In the Footsteps of Karel Klostermann

Total length

38 km

Duration

3 hours

Terrain

Paved roads and cycling trails

Recommended period for visiting

Spring to autumn

Difficulty level

Moderate – easy, flat terrain

Marking

No

How do you get to the start

The trip begins in Zliv, which can be reached by car, train, or bus.

How to get back

The route is designed as a loop.

Route description

This journey takes you to the Zbudovská Blata, a raw and mystical landscape of ponds and wetlands that captivated Karel Klostermann (1848–1923), the famous writer of the Šumava region, inspiring him to write his once highly popular novel "Mists over the Marshlands", which was later adapted into a film. Along the way, you will come across locations mentioned in the book, including Pašice, the village conservation area of Plástovice, the historic zone of Zbudov, Bezdrev (the third-largest pond in the Czech Republic), unique South Bohemian Baroque farmhouses, and many other natural and historical landmarks. Most importantly, you will experience the tranquility and unique atmosphere of the South Bohemian marshlands.

Interesting places on the route

1. Poděhusy – A vanished castle. It belonged to the Rožmberk family from the 13th century. In 1421, it was burned down by Jan Žižka and never rebuilt. It is now an archaeological site.
2. Podeřiště – A row of traditional farmsteads, including a notable South Bohemian Baroque-style house (No. 16), a village chapel, and a Gothic roadside cross near house No. 40
3. Nová Hospoda – A well-known restaurant and guesthouse, originally a coaching inn from 1812 on the old Linz Trail.
4. Novosedly – A South Bohemian village near the Oblánov pond (10.5 ha) with several well-preserved historical buildings.
5. Zbudov – A village conservation area and the center of the Zbudovská Blata. Many South Bohemian Baroque buildings have been preserved, including the estate of Jakub Kubata.
6. Monument to Jakub Kubata – Erected in 1904, this monument honors Jakub Kubata, the mayor of Zbudov, who, according to legend, was executed in 1581 for leading a peasant uprising. Nearby, large stones mark the supposed place of his execution and burial.
7. Mokřiny u Vomáčků – A nature reserve (38 ha) featuring original South Bohemian marshlands, wet meadows, and reed beds on the edge of Zlivský Pond.
8. Zliv – A town of 3,700 inhabitants, first mentioned in 1409 as a settlement belonging to the Hluboká estate. Near Zlivský Pond, there is a stone two-arched bridge from the 18th century with a statue of St. John of Nepomuk (1724). The town also features the Neo-Gothic Church of St. Wenceslas. In the 19th century, a ceramic factory and a refractory materials plant were established here.
9. Bezdrev – The third-largest pond in the Czech Republic, built before 1490. It has a dam nearly 400 meters long, a shoreline of 18.5 km, an area of 394 ha, and a total cadastral size of 520 ha.
10. Pašice – A well-preserved South Bohemian village with traditional farmhouses. House No. 7, built in 1819, features a half-hipped roof and a granary. House No. 12, along the road to Zliv, boasts a double-sided Baroque gable from 1824. There is also a small campground for cyclists.
11. Volešek – A large pond (146 ha), also called "Plástovický" or "Panický" Pond. It was created around 1500 and serves as an important bird nesting site.
12. Plástovice – A village conservation area and one of the best-preserved South Bohemian Baroque villages. The Plástovice blacksmith shop has become a symbol of South Bohemian Baroque architecture.
13. Sedlec – A village with several preserved South Bohemian Baroque farmhouses and the well-known Blata Restaurant. A unique feature is the cemetery, which is surrounded by a moat and located on the site of a former fortified manor.
14. Hlavatce – A historical South Bohemian village first mentioned in 1379, with a large central green and a chapel featuring a statue of St. Wenceslas.
15. Olšovice – A protected village chapel and a South Bohemian Baroque farmhouse (No. 28). A remarkable feature is the 400-year-old wild pear tree, which is a protected natural monument.