South Bohemia

South Bohemia Jihočeský kraj
Region
Jindřichův Hradec castle
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Czech Republic
Capital	České Budějovice
Districts	Český Krumlov District, Jindřichův Hradec District, Písek District, Prachatice District, Strakonice District, Tábor District
Government
• Hejtman	Jiří Zimola
Area
• Total	10,056.79 km2 (3,882.95 sq mi)
Highest elevation	1,378 m (4,521 ft)
Population (09/2013)
• Total	636,459
• Density	63/km2 (160/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	CZ-JC
Vehicle registration	C
Website	http://www.kraj-jihocesky.cz/

South Bohemia (Czech: Jihočeský kraj) is an administrative unit (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 part of the South Bohemian Region is former Prachens (Prácheňsko), a huge archaic region with distinctive features with its capital, Písek. In 2011, there were 623 municipalities in the region, whereof 54 had a status of town.

The region borders (from the west clockwise) the regions Plzeň, Central Bohemia, Vysocina and South Moravia. To the south it borders Austria and Germany. Until 30 May 2001, the region was named as Budějovický kraj or Českobudějovický kraj, after its capital, České Budějovice. The South Bohemian Region is further divided into seven districts: České Budějovice District, Český Krumlov District, Jindřichův Hradec District, Písek District, Prachatice District, Strakonice District and Tábor District.

Thanks to its geographical location and natural conditions the region belongs to the areas where the first settlements began to appear in the distant past. In the past centuries, the South Bohemia was famous for fishpond cultivation and forestry. The region has been industrialized since the beginning of the twentieth century. Nowadays, it is an attractive destination due to its natural and culturally historical richness. The travel industry has been recently the fastest growing industry in the region.