Discover Dehtáře: Ponds, Nature and Village History

Dehtáře amid ponds, nature and village history

Dehtáře combines a long settlement history with bodies of water and protected natural areas in the Vysočina Region. The village is documented in writing as far back as 1379. At the same time, a red-marked hiking trail passes through Dehtáře, allowing you to combine historical traces and landscape themes when planning your trip without losing sight of the character of a small village.

Bodies of water and protected landscapes

The surroundings of Dehtáře are closely connected with water. The Želivka and the Sedlice Reservoir form the western and northern boundaries of Dehtáře’s cadastral areas. Smaller bodies of water also form part of the local landscape: the larger of the two ponds below Onšovice is Onšovický rybník. Onšovický potok flows from the ponds near Dehtáře to Jankovský potok and joins it near Milotice.

The Jankovský potok, associated with Dehtáře, is particularly noteworthy. It is designated as a national nature monument. The Jankovský potok protected area associated with Dehtáře includes peat bog and meadow communities and is home to the freshwater pearl mussel. In addition, Jankovský potok is a significant location in the Vysočina Region with a permanent population of otters (Lutra lutra). For nature observation, the stream here combines with peat bog and meadow areas as well as two characteristic animal species.

Chapel, village history and regional traces

The chapel dominates the village square in the centre of the village. It dates from the early 20th century and was renovated in 2016. Dehtáře therefore has a tangible focal point where the development of the village and its present-day appearance come together. The settlement of Dehtáře was established through internal colonisation on land that had previously been forested. The village name also points to an older occupation: it is associated with inhabitants who produced tar. The timeline thus extends from the written mention in 1379 through the chapels of the 19th and early 20th centuries to the renovation in 2016.

Further chapels add to the cultural character of the surrounding area. The Chapel of Saint Wenceslas in Onšovice dates from 1861. The chapel in Milotice dates from the mid-19th century. Together with the chapel in Dehtáře, these buildings reflect different historical points of reference within the local cultural landscape, without reducing Dehtáře itself to a single excursion destination.

The red-marked hiking trail complements the water features and village history with a route through Dehtáře. This gives you two different approaches to planning your trip: you can view the village through its historical development and chapels, or explore the landscape through its ponds, streams and protected area.

Orientation for planning your trip

The four districts of Dehtáře lie near road I/34 on the route between Pelhřimov and Humpolec. When choosing accommodation, Dehtáře is therefore particularly interesting if you are considering a place with village history, ponds, nature-related attractions and a marked hiking trail as a starting point for further research.

For further orientation, you can also explore Velký Rybník, Knizata, Zhořec, Křešín, Cervená Recice, Důl, Vysoká Lhota and Těmice.

To the higher-level travel overview: Pelhřimov District.