South Bohemia

Location

The South Bohemia region is located in the south of the Czech Republic and borders Austria and Germany. The border character of the region, which was a weakness until the 1990s, is now a strong point, as the Czech Republic's accession to the EU has made it possible to exploit the potential of cross-border cooperation and development opportunities. South Bohemia has the lowest population density of all regions in the Czech Republic, though it has several significant urban centres. The heart of South Bohemia lies in the basin where the Vltava and Malše rivers meet in the region's capital, České Budějovice (population 100,000). This area is surrounded mainly by mountains, hills and forests. The region's natural and cultural heritage makes it a very attractive tourist destination. Tábor, Písek, Strakonice, Jindřichův Hradec, Prachatice and Český Krumlov are among the region's other important urban centres.

Investment climate

The South Bohemia region is characterized by agriculture and tourism. The primary sector employs twice as many people as the national average due to fish production oriented towards traditional carp farming, which represents half of the domestic fish production. The logging, wood-processing and paper industries also play an important role. Other traditional branches of industry include dairy production, brewing, textiles and engineering.

The economic transformation of the region after 1989 brought about a considerable increase in the number of economic entities, which have arisen partly as spin-offs from large companies in all branches of industry and partly as completely new enterprises, often in branches of industry that had not previously been represented in the region. At present the regional economy is experiencing dynamic development, mainly in the fields of tourism and new technologies. The Temelín nuclear power plant is in full operation, businesses in the automotive industry have launched operations in the local market and fields such as information technology, biotechnology and eco-technology are emerging. The region offers many investment opportunities thanks to the establishment and revitalization of industrial zones. Firms can join cluster programmes - companies and other institutions in hydro-engineering have formed the CEVTECH cluster and there are plans to establish clusters in the wood-processing, eco-technology and other industries.

Leisure time and tourism

The South Bohemia region is a popular tourist destination and has wonderful facilities for leisure activities. The region is becoming a very significant recreational and tourist area, as the region's tourism industry is rapidly developing. Lipno Resort is suitable for wind-surfing and sailing, while the Vltava River is famous for canoeing and the Třeboň basin for fishing. In winter, the Šumava Mountains offer ideal conditions for cross-country and downhill skiing, as well as cycling. The region has seven golf courses including an eighteen-hole course in Nová Bystřice. You can play tennis and squash or enjoy a few frames of bowling, relax in spas and swimming pools or ride a horse in the countryside. Agrotourism is booming. The region has a folk character and rare architectural monuments. The village of Holašovice and the picturesque town of Český Krumlov with its magnificent castle are UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is also worth visiting the Hluboká nad Vltavou Château and the wetlands in the Šumava Mountains.