Vodňany | |
|---|---|
 Svobody Square with the church and Baroque fountain | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Vodňany Location in the Czech Republic | |
| Coordinates:49°8′52″N14°10′32″E / 49.14778°N 14.17556°E /49.14778; 14.17556 | |
| Country |  Czech Republic |
| Region | South Bohemian |
| District | Strakonice |
| First mentioned | 1336 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Martin Machač |
| Area | |
• Total | 36.34 km2 (14.03 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 398 m (1,306 ft) |
| Population (2024-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 7,483 |
| • Density | 210/km2 (530/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 389 01 |
| Website | www |
Vodňany (Czech pronunciation:[ˈvodɲanɪ]ⓘ;German:Wodnian) is a town inStrakonice District in theSouth Bohemian Region of theCzech Republic. It has about 7,500 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as anurban monument zone and the village of Křtětice within Vodňany is protected as avillage monument zone.
Vodňany consists of nine municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):[2]
Vodňany is located about 23 kilometres (14 mi) southeast ofStrakonice and 28 km (17 mi) northwest ofČeské Budějovice. It lies mostly in theČeské Budějovice Basin. A small western part of the municipal territory extends into theBohemian Forest Foothills and includes the highest point of Vodňany, the hill Svobodná hora at 640 m (2,100 ft) above sea level.
The town is situated on the right bank of theBlanice River. The territory of Vodňany is rich in fishponds.
Vodňany was originally a Slavic settlement, gradually transformed into a market town. Its typical colonization ground plan with a regular network of streets and a large regular square testifies to its origin during the reign of KingOttokar II. The first written mention of Vodňany is from 1336, when it was promoted to a town by KingJohn of Bohemia. In 1400, Vodňany was referred to as a royal town.[3]
For centuries, the town profited from the old trade route and the collection of customs duties. Originally, the mining of precious metals was also planned, but it was never fully developed, and the town's orientation towards pond farming became much more profitable. Since the second half of the 15th century, the town established ponds, which are still a characteristic feature of the landscape.[3]
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| Source: Censuses[4][5] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The largest employer in the town and the region, and the largest processor ofpoultry meat and the only processor of duck meat in the Czech Republic, is Vodňanská drůbež company, part of theAgrofert holding.[6]
The pond farming tradition continues to this day. Acommon carp bred in this town called "Omega3kapr" is healthier thanks to special feed and breeding conditions and is a registered trademark.[7]
The I/20 road (part of theEuropean route E49) fromČeské Budějovice toPlzeň andKarlovy Vary passes through the municipal territory. The I/22 road splits from it and connects Vodňany withStrakonice.
Vodňany is located on the railway line fromČíčenice toStožec-Nové Údolí.
In 1920, the Secondary Fishing School was founded in Vodňany, and exists to this day. In 1996, a vocational school was founded by the secondary school, and since then the school's name is Secondary Fishing School and Higher Vocational School of Water Management and Ecology Vodňany.[8]
In 1953, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology was founded in the town. In 2009, the institute became a part of Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters ofUniversity of South Bohemia in České Budějovice.[3]
The most valuable building of Vodňany and the main landmark of the town square is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Existence of the church was mentioned already in 1317. In 1894–1897, it was rebuilt into its current neo-Gothic form. The second church in the town is Church of Saint John the Baptist.[3]
There are still remains of the town fortifications from the first half of the 15th century, represented by town walls with square bastions.[3]
In the former synagogue there is a museum with exhibitions of the history of the town fishing in the town.[9]
Vodňany istwinned with:[10][11]
Kisbér, Hungary
Oravský Podzámok, Slovakia
Sieraków, Poland
Wartberg ob der Aist, AustriaZlaté Hory, Czech Republic
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