For most tourists, the undisputed center of Česká Kanada (Czech Canada) is the town of Nová Bystřice. For us, however, the tiny, secluded village of Blato has repeatedly become our ultimate basecamp. It lies completely off the main roads, yet we find ourselves returning here regularly. Everything in Czech Canada is within arm’s reach from here. One of the most beautiful hiking trails in the region is the loop from Blato around the Osika pond, Klášter, and Jelení Vrch (Deer Hill).
🏕️ Lake Osika: A Nostalgic Retro Vibe
The loop kicks off by following the shoreline cabins along Osika Pond. The distinctly retro look of the surroundings clearly hints that this area was civilized by Czech cottagers and campers back during the deep communist era. Nothing against it—quite the opposite, actually.
Osika possesses an unmistakable, raw charm. This is especially true in autumn, during those crisp, misty mornings. That is probably why we keep coming back even in September. As you track the shoreline, the trail eventually leads you up a small hill, where a panoramic view opens up to the impressive Klášter complex and its Church of the Most Holy Trinity.
⛪ Klášter: Healing Springs and Underground Crypts
Despite having visited this spot four times, we only managed to look inside the church once. The church is one of the most significant monuments of early Baroque architecture in South Bohemia, and its altar happens to be the largest in Central Europe.
Right beneath this very altar, three healing springs converge. You can actually drink from them at a small water well located behind the church near the pond, shaded by monumental linden trees.
📞 Want to peek inside? If you’d like to see the interior, try calling this local number: +420 602 703 007. If you manage to get through, they will gladly guide you around. Make sure to explicitly ask them to let you into the crypts and the underground passages. There is plenty to see.
The church today doesn’t have much in common with the original monastery. It was built on the ruins of a burned-down Pauline monastery that had stood here since 1491. Back then, the Pauline monks were tasked with finding a specific location east of the Alps where healing springs intersect—and according to lore, this was the exact spot.
Right next to the church is the Kláštorský pond, which, much like Osika, is utilized far more by campers and vacationers than actual fishermen.
🪖 Jelení Vrch: Cold War Bunkers Hidden in the Moss
If you were to head over the hill toward the Austrian border, you would reach the beautiful little settlement of Artolec, from which smooth bike paths lead straight into Austria (Hirschenschlag) or Nová Bystřice.
However, if you follow the trail along the pond toward Slavonice, you will reach the tiny settlement of Klášter II. From there, a side path climbs up to Jelení Vrch (Deer Hill), where you will enter a completely different era. You are moving directly through the border zone of the former Iron Curtain. It is no wonder that the entire hill is literally dotted with concrete bunkers (locally known as řopíky) built during the 1938 mobilization against Nazi Germany.
Czechoslovak Fortification Complex of Klášter
Here lies a hidden gem—the Czechoslovak Fortification Complex of Klášter. This isn’t just a collection of overgrown concrete ruins. Local military history enthusiasts have meticulously restored a section of the defensive line:
- The Bunker Museum: One of the main bunkers (a light object vz. 37 type) is fully restored to its exact 1938 state. Stepping inside, you can see original weaponry, hand-cranked air ventilation systems, periscopes, and period gear. The guys running the place give such an immersive tour that you will instantly realize how psychologically intense it must have been to wait inside a concrete cube expecting an enemy attack.
- The Iron Curtain Rebirth: Right next to it, you can explore another bunker that was reactivated and modified by the Czechoslovak Army during the Cold War to withstand a potential nuclear or chemical conflict with the West. It features anti-gas filters and authentic gear from the height of the socialist era.
- Forest Trenches: The entire Jelení Vrch area is interconnected by original earthen and stone trenches that you can freely walk through.
For a hiker, it is a spectacular experience—you are walking through a silent forest in Czech Canada, birds are singing, and suddenly a cold machine-gun barrel peeks out of the green moss.
📌 2026 Travel Tip: The indoor bunker museum is primarily open on weekends from May through September (and often weekdays during the summer school holidays). However, even if you miss the opening hours, the entire outdoor educational trail, including defensive trenches and anti-tank obstacles hidden in the forest, is open year-round and completely free to explore.
