Lake Mácha

The Great Pond, or the Great Dokeský Pond, was founded in the 14th century by Charles IV. at the site of wetlands in a peat basin. The name Mácha's Lake was first used much later, it began to be known to people at the end of the 19th century, but officially this pond and its surroundings are named after Karel Hynek Mácha only since 1961. Mácha really loved this region and often came here returned, and in several of his works the pond plays a role, including the most famous poem May. Maybe that's why this place evokes such a romantic charm in people.

The pond is the eighth largest in the Czech Republic, has an area of ​​284 ha and its depth reaches four meters in places. On the southeast shore lies the town of Doksy, a former spa town with a beautiful castle, of which only a park is accessible, and other monuments. On the opposite bank lies the smaller village of Staré Splavy, from where you can go to the hill Borný and see the beauty of the region from above.

The surroundings of Mácha's Lake are interwoven with a dense network of cycle paths and hiking trails, which offer almost endless possibilities for trips. You can visit the ruins of the castles Kokořín, Bezděz, Houska or the rock castle Sloup. The Čtyřlístek Museum is open in Doksy, because it was the Blaťák pond from the well-known children's comics that got a model in Mácha's Lake. The With Čtyřlístek educational trail around Blaťák is intended mainly for children, and you can also walk through the Swamp educational trail, which will introduce you to the protected fauna, flora and pond farming of Mácha's Lake.

On Mácha's Lake and its surroundings you will find sports activities of all kinds in summer and winter and perfect tourist facilities.

Author: Martina Limbergová