The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

Historically Vimperk has been known as an important regional trade centre, being located on the Golden Trail from Passau to Prachatice.

[4] The castle was most likely founded by King Ottokar II to protect the border and the new branch of the Golden Trail, the important trade route from Passau to Bohemia.

In the 1260s, Ottokar II lent the manor and the castle, which included the walled fortress with a tower house and a palace, to the noble family of Janovic.

During their rule, the settlement and the castle were merged into a single fortified unit and an outpost, mighty round tower Haselburg, was built.

[5] Despite the era of the Hussite Wars, Vimperk prospered, and in 1479, it was granted the town rights by King Vladislaus II.

This construction and other expensive activities ruined him financially so that he was forced in to sell the castle in 1630 to Oldřich, Count of Eggenberg.

In 1945, American Allied Forces liberated Vimperk, which is commemorated by a plaque in the centre of the town.

[4] The largest employer based in the town is a branch of the Rohde & Schwarz company, which is a manufacturer of electrical devices.

[11] The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary is located on the town square and since its construction it has been the spiritual centre of Vimperk.