In southern Bohemia, where the Otava River meanders gently through rolling hills, lies Písek – a town so charming that you'd think time had stood still. With its medieval core, the oldest stone bridge in the Czech Republic, and a touch of artistic flair, Písek is a place that tells stories without saying a word.
Even strolling through the Royal Suburb Square (Královské náměstí), with its pastel-colored town houses and magnificent town hall, you can feel the breath of past centuries. Bohemian kings once resided here, and even today, the spirit of history seems to hover between the arcades. But Písek isn't just a museum – it's vibrant, full of cafés where the scent of fresh Buchteln (a kind of dumpling) fills the air, and galleries celebrating the legacy of the painter Mikoláš Aleš.
The 13th-century Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) is the heart of the town. Older than Prague's Charles Bridge and just as graceful, it spans the Otava River like a proud sentinel. In summer, locals sit on its walls, dangle their legs over the water, and watch the kayakers battling their way through the rapids. The Otava itself, once rich in golden sand, gave Písek its prosperity – and even today, a grain of sand glitters here and there in the sunlight, as if the river were reminding us of its treasures.
The Castle Hill (Hradní vrch) towers above the town, where a royal castle once stood. Today, only fragments remain of its splendor, but the view from up here makes up for everything: a panorama of red roofs, church steeples, and the green ribbon of the Otava River winding into the distance. Those lucky enough to hear the faint ringing of the chapel from Putim Hill—a sound like a promise: Return.
Písek is also a city of poetry. The poet Adolf Heyduk immortalized it in his verses, and to this day, the Literature Museum (Sladovna) attracts young visitors with its imaginative exhibitions. In the city park, where old trees rustle and peacocks strut, one might think time passes more slowly.