Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/232

198198 Six miles to the East of Tábor is Ratibořice, famous for its silver mines.

Continuing our journey to the South, we soon catch sight of the high church tower of Soběslav (124 km) which dominates the surrounding country. The ancient fortress which of old repelled the war-like foe, now peacefully opens its gates; and the present garrison accords a kindly greeting to each friendly invader who is received as a welcome guest for the fortress of old is the boarding-house of to day, and the proud castle of the past is the brewery of the present. Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis. The industries of the neighbourhood range from hosiery and silk wares to the working of turf pits and the mining of iron are.

A run of a few minutes brings us to the station at Veselí (131 km), here the river Nežárka empties itself into the Lužnice. At this point the railway has three branches. One direct to Vienna, another by Budějovice (Budweis) to Linz and the third to Moravia.

From here it is an advantage to arrange a few pleasant trips before continuing our journey to Budějovice. One we would especially recommend involves a journey of only 27 km, to Jindřichův Hradec (Neuhaus). It is one of the most beautiful towns in South East Bohemia, with many modern features; but also possessing some fine old buildings. The castle dates from the 12th century and contains a rich archive and picture gallery. There is here a fine church, and the grand old stronghold founded in 1220, standing high above the river commands a most extensive view of the country with its varied landscape of field-forest and lakes.

Its chief manufactures are hosiery ware and starch.

There is also a brewery and distillery.

Another short trip from Veselí is by the Vienna route to Třeboň (Wittingau) a distance of 23 km. Before reaching the station the train runs on a dam dividing the largest of the Bohemian ponds which covers an area of 720·97 ha and is on the estate of the Lords of Schwarzenberg. This pond was created by the direction of William of Rosenberg in the years 1584 to 1590, for the purpose of drawing off along with the other ponds, the flood-waters of the Lužnice and Nežárka and to keep them at a comparatively low