A Town I Love | Summer Walk in Písek – Hidden Czech Beauty | 4K HDR

Summer has fully arrived in the Czech Republic, and today I’m taking you to one of my favourite towns — Písek. Located about 100 km south of Prague, Písek is often overlooked by tourists, but it’s a true hidden gem. With its peaceful atmosphere, charming historical streets, and the country's oldest stone bridge, this town has something magical about it. We’ll stroll along the Otava River, wander through quiet squares, and enjoy the unique vibe of a summer day in southern Bohemia. I genuinely love this place, and I hope that after this walk, you’ll fall in love with it too.

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The history of Písek dates back to the early Middle Ages, roughly to the mid-13th century, when it was founded as a settlement near gold panning sites on the left bank of the Otava River. This is also where its name comes from. Later, it became a market village with a royal court. In 1254, Přemysl Otakar II founded a royal town here. During his reign, Písek grew in size and importance. A castle was built above the ford across the Otava River, a monastery was founded, a deanery church was built, and a stone bridge was constructed across the river. At the end of the 13th century, a mint was established here, which was later moved to Kutná Hora.
From 1308, Písek was a free royal town, and in the mid-14th century, it was elevated to the seat of the Prácheň region. During the reign of Charles IV, a salt warehouse and grain store, the largest in Bohemia at the time, were established in Písek. During the Hussite Wars, the Hussites plundered the Písek monastery and shortly thereafter conquered the town. Písek then became a key centre of the movement. During the Thirty Years' War, in 1619-1620, the city was conquered, and its population massacred by Buquoy's troops. After the town and castle were pledged to the imperial general Huert in 1623, Písek fell back to the royal chamber. As early as 1641, it was elevated to the status of a royal town again, and in the 18th century, the city once more became the centre of the Prácheň region. It was particularly famous for its education system. In 1860, a secondary school was established here, followed by a mining school in 1884 and a higher forestry school in 1899. For centuries, the town of Písek was the owner of the largest municipal estate in Bohemia, particularly in the forests.
The early Gothic stone bridge, built at the end of the 13th century, spans the Otava River and is the second stone bridge in Bohemia after the destroyed Judith Bridge in Prague, as well as one of the oldest preserved bridges in Europe.
The town is dominated by the Deanery Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which was founded at the same time as the city, situated on the highest point in the town centre. At that time, a monastery with the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was also founded in the southwestern corner of the Great Square. The monastery was abolished in 1787. The original church was destroyed during the Hussite Wars, restored and modified in 1636 and 1716. A prismatic tower from 1641 adjoins the single-nave church.
Near the Otava River, not far from the centre, there is an old power plant in the former Podskalský Mill. It was built by František Křižík in 1888 and was the first power plant in Bohemia designed for public lighting. Today, the power plant is operational again and features a museum.
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The 31st of May 2025
Czech Republic