Budweis

Budweis is the German name for the Czech city of České Budějovice, located in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Vltava River and serves as the regional capital and district seat. The city has a long brewing heritage and a well-preserved historic core, with architecture spanning Gothic to Baroque. It is the largest city in the region and a significant cultural and economic center in southern Bohemia.

Budějovice was founded in 1265 by King Přemysl Otakar II as a royal town on a key trade route between Bohemia and southern lands. Over the centuries it grew into a prosperous town with a planned square and multiple religious buildings. The historic center centers on Náměstí Přemysla Otakara II, one of Bohemia’s largest squares, where visitors can see the Samson’s Fountain and the Black Tower, a former watchtower that dominates the skyline. The city preserves several churches and guild houses that reflect its medieval and early modern past.

Budějovice hosts the Budweiser Budvar Brewery, founded in 1895, which produces beer internationally marketed as Budweiser Budvar. The brewery and the city’s beer tradition have become a focal point of cultural and economic life, and the name has been involved in long-running trademark disputes with Anheuser-Busch InBev over use of the Budweiser brand in various markets.

Today Budweis serves as the seat of the South Bohemian Region’s administration and hosts campuses of the University of South Bohemia. It is connected by road and rail to Prague and other major Czech cities, making it a regional hub for transport, commerce, and tourism.