Camp Velkopařezitý: a forest campsite by Pařezák, Javořice and Telč

Camp Velkopařezitý is exactly the kind of place where the Vysočina Highlands behave like the Vysočina Highlands: forests, a pond, mushrooms, stones, calmer evenings and morning air that reminds you the city is not the only possible version of life. It lies about one kilometre beyond Řásná, below Javořice, the highest summit of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, and takes its name from nearby Velký Pařezitý Pond.

The campsite is not glued directly to a main beach like some large water resorts. It works more as a forest base: you stay in a cabin, guesthouse, tent or caravan, and walk to Pařezák. That makes the stay feel less like a noisy beach operation and more like a holiday in a landscape where swimming, cycling, walking, Roštejn Castle, Telč and evenings by the fire take turns naturally.

Why go

The main reason is the location. Camp Velkopařezitý is in the Kraj pod Javořicí area, in a wooded part of Vysočina, with Velký Pařezitý Pond, Javořice, Míchova skála, the Štamberk ruins, Roštejn Castle and Telč all within reach. For one campsite, that is a very solid package: water, forests, trips, cycling and a UNESCO town within a reasonable drive.

The second reason is atmosphere. This is not an anonymous motorway stopover. It is a classic Czech forest campsite with cabins, a guesthouse, tent and caravan areas, a shared kitchen, fire pits, sports facilities and an inn. For families, hikers and people who want to slow down for a few days, it is a very good combination.

Accommodation

The campsite offers cabins, the Pod Borovicí guesthouse and areas for tents and caravans. The cabins come in several types, most with their own toilet and shower, fridge and kettle. Some have a kitchenette, some do not. For groups, the guesthouse is useful thanks to a shared kitchen, a common room with a fireplace and a terrace.

It is important to distinguish reservations. According to the official price list, places for campervans, caravans and tents are not reserved. You arrive according to current free capacity. Cabins and the guesthouse, on the other hand, should definitely be booked ahead, especially in the main season. In summer 2026, cabins are sold as weekly stays from Saturday 14:00 to Saturday 10:00.

Campsite facilities

For tents and caravans, there is a 220 V / 10 A electric hookup. Staying guests can use the shared kitchen free of charge; it has gas cookers, a fridge, kettle and microwave. For hygiene reasons, there is no cookware in the kitchen, so bring your own mug, pot and spoon. Yes, even that one spoon that mysteriously disappears on the first evening of every camping trip.

According to the Kraj pod Javořicí tourism site, the area also has a common room, showers, fire pits, a kiosk, the U Čertů inn, a children’s playground, table tennis and fields for football, volleyball and nohejbal. In practice, the facilities are good for a classic family holiday, a school stay or a group that does not want to sit by the tent all day.

2026 prices

Tent and caravan prices are simple and charged per unit per night. A tent costs CZK 100, a car CZK 80, a car with caravan CZK 180, a campervan or van CZK 180, a motorbike CZK 50 and an electric hookup CZK 150. Children under 6 are free, children aged 6 to 15 cost CZK 50 and people over 15 cost CZK 100 per night. A shower token for 5 minutes of net time costs CZK 40 and a pet with veterinary check costs CZK 70 per night. People over 18 also pay the Řásná local stay tax of CZK 20/person/night.

For cabins, the main season is 27 June to 29 August 2026. A weekly stay costs roughly from CZK 8,360 for the three-bed Besídka cabin to CZK 13,220 for a four-bed VIP cabin, depending on type. Outside the main season, the minimum cabin and guesthouse stay is 2 nights. Off-season cabin prices are CZK 1,160 for 1 to 2 people, CZK 1,575 for 3 people and CZK 2,000 for 4 people per cabin per night.

One very practical note: the operator states that accommodation payments at reception and payments at the inn and kiosk are accepted only in cash. This is exactly the kind of information that can decide whether arrival is smooth or turns into a desperate hunt for an ATM in a region with more forests than card terminals.

Swimming and water quality

Velký Pařezitý Pond, locally called Pařezák, is one of the best-known natural swimming spots in Vysočina. The regional hygiene authority lists it as a bathing area and describes grassy or sandy beaches with a gradual entry suitable even for children. According to the authority, water quality has long been assessed as suitable for swimming without possible health risk, including microbiological evaluation.

The special feature of Pařezák is the water colour. The authority explicitly states that because of peat subsoil, the water is permanently brownish. That does not automatically mean bad water. It is more a reminder that you are not in a turquoise quarry or a Croatian bay, but in a peat landscape of Vysočina. It does not have to be as clear as mineral water to be hygienically fine.

On 10 June 2026, however, the Velký Pařezitý page stated that monitoring of bathing areas in the 2026 season would begin on 15 June 2026, and no 2026 record was yet available. Before swimming, always check the current water status, especially after long heat, storms or later in summer.

Dogs and rules

A pet is listed in the price list at CZK 70 per night, with veterinary check. In practice, expect normal campsite rules: keep the dog under control, respect other guests, children, beaches and shared areas. Around the water, follow local signage and remember that Velký Pařezitý Pond is also a nature reserve and a sensitive place.

The operator also notes that fires are allowed only in designated fire pits and only in line with safety and fire-prevention rules. During dry periods or fire bans, no fires are allowed. Pyrotechnics are banned throughout the campsite. And honestly, at a forest campsite in Vysočina, that is a good thing.

Who the campsite suits

Camp Velkopařezitý suits families with children, hikers, cyclists, mushroom pickers, school groups, caravan travellers and people who want a calmer forest base near water. It is also excellent for combining swimming with trips: Javořice, Míchova skála, Roštejn and Telč make a programme for several days.

It is less suitable for people seeking a busy beach resort, night bars, animation programmes or a guaranteed reserved caravan pitch. This place works best if you arrive knowing that Vysočina has its own rhythm. Sometimes a little slower, but that is exactly why it is pleasant.

What to watch out for

According to the price list, specific tent and caravan places cannot be reserved. In the main season, arrive earlier, especially if you want a better place or an electric hookup. For cabins in summer, book ahead.

Bring cash. According to the operator, payments at reception, the inn and the kiosk are cash-only. Also bring your own cookware, because the shared kitchen has no dishes.

For swimming, follow the current hygiene rating. Pařezák is officially monitored and has long been well rated, but natural water can change. Brownish peat colour is normal; green bloom or smell is not.

Summary

Camp Velkopařezitý is a solid forest campsite near Řásná, ideal for experiencing Vysočina through water, forests, cycling, trips and campsite evenings. It offers cabins, a guesthouse, tent and caravan areas, electric hookups, a shared kitchen, showers, fire pits, a kiosk and an inn. Its biggest draw is nearby Velký Pařezitý Pond with officially monitored water, grassy and sandy shores and a distinctive peat-brown colour. It is not a luxury resort, but if you want a quiet base below Javořice and close to Telč, Pařezák has a very good pull.