Prachatice
INFORMATION
- sights ,nature, history, the present, culture, galleries and museums
- possibilities of tourist trips and hiking in Prachatice district, in the Bohemian Forest Mountains – on foot, by bike, with transport
- wandering along the Golden Path from Prachatice across the border to Germany (Wandering Without Luggage)
- holiday, sport and cultural activities in summer as well as in winter
- educational and staying programmes for individuals and groups
- educational competition for children and teenagers – project Children in the Town
- coach and railway connection in the whole Czech Republic and Europe
- we are travelling.... although we`re handicapped in the Bohemian Forest and Southern Bohemia
NEGOTIATION
- accommodation – hotels, boarding houses, private houses, hostels, motor camps,camping sides
- meals - in Prachatice and its surroundings – South Bohemian,European Indian,Chinese cuisine
- tickets - to cultural and social actions, theatres, concerts, feasts
- observatin flights over the town and its surroundings (1 to 12 persons)
GUIDES
- history and the present of the town and the National Park Bohemian Forest (Sumava – NPS) in Czech, German and English
- the Old Town Hall in Prachatice – historical cellars, a Town Hall hall, arcades, Rennaissance front
- from November to the opening of the season in June – visits to the Cultural Centre of Herbert Hajek in Prachatice
SALE
- tourists booklets, publications and other advertising materials about Prachatice, Bohemian Forest, Southern Bohemia, the Czech Republic
- tourist maps, souvenirs, postcards, video cassettes, tourist stamps
- advertising materials of the Fairy Tale Office within the framework of the project Southern Bohemia Of Fairy Tales
- excursion cards for adults ( with the reduction of the tickets during the sighseeing)
History
The town of Prachatice has its origins in the 11th century, following the beginning of trade on the "Golden Path" (an important salt trade route beginning in Passau, Bavaria). The property on which the town now stands was initially part of the domain of Vyšehrad and first came to prominence when the domain's provost purchased the right to impose a toll on traffic on the Golden Path. The settlement later grew in importance when, in the 13th century, when it was granted the right to store the salt that was traded on the Golden Path. This privilege made Prachatice the only town in Southern Bohemia that could buy the salt that was sent out of Passau.
During the Hussite Wars of the 15th century, Prachatice was attacked twice and eventually conquered by the Hussites who massacred most of the population of the town. After the end of the brutal conflict, in 1436, Prachatice was granted the status of royal town. Only one year later the town would be offered as collateral to Jan Smil by King Zikmund, but would fall under the control of the House of Rožmberk for a short period following Smil's execution in 1439. Oldřich of Rožmberk would sell the town almost immediately after the execution but it would again become property of the family in 1501.
The Rožmberks would control Prachatice through its most prosperous period until 1601 when Petr Vok, the last member of the family, sold the town to Emperor Rudolf II who would again make it a royal town. It would remain firmly under Imperial control until the Rebellion of the Estates during which it would side with the rebels. However, in 1620 the town was reconquered by the Imperial commander Karel Buquoy who ordered many of its citizens to be slaughtered and a large ransom to be paid to the emperor.
After the Battle of White Mountain the town would lose its status and privileges and become property of the Eggenberg family, though the emperor's troops would remain in the city throughout the remainder of the Thirty Years' War. Later on in the war the city would be conquered by the Swedish army and another large ransom would be demanded.
The town would change hands again in 1719, following the death of Princess Marie Arnoštka of Eggenberg, this time coming under the control of the affluent Schwarzenberg family.