🍄 Returning to Blato: Mushroom Heaven and an Unexpected Monster
Walking along the yellow-marked trail back toward Blato is pure satisfaction after a long day on your feet. If you are here in September, the weather plays along, and you’re already wondering what to cook for dinner, keep your eyes glued to the ground. You will find porcini (dubáky), bay boletes (kováče), suillus (masliaky), and wild mushrooms of all flavors. And a fair share of toadstools, too. Czech Canada is an absolute paradise for mushroom foraging.
You will fall in love with the village of Blato. It sits nestled among three ponds. It is a pure end-of-the-world location with an unmistakable South Bohemian atmosphere and total, crushing silence.
We actually used to swim in the Blato ponds. That is, until the day we spotted this massive, slimy “intestine” floating in the water:
⚠️ The “Monster” in the Žišpašský Pond
It was only later that we Googled what it actually was: Pectinatella Magnifica (Magnificent Bryozoan), a massive, gelatinous colonial organism native to North America. Visually, it looks like an incredibly disgusting, slimy alien lifeform. It’s highly invasive and lives in colonies in stagnant waters. Whoever originally dumped it into this pond must have had a twisted sense of humor.
Needless to say, we are never stepping foot into that water again.
📜 The History Behind the Name “Czech Canada”
“…you are overlooking the most romantic corner of the Czech land, where the terrain rolls into hills and darkens with forest canopies; you look out upon countless water surfaces—not just large ponds, but literal lakes framed by dense woods. And wherever you look, ponds and wide streams gleam, rivers twist, and forested hills line up behind one another in endless rows.”
The very first documented use of the name Česká Kanada comes from this exact text, written back in 1928.
The author of the name was a local native, journalist, and essayist named Jaroslav Trpák, who wanted to promote the region for tourism. He was looking for an exotic-sounding name to feed the newly emerging trend of hiking and outdoor exploration in Bohemia.
The foundation of Trpák’s idealized Czech Canada consisted of the ponds around Jindřichův Hradec, the village of Kunžak, and especially the deep forests around Nová Bystřice and Landštejn Castle.
No matter what, do not miss the hiking loop around Osika, Klášter, and Jelení Vrch. It is a slice of pure, untouched nature that will stay with you long after you leave.
🥾 FAQ: Hiking in Czech Canada
Physically no, but mentally they can drain you. Do not expect any steep Alpine climbs where your heart feels like it’s going to burst out of your chest. The terrain is rolling, pleasant, and primarily follows soft forest paths. The real difficulty lies in the sheer length and isolation—if you take a wrong turn, you can easily hike for 10 miles through deep woods without encountering a single soul, a water spring, or an open pub.
Thanks to the brilliant Czech trail-marking system (KČT), you won’t get lost on the main routes. However, Czech Canada is riddled with unmarked logging tracks. If you get tempted by a shortcut and don’t have offline maps downloaded, the forest will swallow you quickly. Furthermore, in areas close to the Austrian border, a wrong step off the path can land you straight into a peat bog or a hidden wetland system. Stick to the markings or a reliable GPS.
If you only have time for one proper day hike, choose exactly this one: the loop from Blato around Osika, the granite boulders near Klášter, and up to Jelení Vrch.
Do not rely on them. Although Czech Canada is packed with water and ponds, most of the natural forest springs are peat-heavy, dark, and not always safe to drink. Unlike the High Tatras or the Alps, you won’t find a crystal-clear mountain spring around every corner. Pack at least 2 liters of fresh water per person, especially if you plan a full-day trek.
Setting up a classic tent with pegs is strictly forbidden in Czech forests outside of designated campsites. However, bivouacking for a single night under the stars (sleeping on a mat in a sleeping bag without a tent) is perfectly legal and tolerated in the Czech Republic, provided you leave absolutely no trash behind and do not light an open fire. If you prefer amenities and a hot shower, stick to the official campsites like Osika or Zvůle.
Leave your heavy, rigid high-altitude mountain boots at home—they will only tire out your feet on the sections where the forest trail intersects with old asphalt border roads. The ideal choice is lightweight trekking shoes or high-quality trail running shoes with a good grip. They need to handle three things: damp pine needles, sand around the ponds, and occasional root-hopping.
