Historical towns around Czech Budejovice. Open left menu Ceske Budejovice

We go to the city of Ceske Budejovice for a few hours to see the main attractions and walk along its bridges over the Malše and Vltava rivers.

The story will be as short as my walk around the city. In 4 hours I managed to see the most interesting things and now I will share my impressions. Let me jump ahead - are you familiar with the name Koh-I-Noor?

Road Prague - Ceske Budejovice

How can we do without instructions “How to get to the city of Ceske Budejovice.” Most likely you will be coming here from Prague and all the transport here is completely identical to the instructions, we just get off one stop earlier. Below is a short excerpt with links to purchase tickets.

1. Buses depart every 30-60 minutes, tickets from 1.2 €, which can be bought and.
2. The train leaves every 30 minutes and tickets start from 7€.

I would also like to give my version, because I did not come here from Prague, but returned by bus for 1.2 €. There are a lot of buses, and tickets are on sale.

After the mesmerizing views of Cesky Krumlov, this city turned out to be less interesting, but despite this, some places remained in the memory for a long time. Since we arrived by bus, the first thing we saw was a shopping center and a railway station.

From this place we headed along ordinary residential streets towards historical center. It's already clear they're starting old streets, churches. Here we could go straight to the central square, but we wanted to see more. Therefore, we pass by the Church of the Holy Family and the South Bohemian Museum and go out to the river.

Ceske Budejovice is home to two rivers, the Malše and the Vltava. The photo shows Malshe and the bridge thrown across it. Behind the bridge you can see a building with turrets - this is a court.

Despite it being March, the day was not at all spring, it was cloudy, as can be seen from the photographs. And my frozen hands prevented me from taking many pictures.

Stationery factory Koh-I-Noor

150 meters from the previous bridge we cross again and come to the stationery factory - Koh-I-Noor. You might wonder why I didn’t focus so much attention on this plant, but everything is connected with pencils. It is this inscription that most often appears on them and for some reason remains in my memory, and after visiting this city I began to notice it even more often. It feels like all the pencils in the world are made here.

The plant was founded not in the Czech Republic, but in Austria, and it was moved here only 58 years after its founding. It’s strange that I didn’t notice the pencils in the fence right away, but only now when I was looking through the photos.

Water tower

If I had prepared more thoroughly for the trip, having known in advance that this factory would be there and there would be such nostalgia for children’s pencils when writing a story, I would have done much more big photo. And so we headed to the 18th century water tower.

If you need to buy groceries, there are two budget supermarkets nearby - Lidl and Billa. We had such a need because there was a wait ahead, and due to the late arrival, all the stores would be closed. So we filled our backpacks with food and headed back to Old city through the second bridge.

The historical center is already visible ahead, but don’t rush, admire the views that open on both sides of the bridge. This is the already familiar Malshe River and the bridge in the distance where we were at the very beginning of the walk.

It's time to add a few words about the history of the city, which is reminiscent of the turret visible on the other side of the bridge. The city began to be built in the 13th century and was surrounded by walls with turrets. So this tower is part of those walls. By the way, this is where the Malše River merges with the Vltava.

The tower was given the name "Iron Maiden". According to legend, there was a torture chamber here; it was an iron cabinet with needles in the shape of a woman. This is where the name of the tower came from.

Here is another tower, it is called Rabenstein, also part of the fortress wall.

Historical center of Ceske Budejovice

But I will dwell on this attraction, since it is one of the main ones - the Church of St. Nicholas. It again reminds us of history, because the first stone was laid in the same 13th century when the city arose.

Later they built a high watchtower-bell tower next to the cathedral and nicknamed it the “Black Tower”. Now you can climb up the ladder. I didn’t go up, but on the city website I asked about the price of 30 CZK.

The price is quite reasonable and if we weren’t in a hurry to catch the bus, we would definitely have gone up. Instead, I had to look at the map in tourist center. Of course, there won’t be such views from the tower, because its height is only 72 meters, but it would be interesting to see the central square from above.

And we mentally descend to the ground and walk to the side main square With unpronounceable name– the square of Přemysl Otakar II, the Czech king and founder of the city. In the Middle Ages, there was a pillory in the center of the square and executions were carried out. Later, this terrible place was occupied by a beautiful fountain.

As it should be on the square, there should be a Town Hall.

This is the most beautiful place in the city. I’ve written more than once that I really like these gingerbread towns, with narrow streets, colorful fairy-tale houses, where it’s quiet and peaceful.

