Vráž is a spa municipality in

Písek District Písek District () is a Okres, district in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Písek. Administrative division Písek District is divided into two Districts of the Czech Republic#Municipalities with extended ...

in the

South Bohemian Region The South Bohemian Region () is an administrative unit (''Regions of the Czech Republic, kraj'') of the Czech Republic, located mostly in the southern part of its historical land of Bohemia, with a small part in southwestern Moravia. The western ...

of the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

. It has about 300 inhabitants.

Administrative division

Vráž consists of three municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): *Nová Vráž *Stará Vráž *Jistec

Etymology

The origin of the name Vráž is unsure and several hypotheses have emerged. The most likely interpretation is that the name was derived from the Slavic word ''ovrag'', meaning 'depression', 'gorge'.

Geography

Vráž is located about north of

Písek Písek (; ) is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 31,000 inhabitants. The town is known for the oldest bridge in the country. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument z ...

and northwest of

České Budějovice České Budějovice (; ) is a city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 97,000 inhabitants. The city is located in the valley of the Vltava River, at its confluence with the Malše. České Budějovice is the largest ...

. It lies on the border between the

Tábor Uplands Tábor (; ) is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 34,000 inhabitants, making it the second most populated town in the region. The town was founded by the Hussites in 1420. The historic town centre is well pres ...

and

Blatná Uplands Blatná (; ) is a town in Strakonice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 6,700 inhabitants. It is known for a water castle in the centre of a fishpond, and a landscape garden around it. The historic town centr ...

. The highest point is a nameless hill at above sea level. The municipality borders the

Orlík Reservoir The Orlík Reservoir () is the largest hydroelectric dam in the Czech Republic. It dams the Vltava River near the village of Solenice, which is near the town of Příbram. The structure is named after Orlík Castle, which is situated a few kilome ...

in the east.

Climate

Vráž's climate is classified as

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...

(

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...

: ''Dfb''; Trewartha: ''Dcbo''). Among them, the annual average temperature is , the hottest month in July is , and the coldest month is in January. The annual precipitation is , of which June is the wettest with , while February is the driest with only . The extreme temperature throughout the year ranged from on 10 February 1956 to on 27 July 1983.

History

The first written mention of Vráž is from 1323, when the village belonged to the Písek estate, acquired by the

Rosenberg family The House of Rosenberg ( or ''Páni z Rožmberka'') was a prominent Bohemian noble family that played an important role in Czech medieval history from the 13th century until 1611. Members of this family held posts at the Prague royal (and ...

. In 1473–1577, the estate was owned by the Švamberk family. In 1577, part of the estate with Vráž was bought by the Deym of Střítež family. From 1620 until the establishment of an independent municipality in 1848, Vráž belonged to the Čížová– Drhovle estate.

Demographics

Economy

Vráž is known for its sanatorium with spa treatments. The musculoskeletal and nervous systems are treated here with mud.

Transport

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

Sights

The main landmark of Vráž is the Vráž Castle. It was built in the neo-Gothic style in 1869–1875. It was built for the

Lobkowicz family The House of Lobkowicz (''Lobkovicové'' in modern Czech, sg. ''z Lobkovic''; ''Lobkowitz'' in German) is an important Bohemian noble family that dates back to the 14th century and is one of the oldest noble families of the region. Over the cent ...

on the site of an older hunting lodge. The castle is surrounded by a landscape park, founded at the end of the 19th century. In 1926, the Lobkowicz family sold the castle and a sanatorium was established in the premises of the castle.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vraz Villages in Písek District Spa towns in the Czech Republic