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Town in the Czech Republic
Photo: Rindi, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Jindřichův Hradec is a historic town in South Bohemia region. It has about 23,000 inhabitants. It is known for its big castle (one of the biggest in Czechia), old town center, large mechanical nativity scene and as a gateway to scenic Česká Kanada micro-region.
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A large and nice castle, build half in Gothic style and half as a Renaissance chateau. Surrounded by water and gardens. Offers numerous guided tours of the interior, with varying price. If you want to have a guided tour in English, you have to let them know in advance. It is not possible to get inside the castle without a guide (as with most Czech castles and chateaux). Closed during winter months.
Náměstí Míru
The town's main square features historical living buildings build in Renaissance style. There is a huge Holy Trinity column in the center of the square, which was built to protect the town against Black Death.
Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie
A large catholic church from 14th century. You can get inside everyday for free. You can also climb the 68 m tall church tower for 20 Kč (closed during winter months).
Muzeum Jindřichohradecka
A large museum in a former monastery, featuring exposition of Gothic sculptures, art gallery, nativity scenes and historical pharmacy. Even if you are not interested in museums, it is worth just to visit it because of Krýza crèche mentioned below.
Krýzovy jesličky
Probably the most interesting thing in the whole city. A huge mechanical crèche (nativity scene), biggest in the world. It was built by a single man, a local burgher in 19th century, and it took him a whole life to build it. Part of the museum exposition.
Take a ride on historical steam train. Using the narrow gauge railway, it runs every week in the summer. You can find the time table and buy tickets on their website. The trains usually use the southern branch of the railway running to Nová Bystřice, but some run to Kamenice nad Lipou as well. Their steam locomotive is 120 years old, but even the diesel engines they use on a daily basis are 70 years old.
With a bike, you will have enough range to go to many more places. The highlight is definitely the well-known romantic chateau on an island Červená Lhota, which is about 20 km on a good road. Also Třeboň are with huge ponds suitable for swimming is near. Česká Kanada region with center in Nová Bystřice, featuring a castle ruin Landštejn and WWII fortresses is also interesting. You can easily spend a week or two in the regions, discovering new thing every day just from your bike seat.
Městská plovárna
You can rent a boat to paddle on the Vajgar pond, from which you can see the castle.
Also a guesthouse. Italian and Czech cuisine
Popular Indian restaurant
Fancier restaurant serving grilled meat. They also run a small hostel
Part of Kozlovna restaurants chain. They serve Czech food and Kozel beer
Main bar in the town. They have two bowling lanes.
Company shop of a large distillery famous across Czechia. This as a petrol station located next to the distillery, and they sell all distillery products here, of whom most famous is "Tuzemák", Czech domestic rum and "Zelená" (menthol liqueur). Even though not everyone likes Czech domestic rum (actually made from potatoes), this place is known is the only petrol station in the world, where you can tank rum.
There are two large supermarkets at this place - Kaufland and Albert, with some smaller shops. You can resupply here.
By train
There are three railways going through or to here. First one is a mainline between České Budějovice and Jihlava.
By bus
There are a few direct buses everyday except Saturday from Prague (bus station Florenc in the center of the city) to Jindřichův Hradec.
By bicycle
If you are biking in different town of South Bohemia region, you can take the bike on train, but you can also just bike here.
By car
You can get here from Prague by car pretty quick (136 km), as the road is mostly highway and high quality, newly build two lanes road.
All the interesting sights in Jindřichův Hradec are in the center, and the center is easily walkable. Only the railway station is a bit further (1,300 m to the main square), but it is still easy to walk.
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České Budějovice · International · JCL
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