'''?eske Bud?jovice''' (also known as '''Budweis''' in German or English) is in Bohemia, in the Czech Republic. The "other" Budweiser beer (not to be confused with the American variety) has been brewed there for over a hundred years or nearly 800 years depending on how you count.

It is the largest city in South Bohemia, and a convenient base for exploring this historic region of the Czech Republic.

Get in

By bus

From Prague, the bus is the easiest, cheapest, and fastest way (yes, even faster than trains!) of getting there. Buses leave frequently from '''Florenc''', '''Na Knizeci''' and '''Roztyly''' bus stations in Prague and costs 154 Kc (as of June 2007). The trip takes approximately two and a half to three hours.

The bus hub in ?eske Bud?jovice is at the '''Mercury Centrum''', a two-story shopping mall with the bus station on the roof, located just outside the city center. It is 300m down the street from the train station.

For rates and schedules, visit the official transport website [http://www.jizdnirady.cz/JRCis.asp?tt=c&cl=E5].

There is also the Yellow Bus line offered by Student Agency [http://www.studentagency.cz]. It's cheaper, faster, more comfortable.

By train

Trains connect from Prague to the north and from Austria (via Linz or Vienna) to the south. For rates and schedules, visit the official transport website [http://www.jizdnirady.cz/JRCis.asp?tt=c&cl=E5].

See

  • '''P?emysl Otakar II Square''' (Czech: ''Nam?sti P?emysla Otakara II''), the immense square in the middle of the city. Historical landmarks here include St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Black Tower, Samson's Fountain and the distinct yellow-colored Vcela Palace.
  • '''Pivovar Bud?jovicky Budvar''', Karoliny Sv?tle 4, ''+420 387'' 705 341 or ''+420 387'' 705 347, [http://www.budvar.cz/en/web/Navstevnicke-centrum/Prohlidky-pivovaru.html]. 9AM-4PM (''reservations required''). Take a tour of the city's largest brewery and home of "Budweiser" brand beer sold in most of Europe. Call in several days in advance to schedule a tour, or if that's not possible, tours for visitors without reservations take place each day at 2PM. Price of admission is 100 Kc/person, and visitors age 18 or over are also able to visit their beer tasting cellar. Incidentally, this is not the same as the "Budweiser" beer sold in the United States and Canada; due to trademark disputes over the name with US-based Anheuser-Busch, this is sold in the Americas under the "Budvar" or "Czechvar" names.
  • Do

    Buy

  • '''Mercury Centrum''', a two-story shopping mall that shares space with the city's main bus terminal.
  • '''Nam?sti P?emysla Otakara II''', wonder around the large old square and surrounding streets to find many specialized stores (i.e. butcher, produce, tea & spices, fabric, etc.).
  • Eat

  • '''Maly Pivovar''', a really nice little beer hall just off the main town square.
  • Drink

    Knock back a pitcher of '''Budweiser''' beer, as this is, after all, its hometown. See also Pivovar Bud?jovicky Budvar, above. The best choice for this is to visit one of the pubs operated by the brewery itself as there you can find the widest selection of beers including the specials. '''Masne kramy''' and '''Maly pivovar''' are located in the old city center nearby the main square. Pick one of these without doubts, the other choice '''Budvarka''' pub is located within brewery complex further from the city center to the north. '''Samson''' and '''Crystal''' brand beers are also brewed here, at the city's second brewery, the Pivovar Samson.

    Pubs

  • '''Singer''', ?eska 55 - Irish style pub in the old city center. The name is derived from old school Singer sewing machines on the tables inside.
  • '''Modry dve?e''', Biskupska 1 - Trendy styled pub/restaurant with occasional live jazz music.
  • '''Potrefena husa''', ?eska 66 - A branch of another czech brewery Staropramen franchise pubs. Select the place on the roof top terrace during the hot summer days to sip the beer or cocktail while look over the river Malse to Stromovka recreational park.
  • Cafes

    Clubs

  • '''Velbloud''', U T?i lv? 4 - Small alternative music club near city center. The program contains mainly rock, punk & alternative, but it is regularly mixed with other modern styles.
  • Sleep

  • '''Penzion Restaurant Centrum''' is located in the Biskupska Street just next to the square of Ceske Budejovice. This south bohemian metropolis was founded in 1265 by the czech king Premysl Otakar II at the confluence of rovers Vltava a Malse. The square of Premysl Otakar II with its dimensions 133x133 m is one of the largest square in Bohemia, with arcades and range of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque burgher houses. As the other important town monuments there are apart from thers included the originally renaissance Town Hall, the Samson's fountain and 72 m high Black Tower which provides a view of the town and surroundings.
  • Get out

  • '''?esky Krumlov''', a UNESCO World Heritage landmark and an extremely popular tourist destination. Buses to ?esky Krumlov leave every half hour or so from the main bus station at Mercury Centrum and takes about 45 minutes to get there. Don't take the train--it's slower, and more expensive.
  • '''Kle?''' - Highest peak in a nearby mountians of Blansky Les with a tower and space observatory on the top. There is a nice overview of the center of south Bohemia from the tower, in case of good wether and clear sky the peaks of Alps can be seen of the horizon. The observatory provides public tours every day in the week during the summer holidays (July and August), otherwise check the availability. To get there take the train from main station to Holubov village, from where you will see the mountatin. Continue roughly 2 kilometers up to the hill through Krasetin village to reach the parking lot where you can take a cable car or start climbing the hard way (under the cable car) or easier way (on the trail trough the forrest). On the way back visiting the ruins of gothic Divci Kamen castle is a few kilometers short trip in the area bellow the mountain.
  • '''Trebon''' - a picturesque town with a castle, the Regent brewery, lakes and a lovely town square. Takes about three-quarters of an hour on the bus through some lovely scenery.
  • '''Hluboka nad Vltavou''' - nearby village with large 'Windsor-style' castle up on the hill and an old church. Follow the path along the Vlatava River north of the city (about 10 km) and it will bring you right into Hluboka.
  • '''Hola?ovice''' is a small rural village which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List for being the best preserved traditional Central European village. Its square is lined with unique Houses decorated in the 'Folk Baroque' style. There is also a small pond and chapel. Two of the buildings house pubs and there is also a Tourist information office. Buses run hourly from the bus station of Ceske Budejovice taking around 20 minutes. Return buses run approximately 55 minutes after you will be dropped off, which is more than enough time to sample the delights.