Písek lies on the southern edge of the Východolabská tabule. Historical traces, sports competitions and recurring festivals offer a variety of reasons to get to know the place. When planning your visit, it is worth keeping the themes distinct: pond history and remembrance tell of the past, while sports and culinary gatherings have their own formats and dates.
History Between Landscape and Remembrance
The historic Písecký Pond covered 114 hectares—a size that gives a clear sense of the scale of the former pond system. The Památník Svobody was erected in 1920 in memory of local residents who died in the First World War. The pond history and the memorial site offer two different ways of exploring Písek’s past: one through a historic landscape, the other through remembrance of the town’s war dead.
An archaeological find also belongs to this historical context. In Písek near Chlumec nad Cidlinou, archaeologists discovered the remains of the dam of a late-medieval fishpond, including an outlet or overflow structure. A 2019 report describes the dam, in terms of its scale and state of preservation, as unparalleled in East Bohemian archaeology. In Písek, the memory of local residents and the history of the pond landscape thus sit alongside a find that offers a concrete glimpse into medieval fishpond management.
Sports Competitions in Different Formats
The competitions differ in discipline, distance and team format. The Písecký duatlon consists of a 3 km run, followed by 30 kilometres on a road bike and another 3 km run. The Písecký koloběh, by contrast, is a 5-kilometre competition for mixed pairs: one person runs while the other rides a mountain bike. The Miniduatlon alternates a 1 km run, five kilometres on a mountain bike and another 1 km run. The comparison makes the different emphases clear: a longer road-cycling leg in the duatlon, the division of roles between two team members in the koloběh, and a shorter cycling distance in the Miniduatlon.
The 2025 edition of the Písecký duatlon took its 30-kilometre cycling route from Písek through Kosice, Kosičky, Babice, Trnava, Boharyně, Zvíkov, Barchov, Barchůvek, Měník and Bydžovská Lhotka to Mlékosrby, before returning to Písek. In the 2025 edition of the Písecký koloběh, the approximately 5-kilometre route included crossing the Bystřice through a ford. Later editions may follow a different route; if you are planning to take part, check the route in advance.
The local sports calendar also includes the traditional Písecký turnaj v nohejbalu for pairs; the 2025 edition was the 18th staging of the tournament. On 4 October 2025, SDH Písek held fishing competitions at Hejbánek. These examples show different types of events, without implying a shared format or a fixed event date.
Culinary Gatherings and Traditional Festivals
Sousedské vaření a pečení is a recurring culinary gathering at the Písek fire station. In April 2025, children baked sweet and savoury strudels there; a competition was also held to find the best Moravian tlačené koláče. The gathering has a different focus from the sports competitions: here, cooking and baking together take centre stage.
Písecké posvícení traditionally takes place on the first weekend of November. The festival includes posvícenské koláčky and a public, family-oriented programme featuring music, dancing, a children’s carnival and a disco. Individual programme items may vary from one edition to another. So if you would like to plan your stay around a festival or competition, check the dates and programme in advance.
A stay in Písek can therefore have a variety of possible focuses: the historic pond landscape and remembrance, archaeological history, sports or culinary events. The differences between the formats and themes can help you tailor your visit to your interests, without equating any single event with the place as a whole.
Discover More Destinations
Divec, Starý Bydžov, Lužec Nad Cidlinou, Mlékosrby, Humburky, Hořiněves, Myštěves, Dolní Přím
For the broader travel overview: Okres Hradec Králové.
