Easy hikes and walks in Přírodní Rezervace Vrbenské Rybníky

A real eye-catcher on the market square

You can stroll wonderfully along the old town wall on the banks of the Malše (Maltsch).

At the confluence of the Malše and the Vltava lies the four-star hotel "Budweis". There are 59 double rooms and one suite available for overnight stays. In the 14th century, the city's first mill stood at this location. Its successor building from 1872, the new mill (Přední mlýn), became the basis of today's hotel. During the socialist era, the mill, which closed in 1926, had served as a warehouse for household goods. The conversion into the "Budweis" hotel took place in 2009.

Practical use and adornment of the square: The fountain, the construction of which was decided by the city council in 1716, should fulfill both functions. On the one hand, it should supply households, craft businesses, and hospitality establishments with water, and on the other hand, it should impress visually through exquisite stonework (by Zachariáš Horn) and sculptural decorations (by Josef Dietrich). Between 1721 and 1727, the fountain was built, its water pumped from the Vltava. The sculpture, depicting the biblical Samson taming a lion, is considered a landmark of České Budějovice. Samson looks north towards Prague.

The Church of the Presentation of Mary on Piaristenplatz is – together with the former Dominican monastery to which it belonged – the oldest building in České Budějovice. The foundation stone was laid in 1265, the year the city was founded. The Gothic church is considered the city's most valuable historical and artistic monument and one of the most important monuments in South Bohemia. The oldest part of the church, the presbytery, was completed in 1274, while the basic structure was not finished until around 1300. Later, the three-nave church was extended and partially rebuilt, especially in the 14th, 17th, and 19th centuries. The church's exterior facade has, despite numerous renovations of the church, monastery buildings, and cloister, retained its early Gothic appearance. The early Gothic elements have also been largely preserved inside, interrupted only by smaller Baroque additions in the western part.

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.

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 Church of Our Lady before Týn is one of Prague's most distinctive landmarks and, with its two unequal towers, immediately shapes the image of the Old Town Square. Even from the outside, it appears monumental and mysterious, almost a little awe-inspiring – a structure that radiates history without being intrusive. Inside, the church surprises with a calm, solemn atmosphere that forms a clear contrast to the lively hustle and bustle outside. High vaults, baroque altars, and subdued light create a space that invites contemplation. It is particularly impressive how the long history of the place is reflected in the details, without the overall impression seeming heavy or oppressive. The Church of Our Lady before Týn is not a place for rushing. It unfolds its effect best when you take your time, let your gaze wander, and allow the special atmosphere to sink in. As a cultural and historical highlight, it is one of the churches that give Prague its unmistakable character – impressive, dignified, and leaving a lasting memory.