Písek, South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic

🇨🇿 Písek is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone. Písek is a centre of education with a number of important schools. Up to the last decades of 19th century, Písek was the centre of the large autonomous Prácheňsko region.

Administrative parts Písek is made up of five town parts and four villages: • Budějovické Předměstí • Hradiště • Pražské Předměstí • Václavské Předměstí • Vnitřní Město • Nový Dvůr • Purkratice • Semice • Smrkovice

Etymology The name of Písek literally means "sand". It refers to the sand of the Otava River, which was panned for gold by the first settlers.

Geography Písek is located about 42 km (26 mi) north-west of České Budějovice and 80 km (50 mi) south of Prague. Most of the municipal territory lies in the Tábor Uplands, but the southern part lies in the České Budějovice Basin. There are several steep streets and some suburbs lie more than 70–90 metres above the town centre. The eastern part of the territory, known as the Písecké hory Nature Park, is covered by deciduous woodlands mixed with high number of various coniferous trees. The highest point of Písek and of the nature park is Velký Mehelník with an altitude of 633 metres (2,077 ft). The lowest point is located on the surface of the Otava at 350 m (1,150 ft).

The town is situated on both banks of the river Otava. In the municipal territory there are several brooks with many fish ponds. The largest of the ponds are Prostřední Putim and Stará Putim.

History The predecessor of the town was a settlement of the area where gold was panned, which later became a market village with the royal court. In 1254, King Ottokar II founded here a royal town. During his reign, the town grew and its importance increased. A castle was built above the ford across the Otava river,a monastery was founded, and Písek Stone Bridge was built. Also, at the end of the 13th century, the mint was founded, later moved to Kutná Hora.

From 1308, Písek was a free imperial town, and in the 14th century, Písek became the administrative centre of Prácheňsko region. Under the rule of Charles IV, the salt and grain warehouses were founded, and were the largest in Bohemia. For centuries, the town of Písek was the holder of the largest urban estate in Bohemia, especially forests.

During the Hussite Wars, Písek was conquered by the Hussites and the monastery was razed. During the Thirty Years' War in 1619–1620, the town was conquered and most of its inhabitants killed by the army of Charles de Longueval, Count of Bucquoy. In 1623, Písek was acquired by the royal chamber again, and in 1641, it was once again promoted to a royal town. In the 18th century, it became the centre of Prácheňsko again.

In the 19th century, Písek became the centre of education because several schools of higher education were established here.

Economy There is the Industrial Zone Sever in Pražské Předměstí part of Písek. The largest industrial employers in Písek are S.N.O.P. CZ, Aisin Europe Manufacturing Czech, and Faurecia Components Písek, all three engaged in the production of automotive parts. Other large town's employer is the Písek Hospital.

Transport Písek is connected by the D4 motorway to Prague and by the I/20 and I/29 roads. The I/20 travels north-west to Plzeň and south-east to České Budějovice, while the I/29 travels east to Tábor.

Písek railway station lies on the Zdice–Protivín and Tábor–Ražice rail lines.

Education Písek is colloquially called "South Bohemian Athens", because it has many high schools and schools of higher education, including the Film School in Písek.

Culture Since 2007, there has been a tradition of creating and exhibiting giant sand sculptures on the waterfront of the Otava River in the summer. Each year a different theme is chosen for the sculptures.

Sights Písek has a well-preserved, medieval centre formed by larger Velké Square and small Alešovo Square with number of narrow alleys. The most valuable monument is Písek Stone Bridge, a national cultural monument. It was the second stone bridge in Bohemia and it is the oldest preserved bridge in country. It is also one of the oldest preserved bridges in whole Europe.

Sacral buildings There are six churches in Písek, four of them in the town centre. One of the town's main landmarks is the Deanery Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary from the mid-13th century, old as the town itself. The church tower is open to the public and serves as a lookout tower.

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is located on the central square commemorates the former Dominican Monastery destroyed by Hussites in 1419.

The Church of Saint Wenceslaus is located in Václavské Předměstí part of Písek. Existence of a sacral building in the area is documented already in around 1200, Church of Saint Wenceslaus was first mentioned in 1378. The original church was demolished in the mid-16th century and a new Gothic-Renaissance church was built on its foundations. In 1695–1697, it was rebuilt into the Baroque style. Today it is known for the unique fresco of Jan Hus being burned in Konstanz from around 1550, the oldest painting of his burning in the world.

Castle and town walls The Písek Castle is a partly preserved Gothic castle, rebuilt into the town hall and a brewery. It also houses the Prácheňsko Museum, part of its exhibition is a preserved Gothic hall from the 13th century.

There are several preserved remains of the town fortifications in Písek, including two castle bastions and fragments of the town walls.