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Czech Republic Guide

Central Bohemia

Mělník

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Occupying a spectacular, commanding site at the confluence of the Vltava and Labe rivers, MĔLNÍK ( www.melnik.info ), 33km north of Prague, lies at the heart of Bohemia's tiny wine-growing region. The town's history goes back to the ninth century, when it was handed over to the Přemyslids as part of Ludmila's dowry on her marriage to Prince Bořivoj. Ludmila was born here and it became the residence of the dowager queens of Bohemia until the Habsburgs took over the Czech Lands. Ludmila is also credited with introduing vines to the area, but viticulture only became the town's economic mainstay after Charles IV, aching for a little of the French wine of his youth, introduced grapes from Burgundy (over which he also ruled).