Traditions and crafts
Stonemasonry
The stone has served man since ancient times and was one of the most natural materials for making tools and weapons. Granite of Blatná region was used as needed already in the Middle Ages and the first written mention of it dates back to 1515. At that time Jiřík of Adlar, then burgrave at the chateau Orlík, wrote to Mr. Kryštof of Švamberk that he had sent a bricklayer Peter to Blatná to look for stone.
The construction of smaller rural churches in the Blatná region shows the use of granite. As the granite is hard, the result is simple and coars processing of stone elements of buildings. There are many sources about the influence of stonemasons in the Blatná region from the 18th century. At that time, stonemasons made field stone crosses, landmark land borders, stairs, floorboards, baptismal fonts, stone pails, gutters and window jambs. Until 1899 when the railway was built, the mining and processing of stone had only local significance. The construction of the railway opened great opportunities for the stonemasonry. Several new and larger quarries were put into operation.
In 1905 the opened quarries in Paštiky and Řečice. At the same time were built large stone workshops in which the excavated stone was worked. Blatná granite began to be supplied to many European countries. Around 1920 there were about 300 stonemasons and auxiliary workers in quarries in Blatná and its surroundings. The range of granite products was large. For example, paving stones, sidewalk curbs, bollards, landmarks, stairs, windowsills, cornices, bridge blocks, monuments and columns. In the 1930s, the economic crisis also affected stonemasons. The stone production was re-established in 1945. Granite products from the quarries in Blatná region are known not only in the vicinity. Using hard work, natural stone was formed on many technical and important buildings throughout the Czech Republic.
At present, quarries in Řečice, Drahenický Málkov, near Chlum (Škalí) and two in Vahlovice are open for granite mining in the Blatná region.
Fishing
The oldest references to the establishment of ponds in Bohemia date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. It is not known when the first ponds were established in the Blatná region but the tradition of fish farming in our region is documented already in the 14th century. It is reported that at the time of Charles IV the highest number of ponds in Bohemia was around Blatná and Poděbrady. The real flourishing of fish farming in the Blatná region dates back to the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century. This period can be described as the golden age of fish farming. The then owner of the Blatná estate was Zdeněk Lev of Rožmitál. At that time, the Blatná pond system was being prepared. The largest pond in the Blatná region, Labuť in Myštice, was built between 1492 and 1503. In the first half of the 17th century, the development of the fish farming in Blatná manor was completed and a total of 34 ponds were registered. Fish tanks were built near the Blatná castle. During the Thirty Years' War, and especially after it, the time of crisis came, and the ponds were became desolated for many years. At the end of the 17th century there was a renaissance of fish farming and new water bodies were founded. Fishing is becoming very good economically, especially in connection with the so far primitive way of agricultural production. At the beginning of the 18th century, the yield from ponds represented more than a third of the total income of the Blatná estate. Fish farming was a profitable industry also thanks to cheap labour, as farmers and peasants, landlords and innkeepers from adjacent villages had to participate in the activities related to the management of ponds. Most of the fish were sold in the markets in Prague and Bavaria. The importance of fish farming in the Blatná region is also evidenced by the road name given in the maps, leading from Vodňany to Písek and via Blatná to Pilsen - Fischerstrasse.
Until the first half of the 19th century, fish farming was largely a matter of large estates. In connection with the abolition of robots and the change in farming, all costs increased and the crisis came to fish farming. There was no interest in fish, the price of land was rising and the ponds were demolished and sold. Poor technical conditions often contributed to the demolition of ponds. Since the second half of the 19th century the property structure has been changing and the municipalities and private individuals have become the fishpond holders. In 1912, farms in the Blatná area manage a total of 1,916 ha (eg the manor in Lnáře 970 ha, manor in Blatná 242 ha, manor in Březnice 140 ha) and 229 ha of ponds are owned by private and municipal authorities.
After World War II, the ponds passed into state property. In 1949, the State Fishing Company Blatná was established, which controlled all fish farming and new technologies were created which meant rapid growth of fish production. After 1989, privatization took place and the ponds were returned to the descendants of the original owners as part of the restitution.
