South Bohemian Region
Encyclopedia
Regions of the Czech Republic
According to Czech Law no. 129/2000 , which replaced paragraph 1/1993 of the Czech Constitution on Vyšší územně správních celcích , the Czech Republic has consisted of thirteen regions and one capital city with regional status since 1 January 2000...
) of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, located mostly in the southern part of its historical land of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, with a small part in southwestern Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
. The western part of the South Bohemian Region is former Prachens (Prácheňsko), a huge archaic region with distinctive features with its capital, Písek
Písek
Písek is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 29 909 .-About:Písek is usually called "The Athens of the South", although Athens is much more southerly, because it has many high schools and schools of higher education, e.g. the Film School in Písek...
.
The region borders (from the west clockwise) the regions Plzeň
Plzen Region
Plzeň Region is an administrative unit in the western part of Bohemia in the Czech Republic. It is named after its capital Plzeň .- Communes :...
, Central Bohemia
Central Bohemian Region
Central Bohemian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the central part of its historical region of Bohemia. Its administrative center is placed in the Czech capital Prague , which lies in the center of the region...
, Vysocina
Vysocina Region
Vysočina Region , is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located partly in the south-eastern part of the historical region of Bohemia and partly in the south-west of the historical region of Moravia...
and South Moravia
South Moravian Region
South Moravian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia, with exception of Jobova Lhota, that belongs to Bohemia. Its capital is Brno the 2nd largest city of the Czech Republic. The region is famous for its wine...
. To the south it borders Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Germany. Until 30 May 2001, the region was named as or , after its capital, České Budějovice
Ceské Budejovice
České Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences...
.
Population and area
The total area of the region is 10 056 km² which is 12,8 % of the total area of the Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. South Bohemia's population is 630 063 and with only 62 people per 1 km² the region has the lowest population density in the whole country.
Largest cities
| City | Population (31 December 2007) |
|---|---|
| České Budějovice Ceské Budejovice České Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences... |
95 071 |
| Tábor Tábor Tábor is a city of the Czech Republic, in the South Bohemian Region. It is named after Mount Tabor, which is believed by many to be the place of the Transfiguration of Christ; however, the name became popular and nowadays translates to "camp" or "encampment" in the Czech language.The town was... |
35 769 |
| Písek Písek Písek is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 29 909 .-About:Písek is usually called "The Athens of the South", although Athens is much more southerly, because it has many high schools and schools of higher education, e.g. the Film School in Písek... |
29 898 |
| Strakonice Strakonice Strakonice is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Estimated population: 24,000.-History:The settlement of this region took place in the second half of 12th century when a castle was built... |
23 280 |
| Jindřichův Hradec Jindrichuv Hradec Jindřichův Hradec is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has approximately 22,700 inhabitants.- History :The first written mention of the town is in 1220. Before that, it was probably a Slavic settlement. At the end of the 12th century more people arrived... |
22 300 |
| Český Krumlov Český Krumlov Český Krumlov is a small city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, best known for the fine architecture and art of the historic old town and Český Krumlov Castle... |
13 752 |
| Prachatice Prachatice Prachatice is a town in the South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic.-History:The town of Prachatice has its origins in the 11th century, following the beginning of trade on the "Golden Path"... |
11 712 |
| Milevsko Milevsko Milevsko is a small town in the Czech Republic. It is situated 25 kilometres north-east of Písek. It has 9,528 inhabitants. There is a big machine factory ZVVZ .It is home to Stanislav Polodna of the OHL's Erie Otters.The town is twinned with Münchenbuchsee in Switzerland.-... |
9 158 |
| Třeboň Trebon Třeboň is a historical town in South Bohemian Region of Czech Republic. The population stands at 8,862 .-History:Třeboň was established around the middle of the 12th century. In 1366 the House of Rožmberk become owner of the estate... |
8 840 |
| Týn nad Vltavou Týn nad Vltavou Týn nad Vltavou is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has approximately 8,200 inhabitants.- Main sights :* main square* St. Jacob's church* town hall* town museum, expositon of moldavite stones* ruins of Tyn's castle... |
8 483 |
| Vimperk Vimperk Vimperk is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. In 2000 the town had 8,090 inhabitants. Vimperk is situated in the Šumava region in the Volyňka River valley among the foothills of the Boubín Mountains. The town elevation is 700 metres above sea level.Vimperk is surrounded by... |
7 873 |
| Dačice Dacice Dačice is a town in the southwest Moravia, currently belonging to the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has cca 8,000 inhabitants. It is notable as the home of the sugar cube, which was invented there in 1843 by Jakub Kryštof Rad.... |
7 848 |
| Kaplice Kaplice Kaplice is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic.-Parts :Kaplice 6,363Blansko 218Dobechov 21Hradiště 41Hubenov 81Květoňov 6Mostky 36Pořešínec 33Pořešín 131Rozpoutí 52Žďár 41-List of Kaplice streets:... |
7 310 |
| Soběslav Sobeslav Soběslav is a town in the Czech Republic situated on the river Lužnice, 7 km northern from Veselí nad Lužnicí and 18 km southern from Tábor. In 2005 its recorded population was 7,286... |
7 304 |
| Sezimovo Ústí Sezimovo Ústí Sezimovo Ústí is a town in the South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic. It is located approximately 83 km south of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and 60 km north of České Budějovice, the capital of the South Bohemian Region.... |
7 302 |
| Vodňany Vodnany Vodňany is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 7,000 inhabitants.Administrative parts of Vodňany are: Čavyně, Hvožďany, Křtětice, Pražák, Radčice, Újezd, Vodňanské Svobodné Hory, Vodňany I and Vodňany II.... |
7 028 |
| Blatná Blatná Blatná is a small town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, with a water castle in the center of an artificial lake and a landscape garden around it... |
6 693 |
| Veselí nad Lužnicí Veselí nad Lužnicí Veselí nad Lužnicí is a town in South Bohemia, Czech Republic and has population of 6,600. It lies on the confluence of the Lužnice and Nežárka rivers.... |
6 598 |
| Bechyně Bechyne Bechyně , is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located on the Lužnice River 20 km southwest of Tábor and has a population of 5,695 .... |
5 557 |
| Protivín Protivín Protivín is a small town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,000 inhabitants.It is also known for the Protivín Brewery, which produces a regional beer label Platan.-External links:*... |
5 065 |
The region is further split into district
Okres
Okres refers to administrative entities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia...
