Tips for trips: Třeboň pond system

Notable is also the naturally meandering Lužnice with the remnants of floodplain forests, preserved bogs, extensive coniferous and mixed forests, all of it, of course, interwoven with a network of well-marked hiking and biking trails. The carp farms here enjoy protected geographical indication with the certified branding Třeboň carp.

You can become familiar with this largest listed water region in the Czech Republic at the château in Třeboň, and at the Třeboňsko House of Nature. The standing exhibition of Landscape and People will acquaint you with the history and engineering attractions of the Třeboň pond system. You will learn that the mud from the local bogs is used in Třeboň spas for treating musculoskeletal disorders and rheumatism. You will also enjoy the folk character and rustic Baroque elements that have been preserved in the South Bohemian village.

The works of master pondkeepers

The large pond system around Třeboň, following up on an older network of ponds and rivers, was begun in the late 15th century. The donator of the emerging ponds was the Rožmberk family, but we also know the names of the master pondkeepers. The spiritual father of the pond system was Štěpánek Netolický, and his work was continued by Mikuláš Ruthard of Malešova and Jakub Krčín of Jelčan. The latter took over a well-organized and efficient pond management, but also enlarged some of the ponds and created others – new and impressive in size.

The work of Jakub Krčín was, for example, the World at Třeboň Pond. Originally it was called Nevděk (Ingratitude), apparently because of difficulties in the construction of the dam. Its surface area covers 215 ha, but it only occupies the fifteenth spot on the list of the largest ponds in the Czech Republic. Nowhere else, however, will you measure only twelve miles on your journey around World!

In 1584 Jakub Krčín started building his life’s work, the Rožmberk Pond. Few people know that the king of Czech ponds used to be twice as big as today, when the total area was ​​490 ha. The large surface area and depth were not good for fish farming, because as the water level gradually decreased, the overall water surface did as well. Nevertheless, the surface of Rožmberk is so large that even today you can see the curvature of the earth’s surface in it. An impressive engineering work and fascinating natural science location is the 2430 meter long dam, reinforced by huge ages-old oak trees. A 22 km long nature trail for cyclists and pedestrians runs along it and around Rožmberk and includes twelve stops.

Source: czechtourism.com