Kristanovice: Pond, Hus Castle and XTERRA

Kristanovice offers three specific points of interest for planning a trip: Křišťanovický Pond, the ruins of Hus Castle and XTERRA Czech Republic. They bring together landscape, cultural history and a sporting event. If you are looking for a hotel in Kristanovice, your reason for visiting can help you choose: a stay focused on the pond, a hike to the castle or a particular edition of XTERRA each puts a different aspect of the area in the foreground.

Křišťanovický Pond in the Šumava Foothills

Křišťanovický Pond lies below Křišťanovice; its water surface is 785 metres above sea level. It is the highest-altitude pond in the Czech Republic. It also lies within the Šumava Protected Landscape Area and the Šumava Foothills. The elevation refers to the water surface, while the superlative ranks the pond in a nationwide comparison.

The protected area and the Šumava Foothills provide complementary geographical descriptions: one denotes its protected-area status, the other its landscape region. Together, they give the pond a specific connection to its surroundings without equating its elevation with a statement about the entire locality.

Hus Castle: Remains of the Walls and History

The ruins of Hus Castle in Křišťanovice preserve sections of the walls and a moat. They are listed as an immovable cultural monument in the Czech Republic under registration number 3-3612. The structural remains and the listing are different aspects of the ruins: the walls and moat describe the site, while the registration indicates its monument status.

The castle was founded after 1341 to protect the Zlatá stezka (Golden Trail). The historic route once passed through Křišťanovice and is mentioned as early as 1359. The two dates refer to different things: after 1341 marks the castle’s founding period, while 1359 relates to the Zlatá stezka. This distinguishes the history of the structure from the former route.

Two Hiking Routes to the Ruins

A blue hiking trail leads directly from Křišťanovický Pond to the ruins of Hus Castle, a distance of three kilometres. Another documented hiking trip to the castle follows the yellow trail from Záblatí via Hlásná Lhota to Křišťanovice. The starting points and routes differ: the blue trail directly connects the pond and the ruins, while the yellow trail starts in Záblatí and passes through Hlásná Lhota. When hiking, it is advisable to check current trail conditions.

XTERRA Czech Republic

XTERRA Czech Republic is the world’s oldest XTERRA race still running; individual editions may differ. An official 2026 guide names Křišťanovický Pond as the swimming location. Since venues can vary between editions, if your trip is tied to XTERRA, check the details for the edition relevant to your visit.

Your planning considerations vary depending on your reason for visiting: for XTERRA, the specific edition matters; for a hike to the castle, it is the starting point you want.

Discover more destinations: Nová Pec, Zábrdí, Ckyne, Micovice, Hracholusky, Olšovice, Pravetín, Pěčnov

For the broader travel overview: Okres Prachatice.