Bernartice (Písek District)

Bernartice is a market town in Písek District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,400 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The villages of Bilinka, Bojenice, Dvůr Leveč, Jestřebice, Kolišov, Ráb, Rakov, Srlín, Svatkovice and Zběšice are administrative parts of Bernartice.

Geography
Bernartice is located about 18 km northeast of Písek and 43 km north of České Budějovice. It lies in the Tábor Uplands. The highest point is a hill with an altitude of 531 m. There are several ponds in the municipal territory.

History
The first written mention of Bernartice is from 1251.

During World War II, Bernartice was threatened by the arrival of the Nazis which would have given the village a similar fate as the nearby village Lidice, which was burned down. With the help of locals, 23 people were killed and five were sent to concentration camps.

Transport
The I/29 road from Písek to Tábor District passes through the market town.

Sights
The main landmark of Bernartice is the Church of Saint Martin. It was built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century and part of the Romanesque tower is preserved to this day. In the second half of the 14th century, it was rebuilt in the Gothic style. In 1717, the nave was rebuilt in the Baroque style. Next to the church is a Baroque rectory from the early 18th century.