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Borovany
Borovany
Town
	Pillory in the centre of the town square
	Flag Coat of arms
	Borovany Location in the Czech Republic
	Coordinates: 48°53′55″N 14°38′32″E / 48.89861°N 14.64222°E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	South Bohemian
District	České Budějovice
First mentioned	1186
Government
• Mayor	Vít Fialka
Area
• Total	42.33 km2 (16.34 sq mi)
Elevation	522 m (1,713 ft)
Population (2024-01-01)
• Total	4,178
• Density	99/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	373 12
Website	www.borovany-cb.cz

Borovany (German: Forbes) is a town in České Budějovice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 4,200 inhabitants. Trocnov, today a part of Borovany, is known as the birthplace of one of the most notable people of Czech history, general Jan Žižka.

Administrative parts

The villages of Dvorec, Hluboká u Borovan, Radostice, Třebeč, Trocnov and Vrcov are administrative parts of Borovany.

Geography

Borovany is located about 13 kilometres (8 mi) southeast of České Budějovice. It lies in the Gratzen Foothills. The highest point is at 544 m (1,785 ft) above sea level. The Stropnice River flows through the municipal territory. There are many fishponds around the town.

History

The first written mention of Borovany is from 1186. In 1455, the Borovany Monastery was founded.^[2]

In the 19th century, the development of the village occurred with the construction of the České Budějovice–Vienna railway, which was completed in 1869, and with the discovery of diatomaceous earth deposits at the end of the century. It began to be intensively mined and processed for the construction industry after World War I. Another plant was constructed after World War II and the third one in the 1970. In 1973, Borovany received the status of a town.^[2]

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1869	2,378	—
1880	2,636	+10.8%
1890	2,536	−3.8%
1900	2,638	+4.0%
1910	2,839	+7.6%

Year	Pop.	±%
1921	2,924	+3.0%
1930	2,915	−0.3%
1950	2,529	−13.2%
1961	2,740	+8.3%
1970	2,682	−2.1%

Year	Pop.	±%
1980	3,045	+13.5%
1991	3,312	+8.8%
2001	3,584	+8.2%
2011	3,936	+9.8%
2021	4,040	+2.6%

Source: Censuses^[3]^[4]

Transport

Borovany is located on the railway line České Budějovice–České Velenice. There are four train stations and stops.^[5]

Sights

The Borovany Castle was built in the Baroque style in 1760–1770. It was originally part of the monastery, but the monastery was abolished in 1785, and the Schwarzenberg family bought the building and used it as a castle. The Schwarzenbergs owned it until 1939, when it was purchased by the town, which established a museum there.^[6]

Next to the castle is the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. It was built between the 1470s and 1490s. It was built in the late Gothic style, atypical for this region. The rectory next to the church was built together with the castle and is connected with it.^[7]

Trocnov is known as the birthplace of one of the most notable people of Czech history, general Jan Žižka. The site where the original Trocnov hamlet was located consists of foundations of the original buildings, Jan Žižka Monument, Jan Žižka Memorial, and monument at the place of Žižka's birth. The locality is protected as a national cultural monument.^[8]

In Dvorec is the Dvorec Zoo, one of the smallest zoos in the country. It keeps 120 species of animals.^[9]