The metropolis of South Bohemia was founded in 1265 by King Přemysl Otakar IInd. The historic core with a regular network of streets, one of the largest squares of central Europe (133 x 133 m) and a number of valuable monuments was declared municipal conservation area. Built in 1825-1832 on the line from České Budějovice to Austrian Linz was the first European horse-drawn railway, the town gained world reputation also thanks to the production of beer Budějovický Budvar.