Sightseeing in Ceske Budejovice - what to see. Complete travel guide

If you plan to travel to the South Bohemian Region, don’t forget to visit its capital – the city of Ceske Budejovice. This charming settlement is situated at the confluence of the Vltava River and the Malse River. Tourists from different countries of the world find this city incredibly lovely and attractive. Nowadays, Ceske Budejovice is famous for its beer, the likes of which are not available in any other country in the world. The city is home to many varieties of the popular drink such as Budweiser, Crystal, and Samson. Besides that, the region is rich in landmarks that will stay in the hearts of tourists forever.

King Ottokar II of Bohemia founded Ceske Budejovice in 1265. The city was actively developing right from the moment of its foundation thanks to its beneficial location at the crossing of major trading routes. First Catholic churches in the city appeared at the end of the 13th century. A thick wall around the city appeared in Ceske Budejovice approximately at the same time. It was built to protect the settlement from alien invaders. As Ceske Budejovice is located not far from the mountains, iron ore mining was developing actively in the region. The city was even exporting it to other countries in the world. Besides that, the close proximity to two rivers made it easier to develop agriculture.

The 16th century was the period of prosperity for the region. At the end of the 60s in this century, a coin minting manufacture appeared in Ceske Budejovice. The factory used gold and silver mined in the region. In the 18th century, when the city suffered much damage from fire, it was decided to rebuild it. Soon after that, the first gymnasium, theater, and even a philosophy university appeared in Ceske Budejovice. The 20th century brought a horse-driven railroad to the city. This was a unique construction that was not present anywhere else in Europe. The internationally famous Czech breweries appeared approximately at the same time. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The State Chateau of Hluboka over the Vltava River is one of the first landmarks that foreign guests visit in Ceske Budejovice. During its long history, the castle had as many as twenty-seven owners, each of which changed it in accordance with own taste. The result of their collaborative work is truly tremendous – Hluboka Castle is an incredibly majestic and beautiful building with eleven towers, a big number of rooms, greenhouses with glass walls, and an adjacent garden. The latter occupies a territory of 190 hectares and features numerous ponds and rare tree species.

Originally, the castle was a wonderful example of Gothic architecture. Later, it got Renaissance traits, and the last renovations brought Baroque details to the castle. Naturally, there are many interesting legends about Hluboka Castle just like about any large and old castle. During a visit to this wonderful historical landmark, visitors can find out how the Schwarzenberg family’s coat of arms has a Turkish head and a raven and how Pauline Schwarzenberg died during Napoleon’s wedding ceremony.

Would you like to eat in a thrilling place? In this case, don’t forget to visit a small restaurant that is open in the Iron Maiden Tower. The unusual building is situated not far from the waterfront in Ceske Budejovice. The four-story gothic tower was built in the 14th century. According to local legends, the tower served a scary purpose in the past - to torture people using various tormenting devices. One of these devices was a steel box with many sharp blades inside. Victims were placed inside that box. If thoughts about suffers of people who died in great pain do not spoil your appetite, you are welcome to try local gastronomic delights and find out more about legends connected with this “bloody” place.

Naturally, it is impossible to have a vacation in Ceske Budejovice and fail to visit the legendary Budwar brewery. This is the place that started producing one of the most famous beer brands in the world – Budweiser. Beer brewing traditions have always been strong in the region. The first beer in Ceske Budejovice was officially registered in the 13th century when a local citizen got a permit to produce the foamy drink. The Burwar brand appeared in 1785. It appeared in the United States only ninety years later. Nowadays, tourists can join excursions to the original brewery and find out more about the secrets of making the internationally popular drink. That being said, the most pleasant part of the excursion starts close to the end. Every visitor gets an opportunity to try freshly brewed and not yet pasteurized Czech lager beer. People, who have tried this beer at least once, claim that it has a divine taste that is much better than the Budweiser in bottles and cans that is sold everywhere.

The easiest way to get to Ceske Budejovice is by train. The journey from Linz takes two and a half hours, and tourists do not need to make a change. If you choose to travel from Vienna, you need to make a change at České Velenice station and take another train that will bring you to Ceske Budejovice. The road will take approximately four hours in total. The road from Prague will be somewhat shorter – around three hours. If you depart from such stations as Na Knížecí and Roztyly, you will reach Ceske Budejovice in three hours.