s:
| District | Population | Area | Pop. Dens. | No.of Settlements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| České Budějovice (CB) | 184.531 | 1.638,30 | 113 | 109 |
| Český Krumlov (CK) | 61.346 | 1.615,03 | 38 | 45 |
| Jindřichův Hradec (JH) | 92.719 | 1.943,69 | 48 | 106 |
| Písek (PI) | 70.290 | 1.126,84 | 62 | 75 |
| Prachatice (PT) | 51.461 | 1.375,03 | 37 | 65 |
| Strakonice (ST) | 70.823 | 1.032,10 | 69 | 112 |
| Tábor (TA) | 102.580 | 1.326,01 | 77 | 110 |
Geography
The highest elevation in the region is the 1378 metres (4,521 ft) high Plechý in the Bohemian ForestBohemian Forest
The Bohemian Forest, also known in Czech as Šumava , is a low mountain range in Central Europe. Geographically, the mountains extend from South Bohemia in the Czech Republic to Austria and Bavaria in Germany...
, the lowest elevation with 350 metres above sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
is at the Orlík Dam
Orlík Dam
The Orlík Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the Czech Republic. It dams the Vltava River near the village of Solenice, which is near the town of Příbram. The structure is named after a chateau, which is situated a few kilometers above the dam...
.
South Bohemia is famous for its countless ponds. With its 489 ha Rožmberk
Rožmberk Pond
Rožmberk is large fish pond in South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, next to the town Třeboň. Its area is 4.89 square kilometres, and maximum depth is 12.3 m, making it the largest pond of Central Europe....
is the largest one.
A big part of the Šumava National Park
Šumava National Park
Šumava National Park is a National Park in the Plzeň and South Bohemian Regions of the Czech Republic along the border with Germany and Austria...
is situated in South Bohemia. The Bohemian Forest is a popular holiday destination because it is excellent hiking country. Most interesting natural and cultural sights are connected with more than 500 km of summer marked trails and many bike trails.
Rivers
- VltavaVltavaThe Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source in Šumava through Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, and Prague, merging with the Elbe at Mělník...
- LužniceLužniceThe Lužnice is a river in the Czech Republic starting in Austria . It flows into the Vltava river in Týn nad Vltavou . The river drains 4,226 square kilometers....
- OtavaOtava RiverThe Otava is a river in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. It is long and is a left tributary of the Vltava. The river flows through several towns, including Písek, Sušice and Strakonice. The river's name is of Celtic origin. It is a popular river for water sports. The local dialect of Prachens also...
- MalšeMalšeThe Malše is a river in Austria and in the Czech Republic, and a right tributary of the Vltava.The Malše originates on the north slope of Viehberg, near the village of Sandl in Bezirk Freistadt, Upper Austria. It flows northward and forms of Austria-Czech border before fully entering the Český...
- NežárkaNežárkaNežárka is a river in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. It is 56 km long and flows to Lužnice in Veselí nad Lužnicí. The river flows through Jindřichův Hradec and Stráž nad Nežárkou.- References :* - External links :...
- Lomnice
Architecture
The region is famous for its small villages with a pond in the middle. These are generally built in the style of the Rustic Baroque, also known as South Bohemian Baroque:"Rustic Baroque is a term for the unique architecture of South Bohemia. The local folk bricklayer masters Martin Paták and František Šoch created a new type of South Bohemian farmhouse with an ornate frontispiece in the middle of the 19th century. A typical building of this style is a massive rustic farmhouse with two richly decorated frontispieces, which are joined by an arched gate with small doors. The marshland frontispieces are beautifully decorated, they have lavish contours, the surface is usually divided by allusive decorative columns, completed by arches, stylised hearts, four-leafed clovers, meadow flowers." (Rustic Barocco)