About this place
Koupaliště u Bohuslavic is a protected nature monument in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic, situated roughly 650 meters southeast of the village of Bohuslavice in the Jihlava district. The name translates literally as "swimming pool near Bohuslavice," a reference to the site's past rather than its present purpose — today this is a conservation area, not a place for swimming.
Where does the name come from?
At the heart of the site sits a concrete reservoir, built by the municipality of Bohuslavice sometime in the 1970s or 1980s as a public outdoor swimming pool. For decades it served local residents as a summer recreation spot. Declining water quality eventually led to the pool being abandoned for recreational use in 2008. Left untouched, the structure gradually filled in with aquatic vegetation and evolved into a natural wetland habitat.
Why is this site protected?
The site is protected for its aquatic and wetland biotopes, which support specially protected species. It covers an area of 4.97 hectares and holds a dual protection status — it is designated both as a nature monument (přírodní památka) and as a Natura 2000 site of European importance. The area is administered by the Vysočina Regional Authority (Kraj Vysočina).
What species live here?
The former swimming pool now hosts a substantial population of the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus), a species under strict protection across the European Union. Alongside it, the water is also home to the smooth newt and the alpine newt, plus other amphibians typical of standing water bodies. In the immediate vicinity of the nature monument, the common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) nests — a bird associated with clean, well-preserved watercourses and wetlands.
What should visitors know before coming?
Despite its name, Koupaliště u Bohuslavic is no longer a place to swim. It is a protected natural area, and bathing in the reservoir is neither practiced nor advisable given its conservation status and the sensitive species that depend on it. The site's significance today is primarily ecological — a striking example of how abandoned infrastructure can, over time, transform into a valuable ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim here? No. Despite the name referencing its former use as a swimming pool, the site is now a protected nature monument and habitat for protected amphibian species.
How large is the protected area? The site covers 4.97 hectares.
What species are protected here? Mainly the great crested newt, along with the smooth newt, alpine newt, and other amphibians, plus a nesting pair of kingfishers in the surrounding area.
Where exactly is it located? About 650 meters southeast of the village of Bohuslavice, in the Jihlava district, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic.
Who manages the site? The Vysočina Regional Authority (Kraj Vysočina), as part of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas.
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