Dvořiště

Dvořiště is a nature reserve and one of the oldest and largest fishponds in the Czech Republic, located in the Třeboň basin roughly six kilometers northeast of the small town of Lišov. The reserve covers the northwestern shore of Dvořiště pond together with the floodplain of a small stream feeding into it.

Where does the name come from?

The pond most likely took its name from a nearby manor farm ("dvorec" in Czech), remnants of which can still be found in the surrounding area.

How old is the pond?

Dvořiště is considered the second-oldest pond in South Bohemia. Records confirm its existence before 1363, and between 1363 and 1367 the then-owner of the Lomnice estate, Ješek of Kosova Hora, expanded it by cutting through rock and installing a sluice gate. The pond reached its present form in 1580, when it was enlarged by Jakub Krčín of Jelčany, the renowned Czech pond-builder credited with founding and modernizing numerous fishponds across the Třeboň region.

How big is Dvořiště pond?

It ranks as the fourth-largest pond in the Czech Republic and is the oldest pond within the entire Třeboň pond system. The water surface covers 337 hectares, held back by an earthen dam 550 meters long and 10 meters high.

Why was the area protected?

The reserve was established to protect well-preserved littoral vegetation along the pond's shore, along with adjacent wetlands and peat bogs. The peat bog section supports notable plant species, including round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), white beak-sedge (Rhynchospora alba), and narrow-leaved cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium). Their presence reflects the high ecological value of wetlands that have survived largely unchanged despite centuries of the pond's use as a working fish-farming reservoir.

What is the pond used for today?

Beyond its protective status, Dvořiště still serves an economic purpose — it is used for fish farming, including the region's famous Třeboň carp, and the surrounding area is a popular spot for recreation and angling. The coexistence of a protected nature reserve alongside an actively managed fish pond is characteristic of the Třeboň region, where nature conservation and traditional pond-keeping dating back to the Middle Ages continue side by side.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Dvořiště from Lišov? The reserve and pond lie about six kilometers northeast of Lišov, within the Třeboň basin.

Who gave the pond its current shape? Jakub Krčín of Jelčany enlarged the pond to its present form in 1580.

What plants grow in the reserve? The peat bog area is home to species such as round-leaved sundew, white beak-sedge, and narrow-leaved cottongrass, typical of well-preserved wetlands.

Is Dvořiště pond still used commercially? Yes, despite its nature reserve status, part of the pond continues to be used for traditional fish farming, as is common throughout the Třeboň region.