Bolevec: Ponds, Nature and Culture in Plzeň

Bolevec combines an exceptional pond landscape with a protected moorland, pine forests and notable cultural monuments. The Bolevecké rybniční soustava on the northern outskirts of Plzeň comprises ten ponds. In summer, the Bolevecké rybníky are used for swimming. This means that a stay with a range of ideas for day trips can include everything from nature observation and walks to a technical monument and an open-air museum.

Protected landscapes between moorlands and pine forests

The Petrovka Nature Reserve encompasses the valley of the Bolevecký potok stream west of the Plzeň–Ledce road, adjacent southern slopes with pine stands and geomorphological features. It protects a pine ecosystem containing the gene pool of a local Scots pine ecotype, one of the oldest moorlands in the Plzeň region, wet meadows and numerous protected or endangered species. The Kamenný rybník Nature Reserve is located in Bolevec; 165 species of higher plants have been recorded there.

Marked trails with clear differences

Anyone wishing to explore the pond landscape actively can choose between two trails of different difficulty. The Olympijský okruh runs for 4 km around Velký Bolevecký rybník. It is marked blue and is therefore considered less demanding. The Kolem rybníků trail is 5 km long, marked red and considered more demanding.

The Kolem rybníků trail begins at the terminus of tram line 1 or at the car park by the Plzeň-Bolevec railway station. Both hiking trails around the Bolevecké rybníky are signposted with information boards and are suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users. This makes it possible to discover the same bodies of water from different perspectives, without the two routes having the same trail profile.

Nature experiences for different age groups

The Spejbl and Hurvínek educational trail starts and ends at Šídlovský rybník and is 5.5 km long. Ten stations with tasks for children and adults turn it into a self-contained discovery tour through the landscape. Another special attraction is the Sofronka Arboretum. More than 60 different pine species from around the world grow there. Among other things, the arboretum serves as a venue for forest education programmes. From two observation platforms, visitors can watch fallow deer in a forest enclosure.

Industrial history and rural culture

The Kolomazná pec is located in the Bolevec Moorlands. This important technical monument from the mid-18th century commemorates the production of tar and other products through the dry distillation of wood. At the same time, it is the best-preserved tar kiln complex in the Czech Republic. As part of the Sigmondova naučná stezka educational trail, it illustrates the historical processing of natural raw materials and the production of tar.

The U Matoušů open-air museum in Plzeň-Bolevec is a national cultural monument. It documents the development of rural folk architecture and the way of life in the Plzeň region from the 18th to the 20th century. The farmstead complex includes a large residential building, stables, a two-storey brick granary and a large barn; the preserved buildings are predominantly Neoclassical in origin. The farmstead is part of the Bolevec village heritage zone. The granary and barn house freely accessible exhibitions.

For further searches, you can also take a look at Radčice (Radčice), Letkov (Letkov), Losiná (Losiná), Dýšina (Dýšina), Starý Plzenec (Starý Plzenec), Pilsen (Pilsen), Chrást (Chrást) and Lhůta (Lhůta).

For the higher-level travel overview: Plzeň-City District.