ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA	CZECH REPUBLIC
Jihočeský kraj	South Bohemia (České Budějovice) region
Okres: Prachatice

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The old town of Vimperk is situated at the 'Golden Path' from Bavaria to Prachatice in Bohemia which was mentioned already in 1010 and was used for the import of salt and the export of malt. In 1479 it obtained the status of a town. Today, summer and winter tourism and timber industry are important economic factors for the town.

The castle of Vimperk [background] was built in the 12th/13th century. In 1619 it was destroyed by count Peter Ernst von Mansfeld during the Thirty Years' War, and was restored in 1622–1624. The Princes of Schwarzenberg remodelled the castle in Baroque style 1728–1734. After a large fire which was caused by a bolt of lightning the castle had to be rebuilt again in 1857. Today the castle houses the town museum of Vimperk.