Varvažov

Varvažov is a municipality and village in Písek District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 200 inhabitants. The historic centre of the village is well preserved and is protected by law as a village monument zone.

Administrative parts
The villages of Štědronín-Plazy and Zbonín are administrative parts of Varvažov.

Geography
Varvažov is located about 14 km north of Písek and 67 km south of Prague. It lies in the Tábor Uplands. The highest point is the flat hill Hlásnice at 447 m above sea level.

Most of the municipal border is formed by rivers. The western border is formed by the Skalice River. After its confluence with the Skalice, the southern border is formed by the Lomnice. After its confluence with the Lomnice, the eastern border is formed by the Otava, and then, again after their confluence, it continues as the Vltava River. The Orlík Reservoir, built on the Vltava, begins in the northeastern part of the municipality.

History
The first written mentions of Varvažov are from the mid-13th century. Until the middle of the 19th century, the village was continuously the property of the Knights Hospitaller.

Transport
There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

Sights
A set of Neoclassical-type homesteads has been preserved in the historic centre of Varvažov, which is protected as a village monument zone. In the centre of the village is a late Baroque castle from the 18th century, which served as a summer residence of the Knights Hospitaller.

The oldest monument is the Church of Saint Catherine, built in the second half of the 13th century. A notable monument is also a historic stone bridge from the 18th century.

In popular culture
The 1998 award-winning film Sekal Has to Die was shot in the municipality.

Notable people

 * Josef Bílý (1872–1941), general