Horusice can be explored through two very different landscape themes: protected wetlands and a lake landscape shaped by gravel extraction. These are complemented by the history of Horusický rybník and a listed chapel in the village centre. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Horusice, you can choose your focus accordingly: are you particularly interested in the habitats and resting places of waterbirds, a themed circular trail, or architectural and pond history? You can give these topics different weight when planning your stay without having to turn them into a fixed itinerary.

Wetlands and Waterbirds

The Horusická blata Nature Reserve is a breeding ground for many protected waterbirds. Its protected habitats include shoreline vegetation with reed and bulrush stands, willow thickets, transition mires and sedge meadows. They lie along the western shore of Horusický rybník and in its flood zone. The landscape therefore encompasses several types of wetland: vegetated shores, wooded areas, and marsh and meadow areas.

Horusický rybník is also important for waterbirds as a year-round resting place for migratory species, especially in spring and autumn. Horusická blata and the pond thus represent two different functions in the bird year: a breeding ground and a resting place during migration. Seasonality is useful to bear in mind when choosing when to travel: the area is a resting place throughout the year, with this role particularly pronounced in spring and autumn.

Gravel Lakes and Circular Trail

Veselské pískovny comprises five gravel lakes formed by gravel extraction between 1952 and 1986. The area covers 240 hectares between Veselí nad Lužnicí, Horusice and Vlkov and lies within the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area and Biosphere Reserve. Its scale makes Veselské pískovny a lake landscape: it is not just a single body of water.

One way to explore the area is the Naučná stezka Veselské pískovny. The 8 km circular trail follows the shores of two lakes and provides information about local fauna and flora, sand and gravel extraction, and geological conditions. The route thus combines nature topics with the history of resource extraction and insights into geology. Visiting the route is recommended year-round; nevertheless, check local conditions before setting out.

Visiting and Local History

Veselské pískovny can be reached by car, bicycle and on foot. There is a refreshment stand by the lakes, open depending on the weather, serving drinks and food. As its opening depends on the weather, check whether it is open before your trip.

In the centre of Horusice, the listed chapel stands on the village green and is a landmark of the settlement. Horusický rybník adds a specific historical development to the local and landscape themes: it was created in 1512 on the Bukovský potok, based on a design by Štěpánek Netolický. The village of Oslov previously stood on the site. The pond’s history therefore includes both its creation and the former settlement at this location. The chapel and the pond’s history offer a different way to explore Horusice than its wetlands, bird resting places and circular trail.

Discover more destinations: Ratiborské Hory, Řípec, Ceraz, Slapsko, Radimovice U Tábora, Vlčeves, Chýnov, Psárov

For the full travel overview: Okres Tábor.