Písek

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Location of Písek in the Czech Republic

Flag of Písek

Old houses in city center

See other locations named Písek.

Písek (IPA: [ˈpi:sɛk]) is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 29,081 (est. January 1, 2005).

1 About
2 History
3 Famous residents
4 External links

[edit] About

Písek is usually called "The Athens of the South" because it has got many high schools and "higher" schools and in addition, the Film Academy of Miroslav Ondříček. Up to the last decades of 19th century Písek was a centre of large autonomous Prácheň Region (also Prácheňský kraj) (today's Prachatice, Písek, Strakonice and part of Příbram, Klatovy, České Budějovice and Jižní Plzeňsko Counties).

This town has its own freeway (under construction) to Prague and it lies on Zdice–Protivín and Tábor–Ražice rail lines. It is superbly connected to central and western Bohemia or the same way as to the southward situated Šumava (historicaly called Böhmerwald or Gabreta in Germanic and Celtic languages)

The climate here is mild (warmer than other parts of southern or western Bohemia) because it is from all sides protected against cold winds. Low precipitations (about 500-550 mm/annum) and with temperatures about 15 to 35 °C in summer season, 10 to 25 °C fall season, -5 to +10 °C in winter season (rare snow) and with 0 to 20 °C temperature in Blue Time season (spring). Predominantly sunny all the year. Písek is surrounded by Písek Mountains (or Gem Mountains). The river which flows across the city has the old Celtic name, Otava.

[edit] History

This South Bohemian town was, up to its serious damage in 1620, one of the biggest towns in Bohemia. It is considered to be of prehistorical origin (about 900 BC, when it was officially built in the 13th century - but in these times one part of this town had been still inhabited by descendants of Celts (today's Saint Wenceslas). The oldest town in the area of modern Písek ("Písek" in fact means "sand") was Hradiště (Oppidum on top of Hradiště hill). Close to this place two graves of Celtic kings can be found. Písek has still his unique atmosphere and has a well-preserved, picturesque medieval centre. A large part of Písek was built in 19th century, so one can still find there many buildings built in classical or neo-styles. In Písek is the oldest bridge (Písek Stone Bridge) in the Czech Republic (and the second oldest in the whole central European region).