Čkyně

Čkyně is a municipality and village in Prachatice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,600 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The villages of Dolany, Horosedly, Onšovice, Předenice, Spůle and Záhoříčko are administrative parts of Čkyně.

Geography
Čkyně is located about 17 km west of Prachatice and 48 km west of České Budějovice. It lies in the Bohemian Forest Foothills. The highest point is the hill Vacovický vrch at 823 m above sea level. The Volyňka River flows through the municipality.

History
The first written mention of Čkyně is in a deed of King Wenceslaus I from 1243. In 1537, Čkyně was promoted to a market town by Emperor Ferdinand I, but later lost the title.

Transport
The I/23 road (the section from Strakonice to Vimperk and the Czech-German border) passes through the municipality.

Čkyně is located on the railway line Strakonice–Volary.

Sights
The Church of Saint Mary Magdalene was originally built in the early Gothic style in the second half of the 13th century. It was rebuilt in 1789. The nave was extended in the second half of the 19th century.

A significant landmark is the former synagogue. It was built in the Neoclassical style in 1828. After 1922, it was rebuilt and ceased to have religious use. Today it houses a museum.

The Čkyně Castle was built in the second half of the 16th century as a Renaissance fortress. After 1816, it was rebuilt into a neo-Gothic castle. Today the building houses the municipal office.