th century.
Between the 13th and 18th centuries, there was a town cemetery on the Piarist Square. Remnants of prehistoric settlement were found during archaeological research of the Piarist Square in 1995.
Česká Street
Original Gothic buildings, pubs
Places to Visit in Budweis (within reach of public transport)
Acoustic playground
Aperfect playground for children (there is no living zone, so you can make noise there), designed by Petr Uher in 2005.
Church of St. John the Baptist and St. Prokop
Te original settlement was located here (before 1265); early Gothic rebuilt in the 16th century to late Gothic style; a cemetery where Budweiser bishops are buried; a park where you can have a rest after a busy day.
Natural preserve Vrbenské rybníky
A system of four ponds, marshes and wet meadows on the north-west edge of Budweis, 3 km away from the University Campus, a bird area (in NATURA 2000 system) with 90 bird species, a recreation zone, nature trail, remnants of the horse-drawn railway.
Dobrá Voda
www.dobravodaucb.cz - Bath, Baroque pilgrimage church of Grieving Virgin Mary (by Kilián Ignác Dietzenhofer, 1733-1735), Stations of the Cross (built 1839, new paintings by Renata Ctolbová, 1996), reached by Budweis public transport.
Mining district Rudolfov - Adamov - Hůry
Mining district since the second half of the 16th century, reached by Budweis public transport.
More information about České Budějovice
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