Don't forget to look for the "prodigal stone" in this square. According to legend, if you step on it, the consequences will not be the most pleasant - you can forget the way home and look for it all night until the morning. This is what the legend sounds like. But I think that this stone is connected with the history of the city and with more plausible facts. I either forgot about it or didn’t know about its existence, I don’t remember the reason.

Here we were almost running to catch the bus and almost missed the famous sculpture “Hurrying Managers”. It would be unforgivable to leave without taking at least one photo with her.

This is where the shopping street begins, along which we went to the station, boarded a bus and went to, which will be my next story. In order not to miss it, subscribe to the blog news and follow our budget travel.

When the area Ceske Budejovice is named, one immediately remembers the magnificent voyage of Josef Schweik, who tried to get to his unit and spent several days actively spinning around this city. And I think that it was not without reason. The city is truly stunningly beautiful, but for some reason it is unworthyly ignored by tourists against the backdrop of magnificent Prague. Yes, of course, Ceske Budejovice is not as big as the capital of the Czech Republic, but it’s worth spending 1-3 days (there’s no point in more) in it to get acquainted with the beautiful architecture, which is eclectic and original, which is no wonder, because since the founding of this The city has passed more than 8 centuries and each of them has left its mark.

Is it worth going to Ceske Budejovice with children? Well, if they have passed the infancy and kindergarten age, then in my opinion it’s worth it. The city is not very big, children will not get too tired from walking, but they will be able to gain interesting impressions.

And to give you an idea of ​​what was written above, here are a few photographs:

City Hall. By the way, the mayor’s office still sits there to this day.

Cathedral of St. Nicholas. So it appears in all tourist guides, and the city residents themselves call it the Cathedral of St. Nicholas.

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Weather in Ceske Budejovice by month:

"Bohemian Florence" with an Austrian character
Bohemian Budejovice was founded by King Přemysl Otakar at the end of the 13th century. The advantageous location at the intersection of the most important trade routes and very close to the Austrian border determined the fact that the city throughout its history was one of the largest centers of trade and entrepreneurship in the Czech Republic. In addition, the surrounding lands were generous with such natural resources, like silver and salt, and there were a lot of fish in the rivers. Therefore, it is not surprising that the main stratum of society in České Budejovice were merchants, artisans, jewelers and various types of entrepreneurs. Perhaps it is precisely due to the merchant character and the development of jewelry here that Budejovice is often called the Bohemian Florence. Although, to be honest, they are more reminiscent of some prosperous, well-kept city in neighboring Austria. The central market square next to neat burgher houses closely huddled together, perfectly clean streets, the impressive building of the city hall, a huge number of pubs and bars... It would not be out of place to mention here that at one time two thirds of the city’s population were Germans, who, of course, had an impact significant influence on its culture.

Holiday city
Czech Budejovice today is a large administrative, economic and Cultural Center South Bohemian region. And, as in any other big city, the pulse of life never weakens here. Throughout the year, a variety of social and cultural events take place here, with one smoothly flowing into the other. From 11 to 19 February, Days of Slovak Culture are held in Ceske Budejovice, which includes all kinds of exhibitions, theatrical performances, film screenings, gastronomic events... Residents of the city take a short break for one day on February 15 only to celebrate Maslenitsa. This is followed by a dance championship and a wild celebration of the coming spring.
However, summer is especially rich in all kinds of festivities, which is not surprising - there are more tourists, and the warm weather allows you to have fun all night long. Summer holidays are mainly associated with music of various styles and trends: folk and country concerts, performances by brass bands, the International Organ Festival in St. Nicholas Cathedral and much, much more. It’s especially fun when this kind of event takes place in the central square of České Budejovice: historical surroundings, a motley crowd of joyful people speaking different languages ​​and one language of music common to everyone. Adding to the general fun is the famous Budějovice beer, which is brewed here at the world-famous Budvar factory.
Following the noisy and vibrant summer holidays come autumn events that are more serious in nature - theatrical festivals and art shows, exhibitions, and sporting competitions.
And, of course, as in any other European country, Christmas is considered the most important holiday of the year in the Czech Republic. The period from November 26 to January 6 is called Advent, and during this time every believer must prepare, both spiritually and materially, for the upcoming birth of the Savior. Among the various beautiful and festive pre-Christmas events taking place in České Budejovice, it is especially interesting to watch the mesmerizing performance called “Flight of the Christmas Angel.” From the Black Tower, rising above the central square of the city, to the sounds of Christmas carols, an elegant figure of an aerialist dressed in light golden robes flies to the ground.

