Stará a Nová řeka

Stará a Nová řeka is a national nature reserve in South Bohemia, near the town of Třeboň, protecting two very different waterways that together tell the story of centuries of water management in the region. Declared in 2014, the reserve stretches across the cadastral territories of Holičky u Staré Hlíny, Stříbřec, Majdalena and Hamr in the Jindřichův Hradec district, covering roughly 1,200 hectares — making it the largest national nature reserve within the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area.

What is the difference between Stará řeka and Nová řeka?

Stará řeka ("Old River") is the original, natural riverbed of the Lužnice near Třeboň, tracing the course the river followed before it was diverted. Nová řeka ("New River"), by contrast, is entirely man-made: the channel was dug between 1548 and 1586 on the initiative of Jakub Krčín of Jelčany, the famous Renaissance-era fishpond builder and engineer. Its purpose was to divert floodwaters from the Lužnice into the Nežárka river and to supply water to the pond system around Vitmanov. Combining a natural riverbed and an artificial canal within a single reserve illustrates just how deeply centuries of fishpond engineering have shaped the Třeboňsko landscape.

What kind of nature does the reserve protect?

The area preserves natural forest stands and wetlands along both watercourses, providing habitat for a number of rare and endangered species. Among them is the green clubtail (Ophiogomphus cecilia), a dragonfly dependent on clean, naturally flowing water; the hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita) and the great capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo), both tied to old, hollow trees; and the fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina), an amphibian typical of wet meadows and floodplain pools. The mosaic of oxbow lakes, floodplain forests and damp meadows makes this one of the most valuable natural areas in the entire Třeboňsko region.

Who manages the reserve?

The area falls under the care of the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, specifically its regional branch, the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area Administration. This body is responsible for habitat protection, monitoring populations of protected species, and maintaining the balance between the natural character of Stará řeka and the historic, engineered character of Nová řeka.

Why is this place worth visiting?

The Stará a Nová řeka reserve is a striking example of how nature and centuries of human water management intertwine in the Třeboňsko landscape. Walking along both rivers, visitors can see a naturally meandering riverbed right next to a precisely engineered, 16th-century canal that still helps regulate water levels in the region today. The site appeals both to nature lovers hoping to spot rare insects and amphibians, and to anyone interested in the history of fishpond engineering — a field in which Třeboňsko remains one of the most significant regions in Central Europe.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the reserve located? Near Třeboň, in the Jindřichův Hradec district, across the cadastral territories of Holičky u Staré Hlíny, Stříbřec, Majdalena and Hamr.

When was Nová řeka built? The canal was constructed between 1548 and 1586 on the initiative of Jakub Krčín.

How large is the reserve? It covers about 1,200 hectares, making it the largest national nature reserve in the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area.

Which species are protected here? These include the green clubtail dragonfly, the hermit beetle, the great capricorn beetle and the fire-bellied toad.