South Bohemian Region

South Bohemia curates the Czech Republic's heritage economy—Český Krumlov's UNESCO designation generates tourism revenue, medieval fishponds produce carp for Christmas dinner tradition, and Budweis (České Budějovice) supplies the beer that gave its name to an American brand dispute. This economic archaeology preserves pre-industrial activities as contemporary revenue sources. The region's 500+ fishponds, some dating to the 15th century, constitute a working historical landscape that functions as both protein production and tourist attraction. Agriculture retains prominence unusual for developed European regions. The nuclear power plant at Temelín provides base-load employment and tax revenue. This portfolio approach—tourism, traditional agriculture, energy—creates an economy that neither booms nor collapses. South Bohemia demonstrates that regions can economically sustain heritage maintenance, but only where the heritage itself generates ongoing revenue rather than requiring pure preservation subsidy.