Sights of Ceske Budejovice
The most beautiful placeČeské Budejovice is undoubtedly the central square of Přemysl Otakar, with the town hall building standing out from other buildings. This two-story, richly decorated building has stood in its place since the first half of the 15th century. On the attic there are 4 allegorical sculptures depicting the basic human virtues Justice, Courage, Prudence and Wisdom. The pentagonal stone with a carved cross, located near the Samson Fountain, is of constant interest to everyone who finds themselves in České Budejovice. This stone indicates the place where a gallows stood during the Middle Ages. They say that anyone who crosses it after nine o'clock in the evening will never be able to find their way home.
Another interesting attraction of the central square of Ceske Budejovice is the Black Tower. In the old days it served as a watchtower with a bell tower; today its gallery serves observation deck, which offers beautiful views of the city and its surroundings.
Very close to the Black Tower is main temple city ​​St. Nicholas Cathedral (or in the Czech manner, Mikulas). Among the statues located in the niches of the cathedral, there is one that depicts the patron saint of the city, St. Auratian. Generally speaking, temples, cathedrals, chapels and other religious buildings can be found in Ceske Budejovice at almost every turn.
One of the interesting city attractions is the building of a salt warehouse (remember that one of the main sources of income for the city in the old days was the sale of salt). Three mysterious clay masks hang on the facade of this unusual-looking building. They have a very frightening appearance and symbolize three thieves who managed to break into the warehouse building, but they could not get out and mysteriously found themselves walled up in the wall. The legend, as always in the Czech Republic, has a moralizing character.
There is also Krajinsky Boulevard in Ceske Budejovice, notable for the fact that you can walk along it in absolutely any weather even when it’s raining or snowing outside and still stay dry! It's all about the arcades, which run in an orderly row along the first floors of the buildings.
Don’t be surprised if, among other attractions of the city, you are offered... a butcher shop. The fact is that this is one of the oldest buildings in Ceske Budejovice. Its history is as follows: in the old days, meat was sold in the central square of the city. Until Emperor Charles IV drew attention to this fact. He felt that butcher shops did not look very good against the backdrop of the elegant buildings of the square and ordered a special building to be built for this business. Now it houses one of the most respectable restaurants serving very tasty meat dishes.
And, of course, in Ceske Budejovice, like in many other cities in the Czech Republic, there are many gardens and parks with shady alleys and a peaceful atmosphere.

How to get there from Prague: by train from Hlavní Nádraží station the journey takes 2.5 hours. By bus from Florenc and Roztyly stations. By car on the E55 highway.
Official informational portal cities:

The Town Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings on Otakara II Square in Český Budejovice. It was originally built in the Renaissance style in the mid-16th century, but in the 18th century it was rebuilt in Baroque style according to Martinelli's design. The house has three floors, there are three towers on the roof, the middle one is equipped with a gold-plated clock. The facade of the house has magnificent paintings.

Along the edge of the roof are four sculptures by Czech artist Joseph Dietrich, symbolizing the main virtues: justice, courage, wisdom and prudence. The inside of the building is as magnificent as the outside. Its main ceremonial hall is painted with frescoes from the 1730s, depicting biblical themes, including the judgment of King Solomon.

Petrovsky Monastery

Petrovsky Monastery or its full name the Monastery of the Congregation of the Brothers of the Holy Communion is located in the city of Ceske Budejovice. The main building of the monastery is the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. The monastery was founded by Petr Vaclav Klement, a priest and active religious figure in Ceske Budejovice. Clement suffered from tuberculosis, so he tried to do as much as possible during his short life, he helped those in need and spent a lot of time among young people. After his death he was canonized. His spiritual endeavors continued to be carried out by his followers. There is still a small “Peter’s” community in the city.

What sights of Ceske Budejovice did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

St. Nicholas Cathedral

The Cathedral of St. Nicholas is the main church of the diocese in České Budejovice. The church is named after St. Nicholas and is located in the very heart of the city, near Přemysl Otakar II Square. The first stone of the foundation of the parish church was laid in 1265, shortly after the founding of České Budejovice. The church was rebuilt several times.

In the 16th century, a black tower was added to it, in which a bell tower was equipped. In 1785 the church became a cathedral. The city cemetery used to be located around the cathedral; in the 21st century, intensive events took place here. archaeological research under the direction of the South Bohemian Museum.

