HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE
Foundation of the village dates back to the mid-seventeenth century. Two settlers are registered in 1653 and the Theresian Cadastre from 1757 already registers 27 houses. The village was built upon approval of the Duke of Krumlov, Johan Christian von Eggenberg.
The estates were submitted to the Prince Schwarzenberg as par of his inheritance on 14th March 1799, which was confirmed by Budějovice Regional Authority on 27th March 1799. According to the word of mouth, the first house at the territory of today's village was supposed to be built in 1570 and it was the house No. 79.
At the beginning of the 20th century Nová Pec had almost 500 inhabitants (476 precisely) and 66 houses were built there. Unprecedented boom of the village occurred after the World War I, in which period many new buildings could be recorded. This is usually attributed to the favourable position of the village, being a popular ski resort in winter with sufficient snow cover as well as a summer tourist destination sought-after thanks to its peaceful character with multitude of places for relaxation. All Nová Pec inhabitants were of Roman-Catholic religion. The village name could be derived from a new kettle used for boiling of resin. The village fell into the parish of Želnava.
The estates of Nová Pec were covered by forests, or almost virgin forests at many places, until the 16th century. These were clear-fallen for a daily wage and the first few houses were built right in those times. At the cleared areas, meadows and fields gradually occurred. Working folks were purchasing the estates from the estate lords to build the first smaller or larger homesteads there.
The forests around the village were mostly in the property of the Prince Schwarzenberg and were managed by the Forest Administration Plešný, Jelení Vrchy and Želnava where also seated the management of timber transport. The forests stretched in the area of the altitude from 700 m (along the Vltava) to 1300 m on Smrčina and Plechý mountains. The conifers were represented mainly by spruce but there were also firs and pines in smaller quantities. Among broadleaved trees we should mention beech, ash, elm, maple and hornbeam. Timber was shipped along the Schwarzenberg Floating Canal and the Vltava by rafting, later naturally also by railway. The job of the employees of the Schwarzenberg Forest Administrations also included game management. The forests were abundant in game of various species.
With technical advancements the need for labour force was naturally decreasing, which projected also into the field of forestry. This trend occurred with the construction of the railway between Budějovice and Želnava completed in 1892, which was subsequently in 1910 extended to Haidmühle. Building of a portal crane and arrival of chainsaws in 1940 drastically reduced numbers of employees at forest administrations. Subsequent suspension of timber floating and horses replacement with tractors also led to layoffs.
No village of the area including Nová Pec had a lack of skilful people. They were manufacturing various useful tools and instruments - rakes, wooden pitchforks, handles and shafts. This is just a fraction of the folk's production aimed at satisfaction of proper as well as the neighbours' needs. Many of the craftsmen started their own businesses. And there were naturally also other businesses, as for instance barber trade, pig-slaughtering, roof covering with thatches and shingles, hammering or smithery. All of these trades were available in Nová Pec or its vicinity.
Another inseparable part of the life in Nová Pec and surrounding villages consisted in the local social life. Large number of pubs and hotels were the main initiators of social events. There were also many shops there. The village also had several clubs - two brass bands, one string ensemble, the cycling, singing and sports clubs and the Union of Country Youths. Forestry employees were gathered in the Hubert Club. Dance evenings and balls were held mostly on Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve and village fair. The clubs ceased to exist during the World War.
The estates were submitted to the Prince Schwarzenberg as par of his inheritance on 14th March 1799, which was confirmed by Budějovice Regional Authority on 27th March 1799. According to the word of mouth, the first house at the territory of today's village was supposed to be built in 1570 and it was the house No. 79.
At the beginning of the 20th century Nová Pec had almost 500 inhabitants (476 precisely) and 66 houses were built there. Unprecedented boom of the village occurred after the World War I, in which period many new buildings could be recorded. This is usually attributed to the favourable position of the village, being a popular ski resort in winter with sufficient snow cover as well as a summer tourist destination sought-after thanks to its peaceful character with multitude of places for relaxation. All Nová Pec inhabitants were of Roman-Catholic religion. The village name could be derived from a new kettle used for boiling of resin. The village fell into the parish of Želnava.
The estates of Nová Pec were covered by forests, or almost virgin forests at many places, until the 16th century. These were clear-fallen for a daily wage and the first few houses were built right in those times. At the cleared areas, meadows and fields gradually occurred. Working folks were purchasing the estates from the estate lords to build the first smaller or larger homesteads there.
The forests around the village were mostly in the property of the Prince Schwarzenberg and were managed by the Forest Administration Plešný, Jelení Vrchy and Želnava where also seated the management of timber transport. The forests stretched in the area of the altitude from 700 m (along the Vltava) to 1300 m on Smrčina and Plechý mountains. The conifers were represented mainly by spruce but there were also firs and pines in smaller quantities. Among broadleaved trees we should mention beech, ash, elm, maple and hornbeam. Timber was shipped along the Schwarzenberg Floating Canal and the Vltava by rafting, later naturally also by railway. The job of the employees of the Schwarzenberg Forest Administrations also included game management. The forests were abundant in game of various species.
With technical advancements the need for labour force was naturally decreasing, which projected also into the field of forestry. This trend occurred with the construction of the railway between Budějovice and Želnava completed in 1892, which was subsequently in 1910 extended to Haidmühle. Building of a portal crane and arrival of chainsaws in 1940 drastically reduced numbers of employees at forest administrations. Subsequent suspension of timber floating and horses replacement with tractors also led to layoffs.
No village of the area including Nová Pec had a lack of skilful people. They were manufacturing various useful tools and instruments - rakes, wooden pitchforks, handles and shafts. This is just a fraction of the folk's production aimed at satisfaction of proper as well as the neighbours' needs. Many of the craftsmen started their own businesses. And there were naturally also other businesses, as for instance barber trade, pig-slaughtering, roof covering with thatches and shingles, hammering or smithery. All of these trades were available in Nová Pec or its vicinity.
Another inseparable part of the life in Nová Pec and surrounding villages consisted in the local social life. Large number of pubs and hotels were the main initiators of social events. There were also many shops there. The village also had several clubs - two brass bands, one string ensemble, the cycling, singing and sports clubs and the Union of Country Youths. Forestry employees were gathered in the Hubert Club. Dance evenings and balls were held mostly on Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve and village fair. The clubs ceased to exist during the World War.