Třešť

Třešť is a town of 5,600 people (2022) in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands half way between Jihlava and Telč. 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.

Understand


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.

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 is in the city centre, consisting of several sheds and information boards. It is 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 a little bit out of the city but with a proper waiting room and. Tickets 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.



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.



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.

Roštejn Castle
Roštejn Castle is a hunting lodge located 7 km southwest from Třešť. The access is partly along narrow forest roads.