CESKE BUDEJOVICE
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Ceské Budejovice (sometimes only Budejovice, sometimes rendered in English as "Ceske Budejovice", also known by the German name of Budweis) is a city in the Czech Republic. With a population of nearly 100,000, it is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region, and is the political and commercial capital of the region.
History
The town was granted its charter as a city in the year 1265. |
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Beer
Ceské Budejovice has long been well known for the fine beer brewed here,
this enjoying a good reputation since the 13th century. For a time the town
was the royal brewery for the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and beer
from Budweis, or "Budweiser Beer", attained fame. Beer brewing remains a
major industry here. The largest brewery is Pivovar Budejovicky Budvar,
which has legal rights to selling beer under the "Budweiser" brand name in
much of Europe; this product is also sold elsewhere under the names "Budvar"
and "Czechvar". The second largest brewery Pivovar Samson also does a fair
amount of export, mostly under the "Samson" and "Crystal" labels.
Geography
The city is in the center of a valley of the Vltava River, where the Vltava
meets the Malse river.
Sights
The old town preserves interesting Medieval and Baroque architecture around
the large town square, including the old town hall with murals and bronze
gargoyles, and the town tower "Cerná vež" ("Black Tower"). In the new town
the Belle Epoque Austro-Hungarian train station is notable.
Transportation
The railroad line connecting Ceske Budejovice to Linz was the oldest on the
European continent, constructed from 1824 to 1832.
Miscellaneous
Ceske Budejovice is home to the University of South Bohemia and an Academy
of Sciences.
Ceske Budejovice was the birthplace of:
Vladimír Remek (born 1948), astronaut
Vaclav Prospal (born 1975), professional ice hockey leftwinger |
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