České Budějovice guide
The town of České Budějovice lies at the confluence of the Vltava and Malše rivers and, with approximately 95,000 inhabitants, is the largest town in the South Bohemian Region. World-famous companies with a long tradition, such as Budweiser Budvar or Koh-i-noor, have their headquarters here. The city is located near many historically valuable places such as Hluboká nad Vltavou, Český Krumlov, Vyšší Brod or Třeboň and is a frequent destination for tourists.
Accommodation
In České Budějovice you will find more than 60 different accommodation offers, so everyone will surely choose. Most of the offers are located in the city center (Grandhotel Zvon, Boutique Hotel U Solné Brány, Residence U Černé věže, Hotel Budweis), near the brewery we can recommend Pension Minor.
History
The town was founded by the Czech King Přemysl Otakar II. In the 14th century, the town became a center of trade and crafts, and silver mining and coinage in the nearby village of Rudolfov also contributed to the wealth. The economic boom of the city was damaged by the Thirty Years' War and also by the extensive fire in the second half of the 17th century. The restoration of the city took place in the Baroque style. In 1832, the first horse-drawn railway car on the České Budějovice - Linz route set out from Budějovice, the first railway on the European continent.
At the end of World War II, Budejovice twice became the target of air raids by the US Air Force, which severely damaged the city and caused great loss of life. In August 2002, the Budějovice region was hit by massive floods, when the Malše and Vltava flooded a large part of the city, incl. historic center and caused considerable damage. In 1980, the historic city center was declared a city monument reserve.
Monuments and interesting places
It is best to start a walk around České Budějovice on Přemysl Otakar II Square, in the very heart of the city. It is one of the largest squares in Central Europe, which forms an almost perfect square. The dominant feature of the square is the Baroque town hall from the first half of the 18th century. Right in the middle of the square stands the Samson's Fountain, the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic. The fountain was originally used to supply the city with water from the Vltava. Not far from the square stands the huge cathedral of St. Nicholas, whose construction began after the founding of the city. In the vicinity of the cathedral rises the Black Tower, an unmissable landmark of the whole city, from its gallery at a height of 46 m you will have a beautiful view of the surroundings.
Also worth a visit is the so-called Salt Gate, which has been transporting salt from a nearby warehouse to the river since the middle of the 16th century, where it was loaded onto the sea and taken to Prague. A few steps from the gate towards the waterfront and you will get a romantic view of the confluence of Malše and Vltava.
For beer lovers, we recommend a visit to the Budweiser Budvar brewery, which was founded in 1895.
As a tip for a trip to the surroundings of České Budějovice, we can definitely recommend the Hluboká nad Vltavou chateau or the zoo in Hluboká nad Vltavou.