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

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Protivín began to develop around 1260 as a fortified settlement near a ford across the river Blanice. The first mentioning in a document dates from 1282. The name is derived from the name of its original owner, Protiva. During the 16th century a system of ponds was created north-east of Protivín. During the 19th century, Protivín slowly grew into a town, but the closure of a sugar factory caused a massive wave of emigration especially to the United States (one settlement in Iowa, founded in 1872, was named Protivin). Protivín received the official status of a town in 1899.

The railroad station building [top picture] was built for the Protivín–Zdice (Protiwin–Zditz) railroad (via Písek and Příbram), part of the railroad from Protivín to Rakovník (Rakonitz). The southern part of the railroad (Protivín–Zdice) was opened in December 1875, the northern part (Rakovník–Beroun) followed in April 1876 (the two parts of the railroad were connected by a stretch of the Bohemian Western Railroad (Prague–Plzeň).
[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahnstrecke_Protivín–Zdice, https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakonitz–Protivíner_Bahn]

The castle [bottom picture, background] was first mentioned in 1282. The Gothic castle of the 14th century was later remodelled in Renaissance and Baroque style.