Písek - royal town
On the river Otava, at the foot of the Písek Mountains and about 45 km northwest of České Budějovice, we find the picturesque South Bohemian town of Písek. It is the third largest city in southern Bohemia, has a population of almost 30,000 and, thanks to its rich history and cultural significance, is visited by a large number of tourists every year.
Information for visitors
Interesting facts Písek - royal town
History of the town
The beginnings of the history of the town of Písek began to be written around the middle of the 13th century. At that time, a settlement was established on the left bank of the Otava River near the paddy fields of golden sand, and this is where the name of the town comes from. In later times there was a village with a royal court, which in 1254 Přemysl Otakar II. promoted to city. The reason for the founding of Písek was not only in gold mining, but also in the protection of the Golden Trail, which led here, and last but not least in the construction of a base of royal power in the region. A monastery was founded here, a castle, a dean's church and a stone bridge were built, the second oldest in Central Europe and the oldest in the Czech Republic.
In 1308, Písek was already a free royal town and in the middle of the 14th century it was the seat of the Prácheň region. Later, Charles IV also stayed here. and Wenceslas IV. and the city was still in the possession of the crown, although its importance gradually declined. The period of the Hussites and the Thirty Years' War brought severe blows to Písek. It was conquered three times and eventually completely destroyed.
The face of the city began to change in the 19th century, when tenement houses were built in the suburbs, associations and cultural institutions were founded.
Sights and interesting places
The core of the town of Písek is undoubtedly the large square, the western part of which was adjacent to the castle and the eastern part was the market. There is also a Marian column and a Baroque town hall.
Parts of the city fortifications have been preserved to the present day - the Putim Gate, the Baba Tower and a torso of the walls.
Apart from the Písek bridge, the church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, founded at the same time as the town itself, is also an important landmark of the town. The local castle is definitely worth mentioning as a great example of the beginning Gothic architecture in Bohemia, the Prácheň Museum and more.
Author: Andrea Štyndlová