Vodňany

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Vodňany
Town
Svobody Square with the church and Baroque fountain
Svobody Square with the church and Baroque fountain
Flag of Vodňany
Flag
Coat of arms of Vodňany
Coat of arms
Vodňany is located in Czech Republic
Vodňany
Vodňany
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 49°8′52″N 14°10′32″E / 49.14778°N 14.17556°E / 49.14778; 14.17556Coordinates: 49°8′52″N 14°10′32″E / 49.14778°N 14.17556°E / 49.14778; 14.17556
Country Czech Republic
RegionSouth Bohemian
DistrictStrakonice
First mentioned1336
Government
 • MayorMilan Němeček
Area
 • Total36.34 km2 (14.03 sq mi)
Elevation
398 m (1,306 ft)
Population
 (2021-01-01)[1]
 • Total6,995
 • Density190/km2 (500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
389 01
Websitewww.vodnany.eu

Vodňany (Czech pronunciation: [ˈvodɲanɪ]; German: Wodnian) is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 7,000 inhabitants. The town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone, Vodňany's administrative part of Křtětice is protected as an village monument zone.

Administrative parts[]

Vodňany are made up of town parts of Vodňany I and Vodňany II and villages of Čavyně, Hvožďany, Křtětice, Pražák, Radčice, Újezd and Vodňanské Svobodné Hory.

History[]

Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary

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 King Ottokar II of Bohemia. The first written mention of Vodňany is from 1336, when it was promoted to a town by King John of Bohemia. In 1400, Vodňany is referred to as a royal town.[2]

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.[2]

Economy[]

The largest employer in the town and the region, and the largest processor of poultry meat and the only processor of duck meat in the Czech Republic, is Vodňanská drůbež, a.s. company, part of the Agrofert holding.[3]

The pond farming tradition continues to this day. A common carp bred in this town called "Omega3kapr" is healthier thanks to special feed and breeding conditions and is a registered trademark.[4]

Education and science[]

Secondary Fishing School and one of the ponds

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.[5]

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 of University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice.[2]

Sights[]

Church of Saint John the Baptist

The most valuable bulding 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.[2]

There are still remains of the town fortifications from the first half of the 15th century, represented by town walls with square bastions.[2]

In the former synagogue there is a museum with an exhibition of the history of the town.

Notable people[]

Twin towns – sister cities[]

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic

Vodňany is twinned with:[6]

References[]

  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2021". Czech Statistical Office. 2021-04-30.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Historie" (in Czech). Město Vodňany. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  3. ^ "About us". Vodňanská drůbež, a.s. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  4. ^ "Rybáři ve Vodňanech vyšlechtili nový druh kapra, zdravější rybu" (in Czech). Seznam Zpr��vy. 2016-12-23. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  5. ^ "Historie a současnost školy" (in Czech). Střední rybářská škola a Vyšší odborná škola vodního hospodářství a ekologie Vodňany. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  6. ^ "Partnerská města" (in Czech). Město Vodňany. Retrieved 2021-08-22.

External links[]

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