Vystrkov Nature Monument
A natural monument protecting the typical vegetation of the Otava River floodplain.
At Zvíkov Castle, the Vltava and Otava rivers converge. You’ll notice this more from maps and signs than from the scenery, as the Orlík Reservoir makes the area look like a single vast lake. The rivers have lost their former wildness and now flow with calm, still surfaces. The valley around the castle is rocky, forested, and occasionally carved by water into charming coves.
If you head upstream along the Otava from Zvíkov, you'll encounter two of its tributaries: the Skalice and Lomnice rivers. These rivers above the Orlík Reservoir resemble mountain streams of the Šumava region—wild and rocky, with several natural monuments and scenic viewpoints nearby. One notable nature site is Vystrkov, protected for its representative floodplain vegetation of the Otava region. It lies southeast of the village of Karlov, near Čimelice. The monument is accessible via the blue hiking trail from Karlov toward Ostrovec, following the natural area for about 2 km and ending near the railway bridge over the Lomnice River.