The Church of the Holy Family is part of the former convent of the Sisters of Charity of St. Charles Borromeo. The temple was built in 1888 in neo-Gothic style on the corner of Charles IV Street. The interior decoration of the temple emphasizes its affiliation convent, most of the walls are painted with flowers, plants and geometric shapes. The glass door to the main hall is decorated with a beautiful colored cross. On the walls there are images of biblical places: the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives. For more than half a century, no services have been held in the church; it is opened to the public only on holidays.

Dominican monastery

The Dominican monastery is an important example of early medieval architecture in South Bohemia. It was founded by Otakar II in 1265, and by the beginning of the 14th century the complex was completed. The monastery is located on Piaristicke Square in the historical center of České Budejovice on the banks of a tributary of the Vltava. Over the centuries, the monastery survived several fires, but was restored again.

In the 17th century, the buildings acquired the appearance of baroque architecture. At the end of the 19th century, the fate of the monastery changed dramatically; religious activities were replaced by educational ones. A college was founded here and later housed a school of folk art, the Tax Office and the Comenius Academy.

Capuchin Monastery

The Capuchin Monastery was built in the spirit of Franciscan architecture between 1615-1621 in Ceske Budejovice by order of Empress Anna of Tyrol. The monastery complex consisted of several buildings, the main one being the Church of St. Anne, which is a simple building with two chapels on the north side. The Capuchin Order came under government reform, which is why the monastery was closed in 1788.

At the beginning of the 19th century, a theological seminary was opened in the monastery, and liturgies resumed within the walls of the Church of St. Anne. After the Second World War, religious activity finally ended. A concert hall of the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic was opened in the church, and galleries in other rooms.

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Hluboka nad Vltavou Castle

The pseudo-Gothic castle of Hluboka nad Vltavou has had 27 owners over the eight centuries of its existence, and each of them sought to bring something new and unique into their home. The outcome of this unique relay race was a castle of unearthly beauty with 11 towers, 140 rooms, two courtyards, a glazed greenhouse and a 190-hectare park with a unique system of ponds and rare species trees. The castle does not have a specific style; its previous owners had different tastes.

Initially it was Gothic, which gave way to the Renaissance, which was fashionable at that time, and then acquired Baroque features.

Numerous legends are associated with Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle. From the guides' stories you will learn about how Paulina Schwarzenberg died at Napoleon's wedding, who shot Adam Frantisek Schwarzenberg, where the Turk's head with a raven is on the Schwarzenberg coat of arms, and much more.

The most popular attractions in Ceske Budejovice with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places to visit famous places in Ceske Budejovice on our website.

More attractions in Ceske Budejovice

Hello, friends! Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Republic is worth a visit for three important reasons. Firstly, it is an attractive city with an interesting historical center. Secondly, choosing Ceske Budejovice as the main point on a trip to the south of the Czech Republic, it is convenient to make trips to very popular attractions - the castle and the town. And the third reason is very banal, but this does not diminish its importance - these are excellent conditions for shopping.

All of the above processes cannot be covered in one day. Therefore, it is better to come from Prague to Ceske Budejovice for two or three days and implement the planned culturally useful program. And treat yourself to getting to know another Czech city that is pleasant in every way.

I have already told you what the most significant attractions are in the regional center of Ceske Budejovice. Check out to see them. And now I’ll focus more on the practical side of the trip:

1. How to get to Ceske Budejovice
2. How to get from the station to the historical city center
3. A little about the sights
4. Where to go shopping
5. Where to stay in Ceske Budejovice

How to get to České Budějovice

České Budějovice is not only the center of its region, but also a major transport hub, from where it is convenient to go to settlements southern Bohemia, as well as in famous cities neighboring Austria and Germany. Of course, the city is also connected with Prague by intense traffic. Therefore, you can travel from Prague to Ceske Budejovice either by bus or by train.

I mentioned the comfort of moving around the Czech Republic by rail in the article. Of the bus transfers, I am most satisfied with the services of the Student agency. The agency's non-stop buses arrive in Ceske Budejovice in 2 hours 15 minutes, the fare is 165 CZK.

From Prague, buses depart from the Na Knížecí bus station. Where it is located and where you can buy tickets, look. In Ceske Budejovice, buses arrive at the original station:

I think you look at the photo now and don’t see any originality)) The fact is that the station, along with all the platforms, is located on the third floor of the building...

A complex consisting of a shopping center and a bus station was built in Ceske Budejovice. The first two floors are occupied by a shopping center, and the third is at the disposal of the transport service.

This building stands on Vokzalnaya Street (Nádražní). People enter the building on the first floor, and when getting ready for a trip, they take escalators to the third floor to the platforms. Buses go up through a neat tunnel, which does not disfigure the building at all.

