Towns

Jindřichův Hradec, a town with a rich history, is located between the Třeboň basin, Křemešnická vrchovina and Czech Canada. It was founded on a former trade route between Prague and Vienna, close to the Austrian border. According to a deed issued by a knight commander, Jindřichův Hradec has been a town since 1293. Its current population is about 23,000. Since 1994, it has been a university town with the Faculty of Management (part of the University of Economics in Prague) being based there.

Practical tips:

Information center Jindřichův Hradec

Panská 136/I, 377 01 Jindřichův Hradec

+420 384 363 546, www.jh.cz , info@jh.cz

VII.-VIII. po–pá  8.00–17.00, so 9.00–18.00, ne 8.00–17.00 hod.

Recommended:

The State Castle and Chateau in Jindřichův Hradec    (National monument)

First mentioned in the early 13^th century, this is the largest complex of listed buildings in Bohemia.

The Museum of Jindřichův Hradec

The museum was founded in 1882 and since 1927, it has been located in a Renaissance building that used to house a Jesuit seminary on Balbínovo náměstí.

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary / The Town Tower and the 15^th meridian

The Town Tower (68.3 m) attached to the provostal Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is of Gothic origin. Not far from the tower is the meridian 15° east, which means that Jindřichův Hradec is located in the Central European Time (CET) zone.

The National Museum of Photography

The National Museum of Photography was founded in 2002 and is located in a renovated Renaissance Jesuit College that was originally built between 1595 and1605 by Martin Vlach and Antonio de Sala.

Langer’s House and the Inspirace Gallery

Langer’s House, one of the most precious examples of town architecture in the Czech Republic, was the oldest trading place in south Bohemia.

Do not miss:

Over the hill to Hradec or the Jindřichův Hradec Pedal (May, June – September, October)

The beginning and end of the cycling season

The Day of the Town (June)

The town’s festivities are accompanied by awards for the best primary and secondary school students in the fields of arts, science and sports and commemorate the foundation of Jindřichův Hradec.

The final concert of the Concertino Praga South Bohemia Festival (June)

This international radio competition for young musicians is organized by Czech Radio.

The Jindřichův Hradec Theater (early July)

Theater performances at the castle court by the J. K. Tyl Theater in Pilsen and Divadelní společnosti Jablonský ensembles present both Czech and international classic writers.

Folk Rose (mid-July)

A folk festival held at the castle court by Folk & Country magazine.

Petr Přibyl’s Magic Violet (July – August)

This mini-festival of classic music organized by leading Czech violist and composer Petr Přibyl, who was born in Jindřichův Hradec, features famous solo performers and smaller ensembles.

A night tour of the Jindřichův Hradec Castle and Chateau with the White Lady apparition (late July – early September)

A mysterious theater romance for children and adults – a night tour will take you through dark courtyards, the scullery and the castle roundel. You will learn the story of the castle well and if you behave, you might also see the White Lady.

Steam train trips (July – August)

The Jindřichův Hradec Local Railways (a narrow gauge railway) were the first private rail transport operator in the Czech Republic.

The traditional Jindřichův Hradec “Porcinkule” fair (the first Sunday in August)

Porcinkule is a fair that brings natives from both near and far to the town and always strives to prepare something a little extra for them and other visitors.

The Jindřichův Hradec Opera (late August)

Opera performances are held at the castle courtyard, played by the orchestra and the ensemble of the National Theater in Prague.

The Town for Children (late August)

This is a joyful farewell to summer vacation when the municipal park offers theater performances, contests and other events.

The Chalupa Cup (between September and October)

The best Czech rowers led by Václav Chalupa meet in Jindřichův Hradec to close the racing season with a rowing exhibition on an unconventionally short track on Lake Vajgar.

Advent at the Jindřichův Hradec Castle (December)

During this event, you can see work in the castle scullery, live animals, a traditional craftsmen fair with sweet and savory specialties for sale and an exhibition.

Make sure to visit other historic towns :

Tábor

Tábor is typically associated with the Hussites and medieval fortifications. You can visit the Hussite Museum, underground corridors, the Bechyně Gate, a Baroque church in Klokoty, the Tábor treasure exposition and Jordan Reservoir, the Lužnice River and a botanical garden.

Infocentrum TÁBOR

Žižkovo nám. 2, 390 01  Tábor

+420 381 486 230-4, fax: +420 381 486 239, www,tabor.cz, infocentrum@mutabor.cz

The Hussite Museum in Tábor

The Hussite Museum exposition is located in a late Gothic building of Tábor’s town hall. Exhibition halls will guide you through the origin of Hussitism, introduce Master Jan Hus, the foundation of Tábor (which means “camp” in Czech), the undefeated commander Jan Žižka from Trocnov and many others.

The Kotnov Tower (National monument)

The dominating feature of the oldest preserved architectonic monument in Tábor is the Kotov Tower, named after the legendary founder of the local castle.

Soběslav

The town of Soběslav lies on the confluence of the Lužnice River and the Černovický potok amidst the scenic south Bohemia landscape. For 300 years, the town was associated with the Rožmberk family. Soběslav is an attractive place with numerous cultural monuments and is the natural center of the area. Bike routes invite you to take family trips to picturesque villages featuring rustic Baroque architecture, beautiful nature, vast forests, lakes, peat-bogs and many cultural and natural places of interest.

Information center

nám. Republiky 1/1, 39201 Soběslav

+420 381 508 105, www.musobeslav.cz , info@sjsk.cz

Smrček’s House

It is the only preserved Renaissance house in Soběslav. Today it houses a folklore museum.

The Cemetery Church of St Marcus – It was founded in 1650 by Soběslav Mayor Zachariáš Marek Markovský. Today it houses the St Marcus Gallery.

Pelhřimov

Modern-era Pelhřimov has been known mainly as the town of records. You can visit the Museum of Records and Curiosities, the Gold Czech Hands exhibition, the Museum of Ghosts, Síň Lipských and the First Czech MUSES-um and the Vysočina Museum. A trail will guide you through different architecture styles of the urban monument zone and if you climb up the tower of the Church of St Bartholomew, you will see all of Pelhřimov’s sights from a bird’s-eye perspective. There are also two galleries, Galerie M and the exhibition hall of the Church of St Vitus.

Tourist information center

Masarykovo nám. 10, 393 01, Pelhřimov

+420 565 326 924, www.pelhrimovsko.cz, ic@kzpe.cz

The Lords of Říčany Chateau

The chateau is a one-wing building. The oldest part is the Gothic fortification bastion that was incorporated into the Renaissance chateau after a fire in 1561. Today, the chateau houses the Vysočina Museum exposition.

The Church of St Vitus

This is the oldest church in Pelhřimov. Originally a parish church, it was founded in the second half of the 13^th century and built in the Gothic style.