Pisek guide
The town of Písek is located in the district of the same name in the South Bohemian Region, about 40 km from České Budějovice. It lies on the river Otava and has about 30,000 inhabitants. There is the oldest standing stone bridge in Bohemia, which is also one of the oldest preserved in Europe.
Accommodation
In Písek you will find a basic but varied offer of accommodation, both in the city center and in its vicinity. You can choose from apartments (Apartmán Pisek centrum), through pensions (Manhattan Pension) to hotels (Hotel Art, Hotel Villa Conti, Hotel U Kaplicky).
History
The history of the town of Písek dates back to the Middle Ages, when on the left bank of the river Otava a settlement was established near the mining fields of golden sand (pisek in Czech) - hence the name of the town. In 1254, the royal city was founded by Přemysl Otakar II., during whose reign it flourished and gained great importance. A castle was built here, a church was built, a monastery was founded and a stone bridge over the Otava River was built. Furthermore, a mint was established here, which was later moved to Kutná Hora. The city was not only founded for gold mining, but was also to protect the trade "Golden Trail", which crossed the Otava River in these places. In the Hussite period, the city played an important role and from the very beginning it stood on the side of the reform movement, and Jan Žižka was also a frequent guest here. Since the 19th century, the city has completely changed its face - whole streets of tenement houses are growing in the suburbs and the city is slowly becoming a popular tourist destination. As an interesting fact, we can add that the city became the first place in Bohemia to purchase permanent public electric lighting - June 23, 1887, the city center was lit by František Křižík.
Monuments and interesting places
The dominant feature of the town is the Dean's Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary - we recommend visiting its tower, which currently serves as an observation deck, and from which you will have a beautiful view of the surroundings. Of course, you must also visit the Písek´s Stone Bridge, which is a national cultural monument. The bridge is built of granite and measures 110 meters. Another important monument is the royal castle - to this day, only the western wing above the river Otava has been preserved, and the Prácheň Museum with its extensive collections from the history of the region is housed in its grounds. For horse lovers, the "Zemský hřebčinec" (stud farm), which was opened on the outskirts of the city at the beginning of the 20th century and is used for breeding horses, is definitely worth a visit. The legendary horse Ardo also came from the local breeding, who stood as a model for J. V. Myslbek when he modeled the famous monument of St. Wenceslas on the horse on Wenceslas Square in Prague.
Transport
You can easily get to the city by train, bus or car.