Blanice River in South Bohemia
Řeka Blanice na jihu Čech
Water
Discover the charm of the Blanice River, from its source to its mouth, offering a blend of history, water sports, and beautiful nature in one of the most picturesque regions of Bohemia.

📜 A historic gold-bearing river in South Bohemia, known for its natural beauty and diverse landscapes.
🛶 Popular for paddling, offering sections from fast-flowing mountain streams to meandering lowland stretches.

Why Go

🏞️ Explore a river rich in history, from medieval gold panning to timber floating.
🚣‍♀️ Enjoy diverse paddling experiences, with sections suitable for various skill levels (ZWC to WW III-).
🚶‍♀️ Discover preserved gold panning heaps (sejpy) along its course.
🐟 Spot freshwater mussels, historically harvested here.

🚣‍♀️ Paddling Information

🌊 Upper Section (Spálenec – Blažejovice): 6 km, difficulty ZWC, navigable in spring or after rains.
🏞️ Blažejovice – Řepešín: 10 km, difficulty WW III-, characterized by increased gradient, boulders, and cascades.
💧 Řepešín – Husinec Dam: 10 km, difficulty WW II, a lively, fast-flowing stream.
🚧 Husinec Dam – Strunkovice: 11 km, difficulty WW II-, navigability depends on dam releases (at least once a year).
🌾 Strunkovice – Svinětice: 12 km, difficulty WW I, a beautiful meandering stream, navigable until early summer or during dam releases.
🚫 Svinětice – Mouth (into Otava): 35 km, difficulty ZWC. Be aware that weirs on the river from Vodňany onwards are completely unnavigable.
📏 Recommended Water Level: For the section from Záblatí, a water gauge reading at Podedvorský mlýn of at least 70 cm is recommended.

📜 Historical Significance

⛏️ Gold was extensively panned here from the 14th to the 16th centuries, with many gold panning heaps (sejpy) still preserved along the riverbanks.
🛣️ The medieval Golden Path merchant route historically ran along the Blanice River.
🌲 The river was also historically used for timber floating and harvesting freshwater mussels.

🏘️ Towns Along the River

📍 Vodňany: A significant town that developed as a center for South Bohemian fishing, located on the lower course of the river near historical gold panning sites.
🗺️ Other notable locations along the river include Protivín.

Tags
rivernatureoutdoorhistorygold panningpaddlingkayakingSouth BohemiaCzech Republichistoricalwater sports