Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/233

199 level. Fish-breeding has long been carried on at these ponds, the operation of fishing in the artificial lakes takes place only every third year when of course there is a big catch from the carefully preserved waters. The town has a fine old decanal gothic church which in former times was a monastery of the Augustin order, it contains several pictures by Škréta. The castle of the princes of Schwarzenberg well repays a visit, it is in the renaissance style and altogether presents a very fine appearance. Visitors are by permission of the director allowed to see the renowned archives of the house of Schwarzenberg.

Near to the pond on the top of a hill stands the very handsome crypt of the princely family. From this hill-top the country can be surveyed for miles around.

On the main-line to Budějovice (Budweis) and just beyond Veselí, the great pond Horusický is passed and the country becomes somewhat hilly and the landscape more varied and increasing in beauty as we journey on to Zámostí where we see a lovely panorama spreading out at our feet and we observe the wide plain of Budějovice, bordered on the South and West by the great forests of the Šumava and glittering in different parts, we see a great number of ponds reflecting the beauties of nature like so many giant mirrors, and overlooking the whole like some great protector, stands the lordly castle of {{lang|cs|Hluboká ({{lang|de|Frauenberg}}).

An hour’s ride takes the traveller from Veselí to Budějovice (Budweis 38 km) the scene of the animated strife between the Bohemian majority excluded from the local government and the german minority wielding a power and using an influence incosistent with the rule of a free country where the will of the majority should prevail. This important City is the seat of a bishop, has many schools, government offices, a busy industrial centre having breweries, tobacco factory and several establishments doing an extensive trade in the manufacture of lead pencils.

We take up our abode in one of the comfortable Bohemian hotels „{{lang|cs|U tří Kohoutů}}“ (The „three cocks“), or „{{lang|cs|U města Budějovice}}“ (City of Budějovice) where in addition to the usual hospitalities we can be furnished with all the necessary local information. {{nop}}