Waterfall in Terčino údolí

The Waterfall in Terčino údolí is an artificial cascade on the Stropnice River, tucked inside a romantic landscape park two kilometers west of Nové Hrady in South Bohemia. It is the centerpiece of Terčino údolí (also known as Tereziino or Terezčino údolí) and one of the oldest engineered landscape features of its kind in the Novohradské hory region.

Where did the waterfall come from?

The English-style park was founded in 1756 by Count Jan Nepomuk Buquoy for his wife Terezie Buquoyová — the valley still carries her name. The land had previously been a pheasantry established in 1667, which the Buquoy family transformed into a romantic landscape park full of exotic trees, ornamental shrubs, and small ponds. The count commissioned the waterfall itself in 1817 as one of the park's main attractions. Standing roughly 13 meters tall, it has been drawing visitors for two centuries with the same effect it was designed for.

How does an artificial waterfall like this actually work?

What looks like a natural cascade is really the result of a two-hundred-year-old engineering idea. Water reaches the rock ledge through an artificial channel about 700–720 meters long, fitted with sluice gates that control the flow. The final 128 meters of the channel run over a bed of stone slabs, with part of the route carved directly into the rock. This construction let the park's designers place the waterfall exactly where they wanted the best visual effect, independent of the Stropnice's natural course.

What else is there to see in Terčino údolí besides the waterfall?

The park still preserves the layout typical of 18th- and 19th-century romantic landscape gardens: mature, partly exotic tree stands, ornamental shrubs, small ponds, and historic structures scattered across the grounds. Nearby, visitors can also find an old tvrz (a small fortified manor) and a centuries-old oak tree that local guides describe as roughly five hundred years old. Since the mid-20th century, the whole valley has been protected as a national nature monument, which has helped keep its original, picturesque character intact.

When is the best time to visit?

The waterfall looks impressive year-round, but winter brings its most dramatic moment — during hard frosts it freezes into a striking wall of ice, a sight that regularly draws photographers and gets covered by local media. In summer and autumn, the valley instead offers the quiet green scenery typical of landscape parks from that era.

How do you get to the waterfall?

An educational nature trail leads to the waterfall, starting from the parking area at the entrance to Terčino údolí. The path is easy, requires no special preparation, and is open year-round free of charge. That makes the site well suited both to a relaxed family walk and to a short stop while exploring Nové Hrady itself.

Frequently asked questions

Is the waterfall in Terčino údolí natural? No — it is an artificial cascade built in 1817 on the orders of Count Buquoy, fed with water from the Stropnice River through a system of channels and sluice gates.

Is there an entrance fee for the park? No, entry is free and the park is accessible all year round.

Is the trail to the waterfall difficult? No, an easy educational trail leads there from the parking lot at the valley entrance, suitable for families with children too.

When does the waterfall look most spectacular? In winter, during hard frosts, when it freezes into an ice wall — that is when it attracts the most photographers.