Lipno Reservoir low water levels reveal historic cemetery remains

Low water levels in the Lipno Reservoir have revealed the remains of a former cemetery in Dolní Vltavice. During recent droughts, dozens of gravestones and stone fragments from the second half of the 19th century emerged from the reservoir floor.

Experts have successfully recovered 12 stone relics, the oldest of which dates back to 1849. The stones were found outside the original cemetery walls, likely because they were piled there during exhumations in the 1950s when remains were moved to a mass grave in nearby Černá v Pošumaví. The artifacts are currently being stored securely to protect them from treasure hunters.

The discovery was facilitated in part by the novel ‘Vltavice’ by author Jan Štifter, which explores the history of the area. The Museum Fotoateliér Seidel is now working to research the identities and stories of the individuals commemorated by these stones to potentially feature them in a future exhibition. The recovery operation involved the Regional Museum in Český Krumlov, the National Heritage Institute, and various local rescue and water management services.