Mrtvý rybník

Mrtvý rybník is one of those Ore Mountains places that does not try to impress at first sight, yet stays with you for its quiet, slightly austere mood. It lies in the Boží Dar Peat Bog National Nature Reserve, between Boží Dar, Hřebečná and Božídarský Špičák, in a mountain landscape of bogs, sparse woodland, open uplands and traces of old mining. The pond sits on the upper course of the Bystřice stream, and peat gives its water a very dark, sometimes almost black colour.

That dark water and the seemingly still surface help explain the name. The pond may look almost lifeless from a distance, but the bog environment is far from empty. Water, soil and vegetation work here differently than around ordinary lowland ponds. Mrtvý rybník is best understood as part of a wider wetland landscape rather than as a classic recreational pond.

Mining Traces in the Landscape

The place also has a strong historical layer. The pond was connected with the water-management system of the Hřebečná mining district and with the Mauritius Mine, one of the most important historic tin mines on the Czech side of the Ore Mountains. Water from this part of the bog was therefore not only a natural feature, but also practical energy for mining and related works.

You can reach the pond on the red-marked hiking trail between Boží Dar and Hřebečná. From Boží Dar it is a longer mountain walk; from Hřebečná the approach is shorter and combines naturally with the Mauritius Mine and the surrounding mining landscape. The route area is also used by cyclists on the Euregio Egrensis cycle route no. 2198 and, in winter, by cross-country skiers on the Krušnohorská magistrála when conditions allow.

The wider Boží Dar Peat Bog is an internationally significant wetland under the Ramsar Convention. Parts of the nature trail use boardwalks to protect both visitors and the fragile bog. Mrtvý rybník lies in a quieter part of the wider reserve, so it feels more remote than the main educational route.

Practical Information

Visit Mrtvý rybník for a calm place in the landscape, not for facilities. Do not expect a maintained park, refreshments or swimming. Its value lies in the combination of black peat water, mountain solitude, wetland surroundings and the historic link to mining water systems. After rain, during thaw or in icy weather, the terrain can be wet, slippery and less comfortable.

It works best as one stop on a longer route between Boží Dar, Hřebečná, Božídarský Špičák and the Mauritius Mine. In summer the open upland silence is the main reward; in autumn the dark water stands out against the colours of the bog; in winter the place becomes part of the cross-country skiing landscape of the Ore Mountains.

Contacts and How to Get There

• Access: on the red-marked hiking trail between Boží Dar and Hřebečná
• Location: Boží Dar Peat Bog, Ore Mountains
• GPS: 50.3932592, 12.8641633
• Visit mode: freely accessible, no admission; stay on marked routes inside the protected area