SOUTHERN BOHEMIACzechInvest Information Series No. 16
Serial No.: REG/02/94-16
Date of Issue: February 10, 1994
SOUTHERN BOHEMIAArea: 11,345 square kilometres
Population: 701,793*
Economically Active Population: 358,352, or 51.4% of the population (166,354 were women)*
Population Density: 62 inhabitants per square kilometre
Ethnic Diversity: 95.6% Czech; 2.3% Slovak; 1.1% Moravian; 1.0% Other (in descending order: Silesian, Romany, German, Hungarian, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, Ruthenian)*
Largest City: Ceske Budejovice (population=101,000*)
*From the 1991 Census
Although Southern Bohemia is the second largest Czech region in terms of size, it has the country's lowest population density and is primarily an agricultural region. Agricultural production focuses on wheat, barley, and rye. The region also specialises in live-stock production, including cattle, pig, sheep, and poultry.
The region's main industrial centres are Ceske Budejovice, Strakonice, Tabor, Pisek, Jindrichuv Hradec, Milevsko, Pelhrimov, Prachatice, Cesky Krumlov, Trebon, and Sobeslav. Industrial production focuses on: engineering (agricultural machines and machine tools, motorcycles, air-conditioning technology, and food industry equipment); electrical engineering; the textile and garment industries; wood-processing; the production of furniture, building materials, ceramics, glass, chemicals, and paper; and the brewing industry.
Southern Bohemia can be divided into five different socio-economic areas:
1. The Ceske Budejovice area is one of the region's most industrially advanced. Its largest city, Ceske Budejovice, is the centre of the world-famous KOH-I-NOOR Works (producer of writing materials) as well as several breweries, one of which produces the popular Budvar (Budweiser) beer. On the northern outskirts of the Ceske Budejovice area is the Temelin nuclear power plant which, once fully upgraded to Western standards, will provide 40% of the country's energy supply.
2. The core of the Tabor area is the historical town of Tabor. Other major towns include Sezimovo Usti, Plana nad Luznici, and Sobeslav.
3. The Strakonice-Pisek area includes Strakonice, an industrial centre best known for motorcycle production, and Pisek, a historical town which also has several industrial plants (the most famous of which is the Jitex textile knitting company).
4,5. Both the southern Posumavi and the Czech and Moravian Highlands areas are noted mostly for their scenic attractions.
Southern Bohemia borders Austria and is only 40 kilometres from Germany. The region's main road, E14, part of the European transportation system, leads directly from its border with Austria (direction Linz, Salzburg) through Ceske Budejovice to Prague. Southern Bohemia has a dense railroad network, and is the cross-roads of international railway lines Linz-Prague-Vienna-Cheb. Ceske Budejovice is the region's most important railroad junction.
Southern Bohemia has on average more architectural monuments than any other region in Bohemia, boasting more than 90 manors as well as numerous castles and castle ruins. The Hluboka nad Vltavou castle, north of Ceske Budejovice, is one of the country's most touristed monuments. In the town of Cesky Krumlov, located in the Posumavi area, 82% of the houses are protected as historical cultural monuments (the highest percentage of any Czech town). Cesky Krumlov has been placed second -- after Venice, Italy -- on UNESCO's list of historical towns and is one of the most visited towns in Southern Bohemia.
The region is also well-equipped for recreational sports. In Sumava (the Bohemian Forest), the period of snowfall lasts an average of 220 days every year, offering excellent conditions for skiers. Swimming and fishing are also easily accessible in Southern Bohemia's 7,665 lakes and ponds, which cover almost 3% of the region.
NOTE: This information is current as of February 1994. Although we have made every effort to ensure the reliability of our sources, CzechInvest does not assume responsibility for its accuracy.