Čeperka: Pond History, Monuments and Cycling Routes

If you are considering Čeperka as a travel destination, you can choose between two main interests: cultural history and cycling. There is also the koi exhibition at the Jezírkové centrum Čeperka and the designated bathing lake Malá Čeperka.

The Opatovický Canal and the history of the pond

The Opatovický Canal flows through Čeperka and is protected as an immovable cultural monument. Its protected area includes plot 428/1 in the cadastral area of Čeperka. The historic Čeperka pond is a separate feature: Vilém II z Pernštejna had it created, and it once covered 1,000 hectares. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the pond was drained and converted into farmland. The area figure therefore refers to the historic pond. For the canal, its protected status is the main point; for the pond, it is the former water area and its subsequent conversion.

Exhibition and local monuments

The exhibition at the Jezírkové centrum Čeperka features all varieties of koi carp. This is a distinct theme alongside the history of the canal and the pond. If you are planning your trip around your interests, you can treat the exhibition as a koi-themed attraction, separate from the local memorials.

Local monuments include a stone cross dating from 1858. The monument to those who fell in the First World War was ceremonially unveiled on 8 June 1924; the land reform monument on 19 July 1925. Together with the older stone cross, these dated memorials span the years from 1858 to 1925. This also lets you place the monuments mentioned in their historical context, rather than treating them as a single event.

Malá Čeperka as a bathing lake

The Malá Čeperka gravel pit is designated as a bathing lake with a sandy beach and clean water. Its listed amenities also include a restaurant, cabins and sports facilities. Facilities may change over time, so check which amenities are currently available before making plans. This makes Malá Čeperka a distinct point of interest alongside the cultural and historical sites.

Cycling and route connections

One specific cycling connection is the 7-kilometre section of cycle route 4039 from Opatovice nad Labem through Čeperka to Stéblová railway station. The distance refers to this section. Malá Čeperka is one of the sights along the Stéblová circular route—another cycling connection that also takes in the gravel pit.

The 32-kilometre cycling tour “Regionem pod Kunětickou horou” covers a different distance. In summer, it passes gravel pits near Čeperka and Stéblová, where you can cool off. For planning purposes, the distances are therefore easy to distinguish: 7 kilometres refers to the section of route 4039, while 32 kilometres is the length of the tour. The Stéblová circular route is another point of reference, with Malá Čeperka listed as a sight along the way.

Discover more destinations: Křičeň, Bukovina Nad Labem, Ostřetín, Horní Ředice, Litošice, Starý Mateřov, Ostřešany, Vlčí Habřina.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Pardubice.