Borovany - a village, that was already noted in the year 1186, was at the end of the 13th century the residence of the Vítkovci family and was later owned by the Rožmberks. The next owner, Peter from Linda, established an Augustinian monastery in Borovany with the church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that was built in the Late Gothic style during the years 1455-1466. Its Baroque tower is from the year 1729, in the year 1746 a Baroque chapel with rich fresco decorations was built as an extension on the north side of the church. The representative three-winged building in the Baroque style from the year 1760-1770 was used as the location of the monastery prelacy. After the monastery was disestablished in the year 1785, the owners of Borovany at that time, the Schwarzenbergs, changed it into a castle. At present the two-storeyed building is the dominant characteristic of the square and also of the town of Borovany. Opposite to the castle, on the opposite side of the square, there is a Baroque City Hall from the last third of the 17th century and a granite pillory from the year 1656. In the local park there is a sculptural group of St. Jan of Nepomuk from the period after the year 1730 and a monument to Jan Žižka from Trocnov, that was unveiled in the year 1893.

We recommend you to visit in Borovany

The Former Augustinian Monastery - guided visit includes Virgin Mary Church, exposition of baroque statues, exhibition on the history of the monastery in the cloisters, and the Škapulíř chapel Contact: Informations centre of Borovany, Žižkovo nám. 107, Borovany / www.borovany-cb.cz

The Park of exotic animals - exotic animals in beautiful forest environment. Dvorec u Borovan 17, Mr. Ambrož Open: V. – VIII. Mo - Sun 9.00 – 18.00, IX., X. Mo – Sun 9.00 – 17.00

Open-air Museum of the Iron Curtain - border installation as they looked like under Communism - 1 km to the west on the road to Ostrolovský Újezd, Trocnovská ulice 237, Borovany, Mr. Marek / www.volny.cz/spsb Open: XI. - VI. Mo - Sun 9.00 -17.00, VII.-VIII. Mo - Sun 9.00 - 18.00

Jan Žižka from Trocnov Memorial (Museum of the Hussitism) - The area of the former Trocnov, where the Hussite leader Jan Žižka from Trocnov was born, is one of the most visited places of the Borovany region. There is a small museum of the Hussitism, an instructional trail with archaeological remains of the former farmsteads and Žižka´s monument in the area. Trocnov / www.pamatnikjz.cz Open:     V.-IX. Tue - Sun 9.00 - 17.00

Tourist sights in the environs of Borovany

České Budějovice (17 km northwest from Borovany) - founded by King Přemysl Otakar II. in 1265 on the confluence of the rivers Vltava and Malše, squared central square with historical houses and covered walks, with Baroque Samson fountain, with an extensive Baroque town hall with chimes, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Renaissance Černá věž (Black Tower) - 72 m high and other historical sights. / www.c-budejovice.cz

Český Krumlov (30 km southwest from Borovany) - a castle and settlement beneath it founded on unique terrain on the meanders of the Vltava River valley by the Vítek Family, the Lords of Krumlov, and inherited by the Rožmberk´s Family in 1302. This family was the one of the most powerful in Bohemia and turned Krumlov into the centre of an extraordinarily extensive estate. The unique monument complex was included in the UNESCO world cultural heritage list in 1992. / www.ckrumlov.cz

Dobrá Voda u Horní Stropnice (20 km to the south from Borovany) - one-time favoured pilgrimage and spa site, on the foothills of Kraví hora, picturesque Baroque Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary built by an unknown architect in the years 1708 - 1715, unique Baroque furnished interior from the 18th century, richly carved main altar, under the main stairway a three-part chapel with a spring of healing water. www-horni-stropnice.cz

Doudleby - the village is situated 10 km from České Budějovice to the south on the river Malše, well known for its ethnography.

Kojákovice (8 km to the east from Borovany) – nicely maintained village with farm-houses from the second half of the 19 th century - Peasant museum Contact: Rožmberk o.p.s., Husova 143, Třeboň / www.rozmberk.org Open: IV. - IX. Mo – Wen, Fri - Sun 10.00 - 17.00

Lišov (15 km to the north from Borovany) - traditional manufacture of furniture, Neo-Gothic church from 1862 - 65 on the site of an older Gothic, former hospital from 1677, along the highway to České Budějovice the basic point of the levelling system, so-called Locus perenis. - Schwarzenberg´s hospital and the museum of F. M. Čapek - Třída 5. května 129, Lišov / www.lisov.cz Open: Tue, Thu, Fri 10.30 – 17.00, Wen 10.30 - 18.00, Sat 13.00 - 16.00 - Museum of old musical apparatus - Třída 5. května 315/19, Lišov Open: V. - IX. Mo - Fri 9.00 - 17.00

Nové Hrady (18 km to the south from Borovany) - the natural centre of the Novohradské Mountains, first noted in 1279, a castle originally Gothic from the end of the 13th century, originally Renaissance town hall from the middle of the 16th century in the 18th century rebuilt Baroque, Later Gothic Monastery Church of St. Peter and St. Paul and near it is located a Baroque Monastery of Servites from 1679 - 1685, Neo-Gothic graves of the Counts of the Buquoy family, tympanum above the portal ornamented by a mosaic by Max Švabinský. / www.novehrady.cz - Castle Nové Hrady - Komenského 33, Nové Hrady / www.npu.cz Open: VI. Tue - Sun 9.00 - 17.15, VII.,VIII. Mo - Sun 9.00 - 17.15, IX. Tue - Sun 9 - 16.00 - Monastery of the Divine Mercy / www.klaster.cz

