Třešť is a small town in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands half way between Jihlava and Telč.
Understand
Třešť is known as a town of Christmas nativity scenes. Local families often own and maintain those with dozens to hundreds of figures typically carved of wood in their homes. Some of them welcome visitors to see them between Christmas and beginning of February.
Třešť is also a place where young Franz Kafka spent his holidays from 1900 to 1907 with his uncle Siegfried Löwy, M.D., and a small exposition on his relation to Třešť can be visited in the Jewish synagogue.
Get in
By car
When approaching Třešť from Prague or Brno, take the exit 113 to Jihlava and follow E65 and in Jihlava take road 602 and follow signs to Telč.
By bus
The 1 bus station is in the city center, consisting of several sheds and information boards. It is located near the St. Katerina church along the main road. There is reasonably good bus connection to both Jihlava and Telč. In Jihlava it is possible to take a connecting bus to larger cities, like Prague or Brno.
By train
Třešť has train connection to the north to Kostelec u Jihlavy (half-way to Jihlava, where one has to change trains) and to the south to Telč and all the way to the Austrian border in Slavonice. There are two train stations: the 2 main station a little bit out of the city but with a proper waiting room and ticket sale and 3 Třešť-center, where you can't buy tickets. These can be obtained in the train. All trains stop in both stations.
Get around
There is no public transport in the town, except of occasional buses to the nearby villages.
- 4 Tourist information center, Rooseweltova 462/6, ☏ 420 567 234 567, ✉[email protected]. Mo-Fri 8:00 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 17:00, Sat, Su 9:30 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 16:30. The information is located in the Schumpeter's house, where the economist Joseph Schumpeter was born. Information is available in Czech, German and English. Guided tours are offered through the museum and around the town. Internet access.
See
Nativity scenes
Building nativity scenes ('betlemy' in Czech) is a tradition in Třešť families since two hundred years. At first, paper figures were used, and they were replaced by wooden craved ones since second half of the 19th century. Nativity scenes are constructed as dioramas with landscape made up of tree stumps, moss and other natural materials, sometimes also including running water and moving elements. The 3D landscape merges into a painted background. Nativity scenes in Třešť are regularly rebuilt by their owners for each Christmas season.
- 1 Permanent exposition of nativity scenes in Schumpeter’s house, Rooseweltova 462. daily 8:00 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 17:00; Jan, Jun-Aug: Mo-Fri 8:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00, Sa, So: 9:30-12:00 and 13:00-16:30. Paper and wooden nativity scenes, including one that is being continuously expanded by figures from an annual wood carving event ‘Dřevořezání’ in Třešť.
In winter time (between Christmas and beginning of February), many households with nativity scenes open their doors to visitors. An up-to-date guide is available in the tourist information center.
Museums
- 2 Vysočina Museum (Třešť branch), Rooseweltova 462 (in Schumpeter’s house). May-Sep, Dec and Jan: Tue - Sun 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:30. Exhibitions include mainly the topics of the nativity scenes tradition in Třešť, the Třešť castle, Schumpeter family and Třešť industrial history.
- 3 Former Jewish Synagogue. Franz Kafka exposition. For a guided tour contact the Tourist Information Center.
Do
- 1 Swim in open air swimming pool (Malvíny). 10:00-20:00. This swimming pool is a biotop natural pool. It uses no chemical additives, like chlorine; instead, water is cleaned naturally by microorganisms while being filtered through sand and plant roots in another section of the biotop. From 20Kč.
- 2 Swim in Čenkov quarry (Lom Čenkov). This is a lake in a former granite quarry which was flooded after the mine was abandoned in 1970s. It has exceptionally clear water. The access is rocky (with only a small "beach") and steep. The maximal water depth is said to be around 14 m.
Buy
- 1 VÝVOJ, Franze Kafky 341, ☏ 420 567 215 221, ✉[email protected]. Mo-Fri 9:00 - 17:00, Sat 8:30 - noon. While in Třešť, you can pay a visit to a company store of VÝVOJ to purches pieces of men's formal clothing locally produced: jackets, waistcoats, trousers, suits and coats.
- 2 REJOICE, Družstevní 262, Batelov, ☏ 420 739 254 713. Mo-Fri 9:00-11:30 and noon - 17:00, Sat 9:00 - 11:30. A company store of the local outdoor clothes manufacturer in nearby Batelov.
Eat
- 1 Restaurace Svět, nám. T.G. Masaryka 103 (main square), ☏ 420 567 216 459. Czech and international cuisine, front garden, rooms (500Kč/person/night). Daily menu 79Kč.
- 2 U Kapra. Restaurant where the locals meet. Rooms available. Daily menu from 79Kč.
- 3 Pizzeria u Ferdinanda, ☏ 420 567 215 567. Italian(-like) food, also to go. Daily menu from 79Kč.
Drink
- 1 Gram kafé, Rooseweltova 460/10, ☏ 420 728 453 455. 10:00-22:00. Family run cafe offering also cakes, ice-cream and refreshing home-made lemonades.
Sleep
- 1 Zámecký hotel Třešť (Třešť Castle), Dr. Richtra 234, ☏ 420 567 224 247, ✉[email protected]. Hotel with a restaurant located in the historical castle building with a natural park. The hotel offers bike rental for making trips to the scenic surroundings. Double room: 1820Kč (€73).
- 2 Wellness Hotel Harmony, Malé náměstí 181, ☏ 420 736 612 368 (reception), 420 727 863 365 (restaurant), ✉[email protected]. Accommodation and wellness packages, including massages, sauna and spa. Restaurant daily menu from 92 Kč. Double room: from 1350 Kč.
Connect
Go next
Roštejn Castle
Roštejn Castle is a hunting lodge located 7 km southwest from Třešť. The access is partly along narrow forest roads.
- 4 Hrad Roštejn, Doupě 1, Telč. May-Sep daily except Mondays, Apr and Oct weekends and public holidays. Take a full guided tour or at least climb up the septagonal tower for a lovely view of surrounding forests.