How to get from the station to the city center

If you intend to get to know the southern Czech region, start your exploration from the historical center of České Budejovice. Well, shall we go?

It’s impossible to look around the city with such “lenten” faces)) I unsuccessfully tried with all my might to adjust the facial expression in accordance with the grimaces of these heroes, frozen in their measured step on the pedestrian street České Budejovice. You will meet this sculptural group on the way from the station to the historical center of the city.

The train station and bus station in České Budejovice are located on the same street – Nádražní. Upon arrival in the city, you need to walk just a little north along this street and you will find yourself at the beginning of the perpendicularly laid Lannova pedestrian avenue:

The pedestrian avenue is filled with shops, cafes and pleasant recreation areas. The street stretches less than a kilometer. You won’t notice how you reach its end point, where the already familiar monument to office workers is installed:

Contemporary sculptor Michal Trpak reflected the “heroic everyday life” of managers. Since 2009, sculptures have been marching in Ceske Budejovice, but I still have no idea what issues can or should be resolved with such persons...

The historical part of the city begins behind the roadway, and the road leading to the main square is visible behind the sculptures. Be sure to pay attention to the information stand near the park. There is a map where historical sites are clearly and conveniently presented.

A little about the sights

The main attractions of Ceske Budejovice are concentrated in and around Otakara II Square. I outlined many details in the previous article. Let me just remind you that there you will see the town hall, the Samson fountain, the Black Tower and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. The dominant features of the historical quarter are visible from afar:

When I showed Otakar II Square from all sides in photographs, I said that 48 buildings form the appearance of the square. Of course, you can’t tell us about everyone, but in this article I want to pay a little more attention to the youngest building of the square. The Včela (Bee) Palace appeared in the ensemble of buildings in 1896:

The building was commissioned by German entrepreneurs in the German neo-Renaissance style. It is interesting that the space allocated for the palace, like other buildings in the square, is small, and the architect placed the entire decorative part vertically. A beautiful cylindrical bay window topped with a turret gives the impression of the height of the building. The sculptural decoration is also carried out along the vertical axis. Below is the statue of Thrift, above it is Diligence, and even higher is the company symbol Bee. The building is completed by a statue of a German patrician.

Stretching from the square small streets, also built with attractive architectural objects:

An extremely beautiful building neighbors the Black Tower. The date on the facade is indicated in the Romanesque designation DMDCCCXCVIII, which means that the appearance of this building dates back to 1898:

Behind the Black Tower stretches a shopping street where there is a shopping center, which was the first to open in Ceske Budejovice. It's time to think about shopping.

Where to go shopping

It is convenient to switch to shopping centers in České Budejovice at any time. The main thing is not to forget about other plans for your trip))

Therefore, I simply have to tell you where there are attractive shopping centers in České Budejovice, both for their range and prices. Even I have to admit that this city is just perfect for shopping (shopping is usually a problem for me, since I can't find anything to see, much less buy).

Lannova street with its huge complex Prior.

And I strongly recommend paying attention to the Mercury shopping center, combined with bus station. An additional advantage is that you don’t have to run all over the city for shopping. The sales departments of recognized companies are located under the bus station building. Arriving in Ceske Budejovice and going down the escalators, you find yourself in mall. Very convenient!

Where to stay in Ceske Budejovice

Let me remind you that next to Ceske Budejovice there is such a desirable object for tourists as a castle. This is the most beautiful castle in the Czech Republic and definitely a must see. On the other side of the regional center is located another Czech pearl -. And you need to visit there. Therefore, staying in Ceske Budejovice and traveling around is a practical solution.

Where is the best place to choose a hotel? Yes, along the route that we have now explored, and choose. If you want to be close to the attractions, pay attention to the hotel U Cerne veze, which is located on this cozy street:

The Pension on the other side of Otakara II Square will be cheaper, but the streets closer to the river seemed to me not as well-groomed as those near the Black Tower. The hotel is simple but neat.

Accommodation on Lannova Street will be attractive: there is practically no transport, it is convenient and easy to walk to both the train stations and the center. If you are unpretentious in terms of conditions, you may be interested in the Filip Hotel.

Well, friends, I shared with you my impressions of what I saw in Ceske Budejovice, and conveyed my opinion regarding practical information, and I completely forgot to say that Budweiser beer is produced in this city. Maybe for some this information is much more important, if not sightseeing, then all sorts of shopping... It’s not so important who draws up what program for their trip, but visiting České Budějovice is very interesting. I wish you a successful trip to the South Bohemian region.

Your euro guide Tatyana