Tábor
Tábor is a city in South Bohemia.
Understand
The city of Tábor was founded in 1420, during the Hussite revolution (Hussites were Czech Christian reformers following the teachings of Jan Hus). It has a relatively big old town with many splendid streets. It is located on the top of a hill and protected from one side by Luznice River, and in the other side by Jordan Lake, the oldest water reservoir in Central Europe. These days, Tábor is the second-biggest city in South Bohemia with a population of 35,000 people. A big castle, old town hall and other sights remind visitors of its interesting past.
- 1 [dead link] Infocentrum, Žižkovo nám. 2, ☏ +420 381 486 230, infocentrum@mutabor.cz.
Get in
By car
Tábor lies on the road connecting Prague with České Budějovice and it takes approximately one and a quarter hour to get there. From České Budějovice it takes 50min.
By bus
Buses from Prague to Tábor depart from Roztyly bus station on Metro C (red) line. It takes 1h20min.
By train
From Prague main railway station, it takes 1h30min to Tábor.
Get around
There are 16 bus lines in Tábor. To get from the main bus and railway station to the historic centre, use bus lines 11, 13 or 30. It's 1.6 km (one mile) walking (25min.).
See
Historic centre
- 1 Zizka Square (Zizkovo namesti). Main square of historic core. Gothic town hall, big church with look-out tower and monument of medieval military leader Jan Zizka are right on this square. Other interesting sight are in walking distance.
- 2 Church of "Proměnění Páně na hoře Tábor", Děkanská 297, ☏ +420 381 253 824, faratabor@volny.cz. 8:00-18:00. Big church in late gothic style, right on the main square. Church tower is 87 meters tall and offers nice views of the city and surrounding landscape.
- 3 Kotnov Tower and Bechyne Gate, ulice Na Parkánech (400 m from Zizka Square, follow Klokotska street). 8:30-17:00, closed Oct-Apr. Kotnov Tower is only remnant of Tábor Castle, which was destroyed because of fire in 1532. Bechyne Gate, the southwest entrance to historic centre is right next to the tower. 20 CZK.
- 4 Renaissance Water Tower, ulice Žižkova (150 m from main square). Unusual water tower in renaissance style from 1502.
- 5 The Town Walls. Well-preserved gothic town walls on northern edge of old Tábor.
- 6 Jordán Lake. Large lake on eastern edge of old Tábor from 15th century, oldest water reservoir in Central Europe. Ideal for swimming.
Museums
- 7 Hussite Museum and medieval underground (right on the main square), ☏ +420 381 251 884, tabor@husitskemuzeum.cz. Apr-Oct daily 9:00-17:00, Nov-Mar Su-Tu closed, W–Sa 9:00-17:00. Located in gothic style former town hall, this museum contains expositions about reformer Jan Hus and Hussite revolution, with weapons and historical documents. Part of the museum is also medieval underground. 60Kč (Hussite exposition), 50Kč (medieval underground).
- 8 Museum of Chocolate and Marzipan, Kotnovská 138/13, ☏ +420 381 211 784, recepce@cokomuzeum.cz. May-Sep 9:00-19:00; Apr, Oct 9:00-17:00; Nov-Mar 10:00-17:00. If you get bored of many historic sights, why not to spend some time in this museum? adults 130Kč, children (6-14) 90Kč, family ticket 370Kč.
Outside of the centre
- 9 Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Staroklokotská 1 (1,2 km from main square. Follow Klokotska street, before Bechynska Gate turn rigt and go through Holeckovy Sady Park and lime-tree alley.), ☏ +420 381 232 584, klokotyomi@volny.cz. Outside the historic centre (in quarter Klokoty), baroque pilgrimage church is definitely worth a visit.
- 10 Hylacka look-out tower, Vetrovy, Tábor (4 km from historic centre, follow green tourist line or by bus line 30 to station "Tábor, Vetrovy"). Jun- Aug: 9:00-20:00 Apr, May, Sep: 9:00-18:00 Oct-Mar: 9:00-16:00. 25 meter tall look-out tower, nice view of Tábor. 20Kč.
- 11 Tábor Zoo, Tábor, Větrovy 10 (In same part of the town as Hylacka look-out tower.), ☏ +420 233 372 021, zoo@zootabor.eu. Apr-Aug 09:00–18:00 Sep, Oct 09:00–17:00, Nov-Mar Sa,Su 9:00-16:00. Small zoo (however the largest in South Bohemia) with 80 species, mostly from America, including tigers and zebras.
Do
Hiking
There is lots of options for both shorter walks or longer hikes. Pintovka Nature Trail is a short trail just 1,2 km from centre of Tábor. There is a lot of quite interesting sights which can be reached by hiking. For example, Pribenice castle ruin (follow red hiking trail, which goes along Luznice river valley - 10 km), Hylacka (3,5 km) and Babice (4 km) look-out towers and Kozí Hrádek castle ruin (9 km). More information here [dead link].
Cycling
Canoeing
Luznice river is a good river for canoeing.
Buy
- 1 Žabka Department Store, Pražská 156/14 (just 50 m from the main square), ☏ +420 242 406 800, provoz@izabka.cz. daily 6:00-23:00.
- 2 Billa Department Store, nám. F. Křižíka 505/23 (650 m from Zizka Square (historic centre), 1500 m from mian railway and bus station. Bus station: "Tábor, Křižíkovo nám."), ☏ +420 381 255 132, info@billa.cz. 7:00 (Sun 8:00) - 20:00.
- 3 "Karel Dvořák - Obchodní dům" Shopping centre, 9. května 2886 (650 m from main train and bus station), ☏ +420 381 253 255, odtabor@dvorak.cz. Mon-Fri 8:00-18:00, Sat 8:00-13:00, Sun closed.
Eat
- 1 Indian restaurant Tandoor, Žižkovo nám. 8, ☏ +420 381 213 250, menberu@seznam.cz. daily 11:00-22:00.
- 2 Goldie Restaurant, ☏ +420 380 900 901, info@hotelnautilus.cz. Part of Hotel Nautilus.
- 3 Restaurant "U dvou kocek", Svatošova 312 (75 m from Zizka Square), ☏ +420 381 256 802, info@ukocek.cz. Su-Th 11:00-22:00, F-Sa 11:00-24:00. Standard Czech restaurant, don't expect anything great.
- 4 Bistro Stárkův dům, Pražská 157/12, ☏ +420 775 757 432, kveta.dvorackova@seznam.cz. Bistro in renaissance house from 1570. Ready meals all day long - every day one Czech traditional meal, one vegetarian meal, one steak and, of course, schnitzel and fried cheese.
Drink
- 1 Café Budík, Kotnovská 174/18, ☏ +420 725 699 132, tabor@cafebudik.cz. 10:00-18:00 (19:00 on weekends). café, hot chocolate (lots of kinds and goo quality), desserts...
Sleep
- 1 Nautilus Hotel, Žižkovo nám. 20/20, ☏ +420 380 900 900, manager@hotelnautilus.cz. Luxurious hotel with wellness and restaurant located on the main square in the historic centre.
- 2 Hotel Tábor, 9. května 617 (300 m from the main train and bus station.), ☏ +420 381 256 096, reservation@hoteltabor.eu. 23 rooms.
- 3 Staromestsky Pension, Křížová 93/8, ☏ +420 737 864 819, staromestsky.penzion@gmail.com. Family-friendly pension in house from 16th century.
Connect
Go next
Your next destination can be some of other pretty towns in South Bohemia and Bohemian-Moravian Highlands - České Budějovice, Písek, Pelhřimov, Jihlava, etc.