Želnava () is a municipality and village in Prachatice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 100 inhabitants.
Administrative division Želnava consists of three municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): Želnava (102) Slunečná (7) Záhvozdí (16)
Etymology The initial German name of Želnava was probably Seldenau. That would mean that it was derived from the older German words Selde ('hut', 'cottage') and Au ('floodplain', 'meadow').
Geography Želnava is located about south of Prachatice and southwest of České Budějovice. It lies in the Bohemian Forest mountain range, on the border between the Šumava National Park and Šumava Protected Landscape Area. The highest point is at above sea level. The upper course of the Vltava River flows along the western municipal border.
History The first written mention of Želnava is from 1360. Until the beginning of the 16th century, it belonged to the Zlatá Koruna estate. After that, the village was owned by the Rosenberg family.
Until World War II, Želnava had an ethnic German majority. After World War II, the German-speaking inhabitants were expelled.
Demographics
Transport The I/39 road (the section from Český Krumlov to Volary) runs through the municipality.
Sights
The main landmark of Želnava is the Church of Saint James the Great. The first mention of the church is from 1395. In 1708–1712, it was completely rebuilt to its present form. From the medieval church, probably only the lower part of the tower has survived.
A technical monument is a stone water reservoir in the centre of Želnava. It dates from 1818.
References
External links