South Pearl of the

South Bohemia is one of the most attractive tourist regions in the Czech Republic. Located in the southern part of the country, it shares borders with and . The largest town – and also the centre of the South Bohemian Region – is České Budějovice with a population of 100,000. This is where the world-famous Budweiser Budvar beer is brewed. There are many other gems in South Bohemia, such as the town of Český Krumlov (UNESCO), Hluboká nad Vltavou with its beautiful Neo-Gothic castle, and (UNESCO), a typical South Bohemian village with Rustic Baroque architecture. www.jiznicechy.cz

The town of České Budějovice Europe

Czech Republic

South Bohemia Basic Facts about the Czech Republic

Offi cial name Czech Republic Capital city Total population 10.5 million Offi cial language Czech Currency Czech crown Time zone GMT + 01:00 Electricity Type C, Type E Country calling code +420

All of the Czech Republic Internet, GSM has Internet and mobile phone coverage.

According to the Global Peace Index, the Czech Republic is among the ten safest destinations in the world.

South Bohemian Climate The climate in South Bohemia is of the Central European, or transitional, type. The warmest months are usually July and August.

Transport

Nearest international airports:

Václav Havel Airport Prague www.prg.aero/en/

Vienna International Airport www.viennaairport.com

Munich Airport www.munich-airport.de

Blue Danube Airport Linz www.linz-airport.com

For private fl ights, it is possible to use Airport České Budějovice LKCS – a non-public, international airport with an outer boundary suitable for daytime fl ights under visual fl ight rules (VFR). For more information, see www.airport-cb.cz.

We recommend that individual visitors use car rental services at the airport.

Hluboká nad Vltavou Château

Transport by car

South Bohemia is easily accessible from the northern and eastern parts of the Czech Republic and from neighbouring Austria by the D3 motorway and European route E55 (Prague – České Budějovice – Linz), to which local transportation hubs are connected. The table below shows the approximate distance and travel time by car from select cities to the centre of South Bohemia (České Budějovice):

Starting Approximate Approximate Point Distance (km) Travel Time Prague 150 km 2 hours Vienna 200 km 2 hours 30 min. Linz 95 km 1 hours 15 min. Munich 330 km 3 hours 45 min. Passau 130 km 2 hours

Public Transport

There is a dense transport infrastructure network with functional public bus routes and rail transport in the Czech Republic. We recommend that travellers always book their tickets in advance. For more information, see www.idos.cz.

The town of Písek

Landmarks Famous noble families left an enormous breath-taking legacy in South Bohemia. Even today, you can admire historic towns full of life and culture, majestic castles, and charming chateaux. As if with the wave of a magic wand, a visit to these landmarks will transport you back hundreds of years. Thanks to their uniqueness, both the crooked alleys of the fairy-tale town of Český Krumlov and the village of Holašovice, with its marvellously preserved village green, were added to the UNESCO List of Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites.

Landštejn Castle The town of Český Krumlov UNESCO The village of Holašovice UNESCO

The Beauty of Untouched Nature Nature lovers can enjoy the beautiful, almost untouched nature that South Bohemia has to off er, full of forests as well as harmoniously altered landscapes with numerous fi shponds and rivers. Šumava National Park represents a unique, natural environment, which is justifi ably labelled as the green roof of Europe thanks to its diverse, uninterrupted forestation. The Třeboň region is also extremely valuable. Although its landscape has been cultivated by humans for hundreds of years, resulting in more than 500 man-made fi shponds and canals, very rare, natural wealth has been preserved.

Museums and Galleries Dozens of museums and galleries attract visitors with much more than just exhibitions documenting the history of the region and its various areas of life. All tourists who enjoy art will truly come into their own – including admirers of beautiful photographs, paintings, graphic works, sculptures, and glass art, those interested in folklore traditions, and even motorcycle and automobile enthusiasts.

Seidel Photographic Studio Museum, Český Krumlov Aleš South Bohemian Gallery, Hluboká nad Vltavou Film Armoury, Housův mlýn (Housův Mill) Veterans Museum, Nová Bystřice

Cultural Events Internationally renowned music festivals, theatre and fi lm performances, historical and folklore festivals, exhibitions of world-famous artists, as well as sports events – all of these are to be found in South Bohemia. The region also off ers a variety of gastronomy events, such as beer and fi sh festivals.

Five-petalled Rose Celebrations, Český Krumlov International Music Festival Český Krumlov Audiovisual Festival žije (Vltava lives), České Budějovice

Active Holidays South Bohemia is ideal for anyone who likes spending their leisure time actively. This is a great place for hiking, cycling, and adrenaline sports enthusiasts. Water sports fans can visit Lipno Dam, which is the largest water area in the Czech Republic, and raft ers and boaters will enjoy paddling or sailing down South Bohemia’s rivers. For golfers, there are six picturesque golf courses. Those who like winter sports will not come up short either. Although the Šumava area is particularly attractive for cross-country skiers, it also has something to off er those who prefer downhill skiing.

Hiking and Cycling You can experience the beauty of the South Bohemian landscape in many ways, but hiking will bring you into the closest contact with nature – there are over 5,000 kilometres of marked hiking trails in the region. You can also explore the charming countryside on your bike, as the whole region has a dense network of marked bicycle routes. These routes will take you through the beautiful South Bohemian landscape: among the fi shponds, along the banks of the national Vltava River, and of course past many beautiful, historical landmarks.

Lipno Treetop Walkway

Gastronomy Experience Třeboň carp and other fi sh, well-prepared wild game, traditional kulajda (a creamy soup made with wild mushrooms), zelňáky (a local baked treat best described as savoury sauerkraut crackers), the South Bohemian style potato pancakes known as cmunda, and blueberry dumplings are only a small sample of the established staples of hearty South Bohemian cuisine. The gastronomy experience would not be complete without tasting the world-famous Czech beer that has been brewed here continuously since the 14th century using the same recipe. Several gastronomy events are held throughout the year, the most popular of which is the annual harvest of fi sh from the South Bohemian fi shponds, where visitors can learn about the centuries-old fi shing tradition and have the opportunity to taste a variety of delicacies made from fresh-caught fi sh.

Spas and Relaxation South Bohemia – a spa for your body and soul. Peat and mud baths have been proven to have healing eff ects on the musculoskeletal system, and all of South Bohemia’s spas – which can be found in Třeboň, Bechyně and Vráž (in the Písek District) – focus on this type of treatment. Some hotels in South Bohemia off er a wide range of wellness and relaxation stays, where you can pamper yourself with such things as a chocolate body wrap or a relaxing beer bath.

Published by the Regional offi ce of South Bohemia in co-operation with Tourism Authority of South Bohemia in 2017

Text: The Tourism Authority of South Bohemia in co-operation with tourist areas of the region

Photos: Archive of presented entities and Tourism Authority of South Bohemia

Graphic layout: Čestmír Sukdol Graphic design and typesetting: Daniel Dědek Print: INPRESS a.s. Copies: 5000 First edition Not for sale Print errors reserved

Contact: Tourism Authority of South Bohemia B. Němcové 12/2 370 01 Česke Budějovice [email protected] www.jiznicechy.cz

@visitsouthbohemia

@jiznicechy

ISBN 978-80-87520-45-1