Discover Vodnany: City History and Fishing Culture

Vodnany combines a rich urban history with fishing-related themes and a landscape shaped by ponds. The Deanery Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is considered the town’s most prominent landmark; written accounts of it date back to 1317. Museums, a gallery, the Městská bašta, and several trails offer different points of focus. You can tailor your stay to your interests, whether that means historical exhibitions, art, or the connection between fishing and nature.

City History and Art

The City Museum in Vodnany is housed in a former synagogue and focuses on the town’s history and fishing in the Vodňany region. These two themes also feature on the Městský rybářský okruh. The Městská galerie Vodňany offers a different perspective: its permanent exhibition includes the legacies of Julius Zeyer, František Herites, and Otakar Mokrý, works by Czech artists from around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and drawings by Mikoláš Aleš. Temporary exhibitions are also held.

The Městská bašta houses the exhibition “Jan Žižka and Vodňany,” which focuses on the town’s military history. It can only be visited with a guide, so take this requirement into account when planning your visit. The cultural venues therefore differ not only in subject matter, but also in the access requirements at the bastion.

Explore Fishing on the Trails

The 3 km Městský rybářský okruh is a circular trail close to town that runs through Vodnany and connects places directly associated with the fishing trade. These include the Velká Podvinice pond and the grounds of the Secondary Fisheries School. The route also passes the Velká Outrata, Malá Outrata, and Malá Podvinice ponds before returning to its starting point. Check trail conditions before setting out.

To round off your visit, you could try carp prepared Vodňany-style; whether a restaurant offers it during your visit may vary. At 440 m, the Stezka čápa Vodňany – Zátiší II is considerably shorter than the 3 km loop. This walking trail features 16 original interactive and informational elements that visitors can try out for themselves. The two trails offer different ways to explore: a loop with a fishing focus and a shorter route with hands-on activities.

The Lesopark in Zátiší features wooden installations, giant mushrooms, the Stezka čápa Vodňana, and a place to relax or have a picnic. The interactive educational and adventure trail Cesta úhoře is near MEVPIS Vodňany. Through games in a natural setting, it introduces visitors to the migration of the endangered eel. The trail is freely accessible; conditions on site may change.

Pond Landscapes and Nature

MEVPIS Vodňany is an educational and conference centre housed in the reconstructed Brokův mlýn. Educational activities for various audiences are held there; program details may change. The School Fisheries Museum in Vodňany complements the theme with aquariums containing live fish and a historical section.

Malý ústavní rybník is a protected natural area within a pond system, 1.5 km northwest of Vodnany’s historic town square. Along with the ponds on the Městský rybářský okruh and the natural surroundings of Cesta úhoře, it offers another perspective on the landscape around the town.

Discover more destinations: Okrouhlice, Buzice, Cehnice, Tchořovice, Budyně, Kváskovice, Bělčice, Čepřovice.

Go to the broader travel overview: Strakonice District.