železniční most Milevsko - Staňkov Railway bridge

Welcome to one of the most interesting technical structures in this picturesque region. Right now, you are facing a magnificent railway viaduct that proudly clings across the valley of Milevsky creek on the interface of the cadastral territory of the municipality of Sepekov and the town of Milevsko in the district of Písek. Raise your head and look around you. In front of you, there is a massive building, which at first glance will take its solid and moving form. Feel the strength and fortitude of the old builders who were able to create such a distinctive work in the landscape. When you look at the details in front of you, you will see a robust structure composed of roughly carved quarry stones that hold together and resist the tooth of time for decades. This magnificent bridge is built in a historic style and consists of a total of nine large arches which regularly divide space and carry the railway track forward.

Let us now move back more than a hundred years in time and look at how this monument originated and what preceded its present appearance. It is written at the end of the nineteenth century, and this whole area is undergoing a major transformation that is linked to the development of transport and industry. The railway line leading from Tábor to Rajice, which forms an integral part of this bridge, was put into operation on the twenty-first November of the year one thousand eighteen hundred and eighty-nine. Imagine the great labor and effort of hundreds of people who had to build such an extensive work without modern technology today. Although the names of the main architects written in chronicles have not been preserved and are unknown to us, the traces of their work speak for themselves. However, we know that specialised Italian workers were working on the construction of this stone viaduct alongside the local people, who brought their experience with demanding stonework and the construction of large arches. Together they created a work that still serves its original purpose.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and the details that you can observe at the construction site directly from where you are standing. Note carefully folded and grossly carved quarry stones, from which the whole construcja is created. Each piece of stone passed through human hands before being placed in its place in one of the nine arches. These arches form a harmonious whole that acts very firmly and reliably. No unnecessary ornaments would be in vain, the beauty of this viaduct lies in its effectiveness, cleanliness of shapes and honest craftsmanship. It serves as a reliable route for trains passing through the countryside. If you listen, you may hear the sound of an approaching train in the distance, which will remind you that this track is still alive and doing its part.

While the great historical drama took place on the battlefield or in the monarch's settlements, the story of this bridge is written by sweat and calluses of ordinary people, workers and engineers. Although the names of particular builders or historical figures associated directly with this place have not been preserved until today, this story lives in every stone. Imagine those Italian and Czech workers working together on the construction site, communicating with their hands and feet and laying stones to stone every day in the harsh conditions of the time. Their legacy has lasted for ages, and today we can admire the result of their collective efforts.

This technical monument also has a rich newer history of care and maintenance. A long decade served its purpose until it was entered in the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic in nineteen hundred eighty-eight, officially recognising its enormous value for future generations. But time is eroding even the toughest stone, so it was necessary to take care of the bridge. In the year two thousand and six there was a major repair of this stone viaduct, in which experts strengthened the masonry and treated the damaged weather sites. Only three years later, in the year two thousand and nine, another significant repair of this monument took place to ensure that the viaduct could safely continue to serve.

In conclusion, we'd like to invite you to explore the area further. Take a walk along the creek, where you will find other fascinating views of this nine-arc structure from different angles. Feel the calm of this place, where the natural beauty of southern Bohemia combines with the umm of human hands. Thank you for listening to our story, we hope you enjoyed the tour, and we wish you a pleasant journey on your next tour of history.