Trebon, Telc,and Trebic - Prague and the Czech Republic - page 206

the Lakes of třeboň
The medieval lake-builders of Třeboň created an ingenious
landscape of regulated channels, marshes turned into lakes,
and fields changed into marshes. Birds and animals new to
the region began to dwell here. Peat provided a rich soil for
pines and blueberry bushes.
The good lake-builders knew that small is beautiful...
but, of course, not all of them were good. The most famous
of Třeboň lake-builders was Jakub Krčín, the architect of the
largest lakes, Svět and Rožmberk. Krčín was a man driven
more by his ego than by practical considerations. Much of
the water in his huge, deep lakes is dead, lacking enough
oxygen to support large fish colonies. His predecessor,
Štěpánek Netolický—while less celebrated—was more of a
fishing expert. He built small, and his lakes were successful.
His Golden Channel, which connects dozens of lakes, is the
region's biggest marvel.
The Třeboň lakes were built for flood control as well as
fishing. The marshy area around the town used to be regu-
larly flooded by the Lužnice River. The artificial lakes were
designed to absorb the floods. In 2002, the largest floods in
Czech history tested the work of those medieval lake-build-
ers. While the 20th-century dams built on the Vltava River
to protect Prague failed, Třeboň's 16th-century dams held,
vindicating Krčín and keeping Třeboň's feet dry.
massage (don't try to sneak away before the nurse is finished with
you). It's worth it to have the opportunity to fully judge the power
of peat and experience the surreal One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
atmosphere of Czech medical institutions.
While it's smart to book a spa treatment several months ahead
(you'll receive a prompt confirmation and a reminder one month
before your appointment), you can often snare a last-minute spot if
there's a cancellation; call the spa or ask your hotelier to inquire for
you (tel. [phone], www.berta.cz, [e-mail]). To get to
the spa, go through the east gate of the city walls; the spa is just of
to your left.
SLeeping
Although there are many pensions in Třeboň, most only take spa
guests who stay for a couple of weeks. These two hotels welcome
guests even for one- or two-night stays on short notice.
$$$ Hotel Galerie has 12 renovated rooms and an artisti-
cally decorated breakfast room. Notice the slightly buried stor-
age room by the reception hall that now serves as a semi-open