Čížová

Čížová is a municipality and village in Písek District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,300 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The villages of Borečnice, Bošovice, Krašovice, Nová Ves, Topělec and Zlivice are administrative parts of Čížová.

Etymology
The adjective čížová (from čížek, i.e. 'siskin') was probably originally associated with some hill on which many siskins lived.

Geography
Čížová is located about 6 km northwest of Písek and 49 km northwest of České Budějovice. It lies on the border of the Tábor Uplands and Blatná Uplands. The highest point is a hill at 571 m above sea level. The Otava River forms the eastern municipal border.

History
The first written mention of Čížová is from 1316. An untrustworthy mention of Čížová related to the year 942 appears in the chronicle of Wenceslaus Hajek from 1541. Until 1509, the area was owned by Czech kings. In 1509–1547, Čížová was a property of the town of Písek. Notable owners of Čížová were the Deym of Střítež family, who held it from 1560 to 1726. Čížová was then owned by the Czernin family (1726–1753) and by the Lobkowicz family (1753–1932).

Transport
The D4 motorway briefly passes through the southern part of the municipal territory and runs along the municipal border.

Čížová is located on the railway line Prague–České Budějovice.

Sights
The main landmark is the Church of Saint James the Great, which is situated on a hill above Čížová. The church has a Gothic core and its existence was first documented in 1407. The church is surrounded by a cemetery on which stays the Chapel of Saint Barbara and a historical bell tower. The Chapel of Saint Barbara dates from 1759.