Cetviny is a Czech and Zettwing a German name for a former small town located in South Bohemia right on the Austrian border. Before WW2, it had more than 500 mostly German residents in some 120 houses. After expatriation of the German residents went the small town into deterioration and in the 50-ies was entirely and deliberately destroyed. Only the building of church, customs office and two houses adopted to the needs of the border police together with water fountain have escaped destruction. In 1990, after more than 40 years of restricted entry due to its border location, Cetviny/Zettwing was made accessible to public again

The story of Cetviny/Zettwing is not an exceptional one. After WW2, some 3.1 to 3.2 mil. Germans were forced to leave Czechoslovakia and some 1200 villages were destroyed. Individual stories of those places are hardly known even today.

This web page will present you with the history of Cetviny/Zettwing from its foundation, with the places of interest in Cetviny/Zettwing as well as in the surrounding region and with the activities of the Civic Association Cetviny -Zettwing.

We can be reached on the following e-mail address: cetviny@volny.cz