Location: South Bohemian Region Map
Hussite Festival in September
Tábor (German Tabor) is a town in the Tábor district, in the South
Bohemian Region, 50 km north of České Budějovice and 75 km south of
Prague. It lies on the Luznica river. Approximately 34,000 inhabitants
live here, making it the second largest city in the region, after České
Budějovice. Together with Sezimová Ústí and Plana nad Lužnicí, they form
an urban agglomeration with more than 45,000 inhabitants. The historic
core of the city, with its perfectly preserved network of crooked
streets in the Gothic spirit, is a monument reserve.
Tábor is an
important road and railway junction as well as a regional center of
tourism. The attraction for visitors is the history of the Hussite
movement, as it was the Hussites who founded the town in 1420. There is
also the largest zoo in the South Bohemian Region (Zoo Tábor) and the
unique Oskar Nedbal Theater (D/O/N) with two auditoriums facing one
stage from different sides.
Tábor is the only non-regional town
in the Czech Republic in which, in addition to the district court, a
branch of the regional court is also located.
The prevailing opinion among Czech linguists is that the Hussite name
for the town of Tábor (originating from the biblical Mount Tábor in
Israel) gave rise to a general name for military camps that appeared in
Czech, but also in Polish and Hungarian, from the 15th century. It then
gave rise to the designation for tent camps for mass recreation of
children (children's camp, scout camp, pioneer camp), then also for
recreational stays with higher quality accommodation and, with a
negative context, also for concentration camps.
Other linguists
are of the opinion that the designation of military encampments comes
from the Turko-Tatar word tabur meaning troops in a defensive position
or wagon wall. It got into Hungarian, in which it is still found today,
in the 11th century at the latest, and then through Hungarian it got
into Czech.
There is an impact crater on the planet Mars, which
is named after the town of Tábor. It is located at coordinates 58.4°W,
35.8°S and has a diameter of 19.5 kilometers.
Tabor was originally found in 1420 by Petr Hromádka of Jistebnice and Jan Bydlínský of Bydlín. Both men were leaders of the Hussites, strong Czech movement to make changes in the practice of the Roman Catholic Church. This included communion with bread and wine to all people (not just bread) to all people and not only clergy. This is a reason you can see chalice as the symbol of the city. Hussites named their town Tabor after mount Tabor in the Holy Land (Israel) where according to the Gospels of the Bible Christ experienced Transfiguration. The word "Tabor" slightly changed its meaning in Czech Republic as well as other Eastern European countries since those times and became known as a synonym for a camp or encampment. It is particularly commonly used in reference to Gypsy settlements as "tabor".
Tabor was initially a mere temporary camp of the military forces. Many local men were drawn to the rebels who fought against the armies that supported orthodox traditions and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, but over time it became more permanent. Unfortunately the military settlement didn't last very long. It was sacked and burned by the armies of king George of Podebrady in 1452 thus ceasing this interesting experiment. Many of the museums, sculptures and historic buildings celebrate their violent military heritage today.