Founded by a Bohemian king in the 13th century, Budweis is a charming Czech Republic town; its Czech name is Ceské Budejovice. It was for a time the royal brewery for the Holy Roman Emperor, and beer remains a major industry there. (Anheuser-Busch's Budweiser brand was originally brewed as an imitation of the Czech lager, but it now has its own brand identity, and has been unsuccessful in its attempts to purchase the Czech Budweiser brewing company.) Budweis is located near the confluence of the Vltava and Malše Rivers; its impressive town square features Gothic, Renaissance and baroque buildings. It also has a beautiful town hall (decorated with bronze gargoyles), a Belle Epoque train station and its famous 16th-century Black Tower.