Benešov Area
The largest territory of the Nové Hrady mountains belongs to the Benešov area named after the municipality of Benešov nad Černou – a place with a history dating back to the 14th century. Jakub Krčín of Jelčany who built a brewery here worked for the Rožmberk family who were one of the ancient owners of the estate. Economic and subsequently industrial activities have been incorporated into the local history and into the present time. The municipality of Benešov is a quiet tourist centre and an “imaginary gate” to the Nové Hrady mountains and you can “tune” yourself into this “gate” at the seasonal information centre located in the local confectionery. After having a refreshment here, you can set out for an educational trail of the same name (the Gate of the Nové Hrady mountains). The centre of the municipality was declared to be a municipal heritage zone.
Just behind the backyard of Benešov, you will see beautiful but abandoned industrial buildings of the mill and Gabriela smelter awaiting their rescue or the definitive end…
Then you can see the first rolling hills of the Nové Hrady mountains. Starý and Nový Holand where firs were harvested for the masts of Dutch shipbuilders, flotation tanks for wood, the former Černé údolí glass factory, the oldest protected European site - Žofín Primeval Forest, waterways of the Buquoy Family, the mythical mountain range of Pohoří na Šumavě. One gem after another!
Not far from Malonty there is a biodynamically managed agricultural cooperative Bemagro that is proud to have the Demeter certificate. They grow and take care of the landscape, plant trees and avenues. If you wish to get guaranteed quality vegetables and dairy products, you can get them there. Other cultivation plans are related to organic herbs and possibly the creation of a rural herbal tea shop and a farming school.
The border area is changed by the 300-year industrial activity of the Buquoy family as well as by the population change after the Second World War (more details can be found in the exhibition in the building of the Benešov nad Černou municipal hall) and the subsequent restriction of access to the border area. The nature of Benešov area remained preserved and full magical places also due to the existence of the “Iron Curtain”.
