Vlhlavy brings together folk Baroque architecture, a long history of fishponds and concrete cycling options: the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk and Farmhouse No. 5 face each other across the village square. Vlhlavský Pond adds another historical dimension. The village’s history probably goes back a long way, while its first written mention dates to 1273. When planning your visit, you can therefore choose how to balance architectural history, landscape and two different cycling trips.
Folk Baroque, the Chapel and Local History
Vlhlavy has a number of folk Baroque farmhouses. Farmhouse No. 5 is considered the best-preserved building of this style in the village. Its gables are in the Blata style and painted with St. Wenceslas and St. Florian. The Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk stands opposite the farmhouse on the village square. Its portal is dated 1841; inside is a polychrome statue of St. John of Nepomuk. These details offer different ways to understand the buildings: the farmhouse through its gable design and decoration, and the chapel through the date on its portal and the statue inside.
The dates associated with Vlhlavy’s history also refer to different periods. The village’s history probably goes back to the Neolithic, more than 7,000 years ago. Its first written mention dates to 1273. Another historical landmark is the former Vlhlavy fortress: in the autumn of 1420, it was captured and burned by the Hussites under Jan Hrůza of Vlhlavy. Traces of its ditches remain in the terrain. This brings together probable early settlement, a written mention and a specific event from the Middle Ages, without suggesting that they all tell the same story about the village’s past.
Fishpond History and Protected Nature
Vlhlavský Pond was built in 1387–1388. It is one of the five largest ponds in the Budějovice–Hluboká pond system and also the tenth-oldest pond in South Bohemia. The size comparison places it within the pond system, while the age comparison places it among South Bohemian ponds. Together, these comparisons give the body of water a clear historical and regional context.
The natural features are also described at different scales: the Vlhlavy area is part of the Českobudějovické rybníky Bird Protection Area. The Velký Karasín Natural Monument is also located near Vlhlavy. The picture of the village therefore extends beyond its farmhouses and chapel to include both its membership in a protected area and a nearby natural monument.
Comparing Two Cycling Trips
Two tours with different described features are available for exploring by bike. The family-friendly circular route “Za památkami a přírodou Zbudovských Blat” is about 24 kilometers long, follows cycling routes 1085, 1083, 1084 and 1081, and includes Vlhlavy as a stop. Check the local route markings before setting out.
The cycling trip “Na Zbudovská blata za selským barokem,” about 25 kilometers long, runs mostly along marked cycling routes and also includes Vlhlavy as a stop. Its name puts folk Baroque architecture at the center. The approximate lengths of around 24 and around 25 kilometers are close; the stated tour features differ more clearly: the circular route’s designated loop and four route numbers, compared with the other trip’s mostly marked cycling routes and its focus on folk Baroque. Cycling route No. 1083 also passes through Vlhlavy.
Discover more destinations: Štěpánovice, Kronfellern, Žimutice, Zliv, Kolodeje Nad Luznici, Záboří U Českých Budějovic, Trhové Sviny, Petříkov.
See the regional travel overview: Okres České Budějovice.