At present, the ponds in Blatná and Lnáře regions are managed by several companies that export abroad their production, including the famous Blatná and Lnáře carp. Blatenska ryba, spol. s r. o. manages almost 1,600 hectares of ponds. Fish harvest is an interesting experience often accompanied by special programme for the visitors.
Distillery and brewery
The first mention of the brewery in Blatná comes from the 15th century. The chateau brewery was located in the place of today's distillery. In 1489, the citizens of Blatná were allowed to brew beer, tap it and sell it outside the city. At the beginning of the 16th century beer was brewed in Blatná in two breweries and both had their own malt houses. The beer was brewed from wheat and barley, both strong and weak. In 1824 in Pivovarská Street was rebuilt a town brewery, where beer was brewed until 1921, when it was closed down. In 1910 the chateau steam engine brewery was able to brew up to 5,170 hectolitres of beer and the town brewery 4,893 hectolitres. In the 1970s, the Blatná brewery was awarded the title “Exemplary Quality Plant”. The title was a sign of quality - Blatná beer ranked among the best in the region and brewed until 1978, when the brewery was closed down against a great disapproval of the admirers of Blatná's brew. In 1981 was started the reconstruction of the building for the purpose of production of fruit spirits. Currently, the famous fruit distillery LiquiB in Blatná produces the famous fruit distillates. At the beginning of the 19th century, a sugar refinery was built in Blatná as one of the first in Bohemia. It used to process sugar beet grown in the region.
To power the machines was used the waterpower from the sewer leading from the pond. In 1885 the sugar factory was closed, and the building was rebuilt into a distillery. As a result of the land reform (Act No. 63 of 30th January 1920), the distillery was united in 1924 and abolished in 1955 as unprofitable.
Club of amateur actors
The association of amateur actors was founded in Blatná in 1851. The amateur theatre, which is run by genuine amateurs, has always brought joy and entertainment to the general public. The beginnings of the amateur theatre in Blatná date back to the times of national revival. The first performances took place at the Blatná Castle in 1846, but there were probably some performances at the beginning of the 19th century. The founder of the club was a teacher and enlightened patriot Josef Martinovský. Despite the existential problems, the theatre managed to maintain its activities and the amateur club in Blatná is the second oldest in South Bohemia after following the club in Volyně. One of the greatest booms was probably in the 1920s and 1930s. Each year was performed 11 plays, and in 1934even 18. Nowadays, the club is trying to perform at least one play a year, which is always so popular that it must be repeated many times.
Roses growing
After the First World War, Blatná became famous for growing roses. A gardener Jan Böhm (1888 - 1959) was the one who made it famous. He built pink plantations, which in the 1930s spread over an area of more than 30 hectares and bloomed around half a million pink flowers per year. At that time, the Blatná Rosarium was the largest enterprise of its kind in the Czech Republic. Roses have brought great glory to the city, and it deserved the name “Blatná - the City of Roses” for many years. In addition, Böhm intensively promoted roses not only in books and magazine articles, but also with quality catalogues of his own roses. In addition to his novelties, he also marketed the creations of other cultivators, contributing to the expansion of Geschwind's roses, for example. Jan Böhm participated in many exhibitions not only at home but also abroad and he also organized many exhibitions. He has won more than 70 Czech and foreign awards for his cultivating skills (including 14 gold medals). National exhibitions of roses were held in Blatná, where Böhm excelled and surprised with his new crop.
