České Budějovice Named European Capital of Culture in 2028

České Budějovice is the European Capital of Culture 2028!

This prestigious title, awarded by the European Union since 1985, aims to showcase the cultural richness and diversity of European countries while promoting cultural development in the chosen cities.

The selection process involved several Czech towns, including Broumov, Liberec, and Brno, with Ceske Budejovice emerging as the winner in the final round.

Prior to České Budějovice, two other Czech towns, Prague in 2000 and Plzen in 2015, have held the title of European Capital of Culture.

The mayor of České Budějovice, Dagmar Skodova Parmova, stated that the team had dedicated their best efforts to the endeavor and would continue to work hard to complete the extensive project by 2028.

Culture Minister Martin Baxa, who had previously led the preparations for Plzen as the European Capital of Culture, acknowledged the demanding nature of the process.

In a recent government meeting, Baxa successfully secured a budget increase for his ministry to support the preparation of the European Capital of Culture 2028 project. The funding, amounting to a maximum of CZK 480 million, will be allocated over six years, from 2024 to 2029. Additionally, the winning cities receive a cash prize of 1.5 million euros from the European Commission.

Jan Herget, the director of the state agency CzechTourism, highlighted the positive economic impact of holding the title, stating that it typically leads to an average increase in per capita GDP of 4.5%. This effect is observed two years before the start of the cultural year and can last up to five years after its conclusion.

The current European Capitals of Culture for this year are Veszprem in Hungary, Elefsina in Greece, and Temesvar in Romania.

České Budějovice, with its population of nearly 100,000, notable central square, and intersecting streets, was established in 1265 by King Premysl Otakar II of Bohemia. The town’s Dominican monastery, now considered a valuable local monument, was founded on the western edge of the town overlooking the Vltava River.

The city has a long-standing brewing tradition, dating back to 1265, with the renowned Budvar brewery, currently state-owned, established in 1895.

Throughout its history, the town experienced growth in the 14th century and became a major city in southern Bohemia. However, it also faced challenges such as wars, fires, and epidemics in subsequent centuries.

A significant development occurred in the 19th century when České Budějovice became the starting point for a horse-drawn railway to Linz, Austria, a unique form of transportation for that time in Europe.

During the final stages of World War II in March 1945, České Budějovice was subjected to air raids by the U.S. Air Force, resulting in significant damage and loss of life. After the war, the German minority population in the town was expelled.