Velký a Malý Tisý

Velký a Malý Tisý is a national nature reserve situated between Lomnice nad Lužnicí and Třeboň, at the heart of the Třeboňsko region in South Bohemia. It ranks among the most significant fishpond-based nature reserves in the Czech Republic, a place where centuries-old fish farming traditions coexist with strict nature protection.

What makes up this reserve?

The reserve encompasses an extensive network of fishponds, dominated by Velký Tisý, which covers 317 hectares. Alongside it, the protected area includes Malý Tisý, Kubínský pond, Lower and Upper Přesecký ponds, Šatlava, Smyček, the lake below Tisý, Small and Large Dubovec, and Velký Panenský. This mosaic of water bodies, reed beds, wet meadows, and scattered woodland creates a habitat of exceptional biological diversity.

How did this area come to be protected?

The site was first designated a state nature reserve back in 1957, making it one of the oldest protected areas in the Třeboňsko region. In the 1990s its status was upgraded to national nature reserve. Today, Velký a Malý Tisý falls within Zone I — the strictest level of protection — of the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area, and it forms part of the UNESCO Třeboňsko Biosphere Reserve.

Why is it considered a bird paradise?

The reserve is recognized as one of the best-known ornithological sites in the Czech Republic. Its expansive open water, reed beds, and marshy meadows provide favorable breeding and feeding conditions for waterfowl and wetland birds throughout the year, from spring arrivals to autumn gatherings before migration. This richness of birdlife, alongside the pond system itself, is what gives the reserve its national significance.

What protection status does it hold?

Beyond its status as a national nature reserve and its place within the UNESCO biosphere reserve, the area is also part of the European Natura 2000 network as a site of European importance. It is managed by the Czech Nature and Landscape Protection Agency, which balances traditional pond-based fish farming with the requirements of species and habitat conservation.

Where exactly is it located?

The reserve lies right next to Lomnice nad Lužnicí, a small town in the Třeboňsko region known for its carp-farming traditions. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 49.061°N, 14.719°E, placing it at the core of the pond-studded landscape stretching between Třeboň and Lomnice nad Lužnicí.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors explore the reserve freely? As a strictly protected area (Zone I of the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area), the site calls for staying on designated paths and following the rules that apply to nature reserves — wandering off marked routes is not appropriate here.

What sets this reserve apart from other Třeboňsko ponds? Its scale and complexity: more than a dozen interconnected water bodies with a combined substantial surface area, anchored by the large Velký Tisý pond, form a habitat rarely matched elsewhere in Central Europe.

Since when has the area been protected? Protection dates back to 1957, when it was declared a state nature reserve; it was elevated to national nature reserve status in the 1990s.

What other attractions are nearby? The Třeboňsko region is famous for its network of historic fishponds and the nearby town of Třeboň with its well-preserved historic center, making the area an appealing base for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike.