Economic History in the Český Krumlov Region

On the economic side the region of Český Krumlov belonged to the poorer sub-mountain and border regions with mainly farming and small manufacture trade. Across the region of Český Krumlov during the medieval times, led a path called the Linz Way, which went from the region of Linz in Austria into Bohemia. Along this path many towns, villages castles and monasteries sprouted during the 13th century. Guild manufacture was typical for these small townships and towns and in the villages and the countryside there was mainly a farming community. In the 15th and 16th centuries mining started to develop and flourish around Český Krumlov, because of the silver deposits. During the following centuries the mining of valuable metals diminished, but the mining activity was revived during the 19th century , when they started to mine black-lead (graphite) in the region. (History of mining in the Český Krumlov Region).

Manufacturing industry started to develop in the region of Český Krumlov only in the second half of the 19th century and the first third of the 20th century. The local industry developed slowly and the local character of small scale production still remained. (History of Guilds and Crafts in the Český Krumlov Region). The typical traditional industry for this region were the paper mills, cloth-making, mining and processing of timber, peat or the mining of graphite. The home handmade products, like the basic tools, utensils, furniture, matches and clogs, were produced using timber from the Šumava forests as the basic material.

The graphite mines in Český Krumlov, Hůrka and Černá v Pošumaví, ironworks in Holubov - Adolfov, textile factory in Zlatá Koruna and the paper mills in Český Krumlov, Větřní and Loučovice belonged to the most important industrial activities of this region. (History of Industrial Production in the Český Krumlov Region).

For the transportation of the natural resources and industrial products several important transport facilities were used, like the manmade Schwarzenberg Navigational Canal and the natural flow of the Vltava river, which were used for the transportation of timber from the Šumava forests. Only later the basic railway infrastructure started to develop - Horse - drawn Railway which led from České Budějovice to Linz, the Šumava railway from České Budějovice to Želnava and the Electric Railway Rybník - Lipno.

Further information:
History of Farming in the Český Krumlov Region
History of Transportation in the Český Krumlov Region
The cobblers Vyšší Brod in the 17th century
The stove fitters in Vyšší Brod in the 16th Century
The weaving guild of Vyšší Brod
The Bath custodians in Vyšší Brod

(mj)