Poušť lies on the shore of Jakubský Pond, surrounded by forests. A blue-marked tourist trail leads from the pond’s reed-bed meander to Poušť. Water, forest and paths are therefore among the defining features of the place. There are historical traces, too: the pond’s name refers to a church that no longer exists, while local legends and monuments tell further stories. Those considering Poušť as a travel destination can distinguish between nature and history by visiting specific locations.

Ponds and forest landscape

The reed-bed meander of Jakubský Pond is a nesting site for many waterbirds. The pond is also the largest surviving pond in the Dymokury pond system. Jakubský Pond thus brings together two distinct perspectives: its reed-bed area as a nesting site and its place within a larger pond system.

There are other points of interest by Pustý Pond. A nature trail loops around the pond in the area around Poušť; a forest clearing offers a view across its entire surface, from one dam to the other. The blue route continues from Pustý Pond to Komárovský Pond. The routes are therefore clearly distinct: at Jakubský Pond, the blue markings lead from the reed-bed meander to the settlement of Poušť, while at Pustý Pond the route continues toward Komárovský Pond.

Paths and getting around

An alternative walking route circles Jakubský Pond along the opposite shore and also reaches the Činěves railway station nearby. East of the pond, beyond a small railway bridge, there is a forest spring. The circular route and the landmarks of the bridge and spring offer different points of reference for paths by the water.

Another path passes through an avenue of old lime trees, designated a state natural monument. Routes to historical sites are also marked differently: an unmarked route along the former sugar-factory railway leads to the archaeological site on Vondrák. The Záhorská Fortress once stood at the site. When planning, it is worth distinguishing the unmarked route from the blue-marked paths.

Church, legends and monuments

Jakubský Pond is named after the Church of St James in the settlement of Poušť, which no longer exists. A local legend tells of a hermit who stayed with his companions on an island to care for a small church; the island is associated with the present-day settlement of Poušť. Another legend places the hermit on an island in Jakubský Pond, where he cared for a chapel and rang a small bell. These stories belong to local tradition and should be distinguished from the archaeological traces on Vondrák.

Jakubský Mill is another example of historic architecture. The surviving older ground-floor section of the mill was declared a cultural monument in 2007; Jakubský Mill is one of the few remaining timber-built mills in the Polabí region. Záhornice and the settlement of Poušť also share a war memorial. Together, these places offer different points of interest for a stay focused on landscape, paths and history.

Discover more destinations: Velenice, Kounice, Budiměřice, Straky, Podebrady, Chroustov, Chotesice, Podmoky.

See the broader travel overview: Okres Nymburk.