ŠTĚPÁNEK NETOLICKÝ HOUSE
Štěpánek Netolický House situated in the historic centre of Třeboň is an extraordinary example of well-preserved Renaissance architecture, both in the town and the whole area. It has gone through many transformations within centuries, gaining its current Renaissance appearance in the first half of 16th century, in the time of economic expansion, when its best-known owner – Štěpánek Netolický – lived here.
In 2015 Štěpánek Netolický House underwent a large reconstruction. At present it houses the Centre of Třeboň Fishpond Building Heritage with a permanent interactive exhibition devoted to fishpond building and above all to the life and work of Štěpánek Netolický. The House also provides unique gallery premises. Various cultural events, including lectures and workshops, take place here.
Štěpánek Netolický
The famous builder and fishpond builder got the house in 1522 by marriage with Dorota Lukšová, a widow of the Třeboň scrivener. He was one of the two major personalities who significantly shaped the typical Třeboň landscape by their great fishpond building work.
Štěpánek was born to a servant family in the South Bohemian village of Netolice, presumably around 1460. Not much is known about his youth and education, however, what is known is that at the end of 15th century he became one of the founding fathers of fishpond building. At that time he worked in the services of the ruling Rosenberg family and had successfully finished his first few fishponds. No wonder that he very soon became a fishpond master, the so called “fišmistr”, and was in charge of building new fishponds as well as fish farming.
The Ingenious Golden Canal
During his life Štěpánek built seven larger and more than forty smaller fishponds. However, his best-known work still remains the Golden Canal which he started building at the beginning of 16th century. This more than 45-kilometre long “strúha“, i.e. “gutter”, (as it was originally called), connects the fishponds of the Třeboň system providing them with fresh water. The Canal proves his masterful skills, since its average slope is only 33 centimetres per 1 kilometre of length and in some parts it is even less than 10 centimetres per kilometre – therefore it may often seem that water is running backwards.
New Interactive Exhibicion
The name of Jakub Krčín is widely known, but did you know that it was Štěpánek Netolický who ingeniously started to shape the Třeboň fishpond landscape only to be followed by the famous Rosenberg regent? In our permanent exhibition you can get to know Štěpánek Netolický and his work in an interesting way. As well as learning how Třeboň fishponds were made, you can also watch a short film about the Golden Canal or try working with survey tools once used at fishpond constructions. In the small courtyard with the model of the Golden Canal you can become a water manager for a while and with the help of little sluice gates try to bring water to individual fishponds.
