Horní Pěna: Dřevo Pond, Zoo and History

Horní Pěna combines Dřevo Pond with Na Hrádečku Zoo, as well as landmarks such as Mlíčník and St. Michael’s Church. This gives you several themes to consider when planning your trip: the landscape of ponds, wildlife experiences and local history. If you’re looking for a hotel in Horní Pěna, you can first decide which of these aspects of the town matters most for your stay.

Dřevo Pond and the Setting of Horní Pěna

The 75-hectare Pěněnský Pond, also called Dřevo, is one of the oldest ponds in the Jindřichův Hradec area. Horní Pěna lies in a valley below the dam of this pond. The beach has been given more space to relax and additional sand; there are also benches and a table. Two different scales are useful when planning: the area figure refers to the body of water, while the improvements relate to the beach. This makes it possible to consider the size of the pond and the design of the beach area separately.

Wildlife Experiences at Na Hrádečku Zoo

Na Hrádečku Zoo is located in Horní Pěna. Its resident predators include servals, American pumas, lions and spotted hyenas. Experiences include spending a day as an animal keeper, animal feedings, guided tours with commentary and nighttime visits. A day as an animal keeper and animal feedings offer a different focus from guided tours with commentary or nighttime visits. This means there are several ways to engage with the zoo. If you want to make wildlife the focus of your trip, the zoo offers a specific reason to choose Horní Pěna from this perspective.

Mlíčník: Construction and Former Use

Mlíčník, also called Haltýř, is a small structure built over damp ground or a spring. It was used to keep stored food cool. Mlíčník was probably in operation from the beginning of the 19th century; it was used mainly to store milk and dairy products. The structure thus combines a distinctive design with a clearly defined former everyday function. The municipality of Horní Pěna had Mlíčník restored in 2024. The timeline has two aspects: its operation from the early 19th century is probable, while its restoration by the municipality took place in 2024.

The Church and Landscape in Their Regional Context

St. Michael’s Church and its cemetery form a Gothic parish church dating from the first quarter of the 14th century. It offers a different historical perspective from Mlíčník: the church is associated with Gothic parish architecture and its history, while Mlíčník relates to the former cooling and storage of food. If you’d like to include historic places in your trip plans, Horní Pěna offers these two distinct architectural themes.

The geographical context is also specific: Road II/128 runs through Horní Pěna towards Nová Bystřice and continues on to Austria. Česká Kanada Nature Park covers the southeastern part of Horní Pěna’s cadastral area. These two details describe different aspects of the location—a road direction and its place in the landscape. If the location of your destination matters to you, you can consider Horní Pěna in terms of both its road connections and its natural surroundings.

Discover more destinations: Rodvínov, Červený Hrádek, Deštná U Jindřichova Hradce, Lodhéřov, Hrachoviste, Straz Nad Nezarkou, Blato, Nová Hlína

View the wider travel guide: Okres Jindřichův Hradec.