Discover Velký Rybník: Ponds, Chapel and Traditions

Velký Rybník offers several specific reasons to visit. The municipality includes the Návesní, Otavník and Horkáč ponds, as well as the Horkáč natural swimming area, an 18th-century chapel and a memorial to those who fell in the First World War. Connections to Easter and Maypole traditions, along with a restaurant serving regional dishes, also contribute to the character of the place. You can therefore plan your stay around water, local history, traditions or food.

Ponds and natural swimming area

Velký Rybník includes the three ponds Návesní, Otavník and Horkáč. The Horkáč natural swimming area is also in the municipality; check local conditions before swimming. A municipal notice from 2008 also mentions ice skating at the Horkáč natural swimming area in winter. Swimming and winter ice skating thus give the place two different activity-related attractions. Since the information about ice skating dates from 2008, you should also confirm locally that it is available before making specific plans.

The ponds offer an overview of the named bodies of water in the municipality; the natural swimming area adds a specific activity to this connection with water. If you want to make water the focus of your trip, it is helpful to distinguish between the general connection to the ponds and the conditions for a particular activity at the natural swimming area.

Chapel and memorial

The Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk is a small 18th-century religious building with a square floor plan. The date places the building in a particular century, while its floor plan gives it a specific architectural form. Two tangible aspects stand out at the chapel: its age and its design.

The memorial to those who fell in the First World War stands in the center of Velký Rybník. It commemorates those who fell between 1914 and 1918. The chapel and the memorial thus represent different aspects of cultural history: a religious building and its architecture on the one hand, and remembrance of a clearly defined period on the other.

Traditions and regional cuisine

Velký Rybník is associated with the Easter tradition of Pomlázka. Another historical tradition concerns the Maypole: in 2011, a 25-meter-tall birch was decorated as a Maypole and guarded; it was scheduled to be felled on June 4. This gives you two different insights into local traditions: a connection to an Easter custom and a specific, dated Maypole event.

The restaurant at Motel Velký Rybník serves regional dishes, homemade desserts and high-quality Reserva coffee. Food and service may change, so check the current offering before your visit.

Travel interests and finding accommodation

First decide whether water activities, architectural and commemorative history, or traditions and cuisine will shape your stay. When making specific plans, take into account local swimming conditions, the date of the winter information and the restaurant’s current offering.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kosetice, Bratřice, Bácovice, Čížkov, Ústrašín, Pelhrimov, Rodinov, Utechovice.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Pelhřimov.