Vodňany

The moon was rising in the east and in its encouraging light Schweik stepped out eastwards, saying to himself: "I'm bound to get to Budějovice sooner or later." When he emerged from the woods he saw a town on the right and he therefore turned aside in a more northerly direction. After that he went due south, where another town became visible (this was Vodňany). He adroitly kept clear of it by cutting across the fields, and the morning sun welcomed him on the snowy slopes above Protivín.

How to reach Vodňany from Písek

By car:

• I/20 direction České Budějovice (22 km)

By bus:

• from the main bus station or Budějovická Street, several daily connections including the weekends

By train:

• line no. 201 to Ražice or line no. 200 to Protivín and continue on no. 190 to Číčenice, change there for no. 197

By bike:

• the route to Protivín is described in the next chapter, from there take the 1075 along the Blanice

On foot:

• red route to Smrkovice, than blue route to Protivín and yellow route to Vodňany (23 km)

Things to do

• Explore the town which, with its 500 year old tradition of pond making, houses the Faculty of Fisheries and Water Management of the South Bohemian University. The local museum will throw light on the pond making traditions of the region and the water mill and floating logs.
• Vodňany boasts a large square with preserved defence towers and a bridge with a Baroque statue of St John of Nepomuk. The Church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary decorated with pseudo renaissance graffiti by Mikoláš Aleš is also worth a visit. More art is to be found at the Municipal Gallery founded by the art expert Dr. B. Žahour.
• Should you have wondered about the taste of fresh carp, tench or pike, buy a live fish from the local fishermen to prepare at home. The tradition of pond and water management goes back a long way in Vodňany. There are several surviving mills which can be visited today. For example the Denků or Dubských mill whose history is captured in the tourist booklet called Nemelem, nemelem (No milling). If you wonder why ask in the information centre in the square.

Infocentrum Vodňany

Náměstí Svobody 19, CZ-38901 Vodňany
Telephone: +420 383 384 934
E-mail: info@vodnany.net
www.vodnany.net

File date: 5.11.2010