On a prominent hill above the Vltava stands the church Kostel svatého Jana Křtitele v Zátoni. It is located within the cadastral area of the town of Větřní. For travellers, it is a striking reference point for local architectural history. Other landmarks range from a fortress mentioned in early records to paper production; cycling and paddling routes offer other ways to explore the region.

Churches and architecture

The church Kostel svatého Jana Křtitele v Zátoni was built after 1490 on older foundations. Its broad, single-nave form and pentagonal presbytery differ from the design of the church Kostel svatého Jana Nepomuckého ve Větřní. The latter was built between 1936 and 1938 and has a basilica layout: a central nave flanked by two side aisles. Its tower is also distinctive, changing from a square to an octagonal section. The chapel Kaple u kostela svatého Jana Nepomuckého ve Větřní was reconstructed in 2008.

The fortress and paper history

The late Renaissance, single-storey fortress Pozdně renesanční jednopatrová tvrz Větřní was first mentioned in 1347 and rebuilt in the late Renaissance. Its first mention and later reconstruction mark different stages in its history. In 1892, the fortress was converted into a school. The paper industry is also part of the town’s history: in 1867, Ignác Spiro bought the Pečkovský mlýn grain mill on the road from Český Krumlov to Rožmberk and set up a wood-grinding mill there. He then began gradually moving production there from his paper mill in Český Krumlov. Papírny Větřní (JIP) was one of the largest paper mills in the Czech Republic.

Cycling and paddling along the Vltava

After the railway crossing, a cycling loop heads towards the paper mill on the outskirts of Větřní, crossing a bridge to the right bank of the Vltava. From there, it follows a flat cycle path along the river to Český Krumlov. The regional Českokrumlovsko cycling loop also passes through Větřní. The route information offers different points of reference: the described route names Český Krumlov as its destination, while the regional loop lists Větřní as one of its locations. On the Vltava, the Branná–Nové Spolí section passes the Jez Větřní – Pečkovský mlýn weir at river kilometre 30.1. If you are planning a paddling trip, check the current water conditions.

Outdoor pool and sauna

Venkovní koupaliště Větřní is an outdoor swimming pool with a slide and refreshments. A hydraulic device enables people with disabilities to enter the water. At the Bazén a sauna Větřní centre, the sauna has two cabins and a plunge pool. The two facilities therefore offer distinct features: the outdoor pool focuses on the slide and refreshments, while the sauna offers cabins and a plunge pool. These themes offer different points of reference when aligning your accommodation search with your travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Zaton, Cerna V Posumavi, Bessenitz, Gojau, Unterhaid, Malsching, Unterbreitenstein, Kienberg.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Český Krumlov.