Třeboň

Třeboň (Wittingau) is a spa town in Jindřichův Hradec District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 8,300 inhabitants. The historic town centre with the castle complex is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument reservation.

Administrative parts
Třeboň is made up of the town parts of Třeboň I and Třeboň II, and the villages of Branná, Břilice, Holičky, Nová Hlína, Přeseka and Stará Hlína.

Etymology
The name is derived from the personal name Třeboň (shortened variant of the name Třebohost or Třebomysl).

Geography
Třeboň is located about 22 km southwest of Jindřichův Hradec and 19 km east of České Budějovice. It lies in the Třeboň Basin. It is known for its bogs with rich deposits of peat, which led to establishment of peat spa in the town.

Třeboň is known for its fish ponds, which were established in the region since Middle Ages. Rožmberk Pond is the largest pond in the country and the largest fish pond in the world, with surface area of 489 ha. It was built between 1584 and 1590. The urban area of Třeboň is located on the shore of Svět pond, also one of the largest Czech ponds with 201 ha. It is primarily a fish pond, but also is used for sport and recreational purposes.

The whole municipal territory lies in the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area. The Lužnice river flows through the eastern part of the territory and supplies Rožmberk pond with water. There are many small watercourses, which supply the other ponds.

History
Třeboň was established around the middle of the 12th century. Around 1300, Třeboň was already fortified. In 1341, it was first referred to as a town. In 1366, Třeboň's Czech name first appeared, and the Rosenberg family became owner of the estate. During their rule, the town gained importance and wealth. In 1376, Třeboň gained royal town privileges. At the end of the 14th century, the fortifications strengthened, which helped resist attacks during the Hussite Wars.

The greatest development occurred in the 16th and early 17th centuries, when Jakub Krčín was at the head of the Rosenberg family business and started to establish new ponds in the area. The region became famous as a fish pond farming area. The end of prosperity came with extinction of the Rosenberg family, troop invasions, and several large fires. Třeboň further suffered during the Thirty Years' War, when it was held by a regiment of Scots led by Colonel Sir John Seton from 1620 to early 1622. From 1660 to the 20th century, the House of Schwarzenberg owned the town and the estate.

The town slowly recovered and remained economically unimportant until the 19th century, when it became a district town. Until 1918, Třeboň – Wittingau was part of Austria-Hungary, in the district with the same name, one of the 94 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in Bohemia.

After World War II, the first larger industry (clothing factory and large-scale agricultural production) was established in the town. In 1960, the Třeboň district was abolished and the town received spa status.

Economy
Třeboň is a tourist destination, and this is the area's major economic activity, along with agriculture, the spa industry and other services.

The State Regional Archive for South Bohemia is based here, where genealogical studies about people born in the South Bohemian Region may be conducted. The archive was held at the 15th-century Třeboň castle for many years, although a substantial portion was moved to the municipal offices in 2014.

Spa
The spa company Slatinné lázně Třeboň is the largest employer in the town. The peat spa in Třeboň focuses on the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, rheumatic problems, and post-injury and post-surgery reconvalescence. The first modern spa in Třeboň was opened in 1883.

Transport
Třeboň lies at the crossroads of two important roads: the I/24 (which connects the D3 motorway with the Czech-German border in Halámky, part of the European route E49). and the I/34 (the section from České Budějovice to Jindřichův Hradec, part of the European route E551).

Třeboň is located on the major international railway line Prague–Vienna.

Culture
The International Festival of Animated Films Anifest was held in Třeboň each May between 2002 and 2010; after that, Anifilm took its place.

Sights
The natural centre of the town's historic core is Masarykovo Square. It is surrounded by burgher houses with Renaissance and Baroque facades. In the centre there are a Renaissance stone fountain from 1569, and a Baroque Marian column. The main landmark is the Old Town Hall, built in 1563. In 1638, a massive quadrangular 31 m high tower was added to the town hall.

Třeboň Castle is a Renaissance castle. A small stone castle in Třeboň was first mentioned in 1374. The current castle was created in 1565–1575 by reconstruction of old castle buildings damaged by fire. The castle includes an English-style castle park.

The Church of Our Lady Queen and Saint Giles is the largest building in the complex of the former Augustinian monastery. The monastery was founded in 1367 by the Rosenberg family and construction of the church began the same year. The monastery was abolished in 1785.

The entrance to the town was guarded by massive gates, which are together with the fragments of the town walls preserved to this day.

Notable people

 * Master of the Třeboň Altarpiece, 14th-century painter
 * John Dee and Edward Kelley held a number of seances and conducted alchemical experiments in Třeboň in 1589
 * Karel Čurda (1911–1947), Nazi collaborant
 * Erwin Scharf (1914–1994), Austrian politician
 * Karel Mejta Sr. (1928–2015), rower, Olympic winner
 * Stanislav Lusk (1931–1987), rower, Olympic winner
 * Jan Jindra (1932–2021), rower, Olympic winner
 * Karel Poborský (born 1972), footballer
 * Iveta Lutovská (born 1983), Czech Miss 2009

Twin towns – sister cities
Třeboň is twinned with:
 * 🇩🇪 Freyung-Grafenau (district), Germany
 * Interlaken, Switzerland
 * 🇦🇹 Schrems, Austria
 * 🇱🇹 Utena, Lithuania