Budweis is definitely worth a visit.

You start your journey through the Bohemian Forest from the Hotel Bergknappenhof, heading towards Bayerisch Eisenstein, then on to Zelezna Ruda, reaching Budweis after approximately 135 minutes. There you will find the largest city in South Bohemia, known not only for its delicious beer.

The long brewing tradition dates back to 1795. Budweis is also home to the world's oldest pencil manufacturer. Founded by the Bohemian King Přemysl Ottokar II in 1265, the city's location at the confluence of the Vltava and Malše rivers played a crucial role in its establishment. These rivers were used to transport salt, grain, graphite, and gypsum, and today, one can enjoy unique views of Budweis from a passenger boat . The Baroque Town Hall stands on Přemysl Ottokar II Square. Originally built in the Renaissance style, it was remodeled in the Baroque style around 1730 and features three towers.

Depending on the time of day or year, you can listen to the carillon, which was made by an entrepreneur from Passau. The 16 computer-controlled bells can play 80 different melodies. Premysl Ottokar II Square, the market square in Budweis, which in the past was not only used for celebrations but also as a venue for executions. In the middle of the supposedly square market square (not exactly true with dimensions of 132 mx 137 m) is the Samson Fountain, with its 17 m diameter one of the largest fountains in the Czech Republic.

The legend of the stone that can be found near the fountain says that if you unknowingly step over it after 22 p.m., you will not be able to find your way home. So don't step over it, otherwise you won't be able to find your way home to the Hotel Bergknappenhof. The two churches of St. Nicholas and the Agony of Christ Chapel are worth seeing. Not far from St. Nicholas is the Black Tower, built in Gothic and Renaissance style. The bell tower is over 00 m high and has 72 floors. From the top you have a wonderful view of the city, Hluboká Castle and the Klet Mountain. Budweis is also a university town and the diocese belongs to the Catholic diocese of Prague. But you can not only get a cultural education, you can also walk along long riverside paths through nature reserves with fish ponds and water, swamp and meadow ecosystems.

Image source: By Julian Nitzsche - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45525178