Town of Trebon
Trebon is situated halfway between Ceske Budejovice and Jindrichuv Hradec in the middle of an overland area is called the Trebon Basin. The town of Trebon is found in the heart of a natural protected area and a UNESCO biosphere reservation. There are two spa complexes in the area - Aurora Spa and Berta Spa.
The character of the Trebon area, as well as its economic orientation, was predestined by natural conditions and the activities of the people who have been settling here since the 11th century.
The Trebon landscape has been remodeled and reshaped by human activities for many centuries. This picturesque landscape, full of fishponds connected by numerous canals and brooks, and where fields are interspersed with mixed forests, developed in the course of centuries from an original landscape of marshland, peat bogs and old forest.
The interventions of the ancestors were gradual, cautious, and sensitive enough such that they did not result in a loss of the natural values of the territory. On the contrary - today, specialists are using an expression for this natural state - a secondary equilibrium. Due to its richness of plant and animal species, and the existence of unique nature biotopes, the Trebon area has now been included in the international system of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.
Beginning of the town goes down to the first half of the 12th century when on one of the paths crossing wide border forest a small community or only a farmstead was established there.
The whole extensive land was given to the first known member of later extended House of Vitkovec, enterprising Vitek of Prcice. Around 1250 the area was bought by brothers Pelhrim and Ojir of Vitkovec (from Landstejn branch).
Around 1300 we can expect first town fortification in Trebon strengthened with a moat on the outside. Trebon became a central point of extending dominion.
In 1341 it was known as a town and since 1366 there has been the Czech name together with used Witigenowe and Wittingau.
In 1366 brothers of Rozmberk became the owners of Trebon and its surrounding area. Trebon also earned importance and wealth during their reign. The Rozmberks founded the monastery in Trebon the next year, in 1376 they gave the town so called Privilege of Royal cities and in 1378 they obtained from king Charles IV the privilege to import salt.
In the end of 14th century the town was fortified by stone walls and a moat.
This fortification together with a small castle and surrounding marshy terrain created from Trebon almost impregnable fortress. This helped the town in Husite wars to protect it from several attacks.
Trebon reached the biggest boom in the 16th and in the beginning of the 17th century, especially during the reign of the last two Rozmberks, brothers Vilem and Petr Vok of Rozmberk. New era of building and flourishing was begun by appointing Jakub Krcin of Jelcany to the head of whole Rozmberks business.
Krcin economic reforms affected Trebon and nearest environs. This fortunate and happy period for Trebon was finished by the invasion of the army of Passau, extinction of the Rozmberks and several disastrous fires. Thirty Years War brought immense suffering to Trebon and its environs.
The House of Schwarzenberg became new owner of Trebon dominion in 1660. They possessed it to the 20th century. Trebon slowly recovered from was disasters and fell behind economically. The calm town life was enlivened in the half of 19th century when Trebon became a district town.
Important changes in the town life were started after WWI when all economic property of the House of Schwarzenberg was transferred to the state in terms of the first land reform. WWII had its victims also in Trebon and after it bigger industry started to get into the town (clothing and agricultural large scale production). In 1960 Trebon political district was annulled and the town received status of a spa resort.