Novohradské hory - by their extensive border forests, units of crystal clear streams, and also favourable climate, these in their own way will certainly be declared to belong among CHKO with the most preserved natural elements. Here is situated an areally extensive primeval forest of fir-beech growth in the central part of the Novohradské Mountains (protected since 1838). / www.tsviny.cz/nhory/nhory.htm

Rudolfov (to the east from České Budějovice) - in the surroundings from the 14th century mining silver ore, its main expansion in the 16th century, Renaissance church of St. Vitus from 1556 - 1583, rebuilt Baroque. / www.mestorudolfov.cz - Museum of mining - Městská knihovna, Adamovská ul. Open: Mo, Thu 13.00 - 18.00, Wen 9.00 - 15.00

Římov (12 km to the west from Borovany) - an extensive pilgrimage complex built during the 17th and 18th by Jesuits from Český Krumlov, Church of the Holy Spirit, Loretan chapel, bell tower, enclosed wall area with gate, in the surroundings of the village is located a chapel of a unique Holy Way with about 25 station.

Slepičí hory - hilly landscape with the oldest settlement in South Bohemia and remains of Celtic culture, the highest peak is Kohout (Cock) - 869 metres above sea level.

Trhové Sviny (8 km to the south from Borovany) - around the middle of the 13th century there arose a settlement with a castle, originally Gothic church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary from the end of the 13th century, rebuilt in the 2nd half of the 15th century, high ringe roof has preserved original wooden peak, along the entire southern side urban houses with preserved arcades, in the middle is the town hall. Baroque pilgrimage Church of the Holy Trinity from 1708 - 1710, surrounded by a six - sided cloister. / www.tsviny.cz - Buškův hamr Iron-mill - Unique technical sight of functional iron-mill and exhibition of blacksmith´s products. Open: V.,IX.,X. Sat – Sun 10.00 - 17.00, VI. - VIII. Tue – Sun 10.00 - 17.00

Třeboň (16 km to the east from Borovany) - the origin of Třeboň dates back to the 12th century. The town lies in the middle of a protected area in the Třeboň region and the Biospherical Reserve declared by UNESCO. Třeboň is well-known for treatment of the locomotor system. / www.itrebon.cz - Castle Třeboň / www.npu.cz Open: IV.,V., IX., X. Tue – Sun 9.00 – 16.00, VI.-VIII. Tue – Sun 9.00 – 17.00 - Schwarzenberk´s tomb / www.npu.cz Open: IV.,V., IX., X. Tue – Sun 9.00 – 16.00, VI.-VIII. Tue – Sun 9.00 – 17.00

Žumberk (12 km to the south from Borovany) – preserved walled village with a church and a fort - Exposition of folk furniture / www.muzeumcb.cz Open: IV., X. Sat, Sun 9.00 -16.30, V. – VI., IX. Tue - Sun 9.00 - 17.00, VII. - VIII. Tue - Sun 9.00 - 17.30

Educational trails

Červené blato (Red Swamp) - in one of the most well-known peath bogs in Třeboňsko, 6 stops, about 4,5 km long. Cycling is not allowed

Cesta kolem Světa (Around the world) - a circular instructive path around the pond Svět (world), It begins at the Hotel Bohemia and ends at the dike of the same named pond, about 12 km long, 18 stops, On the instructive route rest stops have been established with benches, tables and two firepits

Pamětí Novohradska (The memories of Novodradska) begins in front of the Elementary school in Nové Hrady, about 46 km long, 12 stops. Route through the Baroque Cathedral Dobrá Voda and Gothic fortified settlement Žumberk (a bike line)

Pamětí Slepičích hor (The memories of Hen´s mountains) - on the route long 54 km informs on 17 stops about local historical attractions (a bike line)

Rudolfovo město (Rudolf´s town) - created by 2 consecutive, independent routes through the former mining town of Rudolfov and its surroundings. Their beginnings and ends are placed at the end of Town Public transport, it´s possible to travel them also by bicycle

Sokolí hnízdo (Falcon´s Nest) - starts in the small town Nové Hrady,15 stops, about 3 km long, informs about fauna and flora occuring in the given area

Tereziino údolí (Tereza´s valley) - begins at the former access gate from Údolí at Nové Hrady focuses on architectonically and natural attractions, 5 km long, 14 stops

Totalita rozděluje... ( Totalitarianism divides...) - in this open-air museum you can catch an unique glimpse on the state frontier in the years 1918 - 1990, Barbet wire blocks, boundary boards and stones used on the frontier in the years 1953 - 1990

Trhové Sviny - begins in the same named town, 4 km long, 10 stops. Informs about local natural attractions. On the route an original water tool iron mill, so-called Buškův, has also been reconstructed and the Baroque pilgimage church of The Holy Trinity (2 km to the south from Trhové Sviny)