Attractions and Places To See around okres České Budějovice - Top 20

A real eye-catcher on the market square

With an area of 1.78 hectares, Přemysl Otakar II Square in České Budějovice is the second largest square in the Czech Republic, after the town square in Vysoké Mýto (2.05 hectares). Since January 1, 1991, it has been named after the city founder King Přemysl Otakar II of Bohemia; previously (especially in the 20th century) its name changed frequently. The almost square square with a side length of 133 meters was already laid out when the city was founded in 1265. Around it, eight-meter-wide plots were measured for the construction of burgher houses. Today, there are 48 houses around the square, including the baroque town hall, the Art Nouveau building Puklics House, and the Neo-Renaissance masterpiece Biene Palace.

The three-story Palais Včela (Palace Bee), richly decorated with stucco and sculptures, is an outstanding example of German Neo-Renaissance. Built from 1895 to 1896 according to designs by Peter Paul Brang, the house was commissioned by the German savings and advance association Biene. The sculptural decoration was designed and executed by the local painter, sculptor, and later director of the South Bohemian Museum, Richard Kristinus.

In the 15th century, two Gothic townhouses were combined into one building on the southwest corner of Přemysl Otakar II Square to create a new, representative town hall. Due to structural problems, demolition of the town hall began in 1555 and a new one was built on the same footprint. This one also no longer satisfied the town council in 1727. A new building was decided upon, which the council members commissioned from the architect Anton Erhard Martinelli, who came from Northern Italy. The work lasted from 1727 to 1730. The overall silhouette of the now baroque town hall was changed by three towers. The last significant change to the town hall took place in 1983, when the facade was changed from its former ochre-yellow hue to its current grey-blue during the renovation. Since October 1995, there has been a computer-controlled carillon with sixteen bells in the central tower. It can play up to eighty different melodies.

The foundation stone of the parish church of the royal town of České Budějovice was laid in 1265, shortly after the town was founded. Around 1297, the main altar was consecrated and the church was opened, although it was not yet completed (the main building was probably only finished in the mid-14th century). Originally an early Gothic basilica, the church was almost completely destroyed in the great town fire of 1641. The subsequent restoration gave the church its present-day baroque appearance. St. Nicholas Cathedral is the main church of the Diocese of České Budějovice.

In 1547, the city council of České Budějovice resolved to build the Black Tower (Černá věž), which was intended to serve as a watchtower, bell tower, and not least as a symbol of the city's wealth. The construction of the tower, which today is open to the public up to the gallery on the ninth floor with its fantastic views over the city, lasted from 1549 to 1577. In 1606, the tower was additionally equipped with a clock. The name supposedly comes from the great fire of České Budějovice in 1641, during which the surface of the stone blocks is said to have turned black. In fact, however, the name "Black Tower" for the 71.9-meter-high structure only appeared around 1890. In the 19th century, the last remnants of the painted plaster fell off, and the stone surface turned black, presumably as a result of air pollution from industrialization and coal combustion.

The route from/to Hirschenwies is a beautiful forest section on gravel, slightly uphill to the small border crossing in the middle of the forest.

Well-preserved ruin of a 14th-century castle in a nature reserve on the river, with concerts and theatre in the summer.