The proof of the great fame that accompanied the rose exhibition in Blatná is a written record from July 1928. The magazine Písecký Otavan (volume XI., No. 11-12) brought the following report about one of the exhibitions:
“On 14, 15 and 16 July, an exhibition of roses was held as part of the celebrations of the tenth anniversary of the declaration of Czechoslovakia and 40th anniversary of the Czechoslovak Tourist Club, organized by the club department together with the National Shooting Union Blatná. On Saturday, 14th July, the exhibition of roses was launched in the packing rooms of the exhibitor Mr. Jan Böhm. The opening ceremony was also attended by the honorary citizen of Blatná Mr. František Krejčí; at the same time the Böhm company celebrated the tenth anniversary of its establishment. At the beginning the company was quite small but then started growing each year, armed with all the gardening equipment. The Böhm company was represented at the exhibition of contemporary culture in Brno by 2,900 pieces of roses, at the regional exhibition in Prerov by 600 pieces, at the regional exhibition in Březnice by 500 pieces. The Blatná exhibition also proved the success of the business. This year's Böhm novelty is a dark-red rose with a strong fragrance "Father J. Böhm" and a pink carnation "Bohemia". Mr. Böhm exports roses to a number of countries in Europe and overseas. However, the company does not limit only to growing roses. For example, a beautiful view offered in June a field of 15 thousand Japanese peonies. As in other years, the exhibition attracted many foreigners to Blatná, proof that these exhibitions already have a reputation. On the same day in the evening, a tourist discussion was held in the “Jubileum”. On Sunday, July 15, was held a ceremonial meeting of the Czechoslovak Tourist Club in the boardroom of the district administrative commission. At half past ten in the morning there was a flower promenade and a concert of the 11th Infantry Regiment of Fr. Palacký of Písek under the conduction of Warrant officer Class one Bláha. At 1:30 p.m. there was a parade of shooting units through the city to the castle park, where the drama club of the National Shooting Union of Pilsen performed a one-act-play by E. Šimek "With a weapon in your hand, protect your homeland ". The performance was preceded by the author's speech and was followed by folk festivity. In the evening, a Venetian night was held on the chateau pond "Příkopy". The music of the 11th Regiment performed again. The waterfront was decorated with poles with lanterns, which, along with the lit boats and fireworks, looked really fabulous. And a marvellous background was the old castle. The festivities ended with a party in the hotel "Jubileum". "
The beautiful roses also received great names from Jan Böhm. For example, he named the bright yellow rose "Star of Blatná",
pinkish white rose "A kiss", salmon red and pink got the name "Czech fairy tale". In 1934 the rose "Lída Baarová" rose,
in 1935 was cultivated "Where my home is" and two years later "Heart of Europe", "Snow White", "South Bohemian Sun" or "Vlasta
Burian". He named the roses not only after the actors, important personalities of social life and history, but also after
his family members, and in many cases the names expressed Böhm's patriotic feeling.
During the Protectorate, part of the pink plantations was converted into fields. After 1948, continued with the cultivation the communal enterprise, which was closed down in the 1990s. Since then, this traditional domain, which made Blatná famous and given it the name “City of Roses”, does not exist. The rose and ornamental nursery of Mr. Miloslav Šíp in Skaličany, who cultivates a wide range of different varieties of roses, can be considered as a follower of the Blatná rose tradition.
In addition to roses, marjoram and vegetables were grown in a larger volume. The production and quality of marjoram was so great that it was also exported abroad in the 1970s and 1980s. Cucumbers were grown in greenhouses, onion, leek and other vegetables on the fields.
Guitar
In 1947 was founded the company Resonet, which with its products (electronical piano and later electric guitars) literally conquered the world. The stars of the music world, such as the Led Zeppelin, the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, played the guitars manufactured here. After nationalization, production continued at company Dřevokov. In 2009 a large guitar exhibition took place in Blatná in the presence of the original owner of the company Ladislav Kořán.
Lacemaking
Bobbin lace making has been a long-standing tradition in the Blatná region, specifically in Sedlice. Lace-making reached its greatest boom in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The first written records of Sedlice bobbin lace can be found in an old file on the Prácheňský region, which shows that the production of lace in Sedlice dates back to the 15th century. In the first half of the 18th century Mrs. Marie Ludmila Černínová was the owner of the Sedlice estate, she liked the lace and contributed to the expansion of its production among women and young ladies. The domestic production of lace was further enhanced after the abolition of the robots in 1848. In 1899, the new owner of the estate in Čekanice, Vlasta Stránecká, established a lace school in Sedlice. Bobbin laces were greatly popular, renowned for their quality, and merchants even from Bavaria came to purchase them. The desired product was mainly "Sedlice headdress", which was tailored from gold thread and then decorated with chopped grenades. Although the lace school was abolished, the tradition of Sedlice lace has not been forgotten. In 2000 was implemented a project aimed at preserving the centuries-old tradition of lace-making. A new legal entity, Krajky Sedlice, o.p.s. was set and in Sedlice opened a shop where lace products and tools for lace production are presented and sold and the company Sedlická krajka organizes lacemaking courses for children and adults.