Dračice

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The Dračice is a river in the Czech Republic and Austria. It is a right tributary of the Lužnice River and flows through Lower Austria and the South Bohemian Region. The river is 51 kilometers long, with about 30 kilometers in the Czech Republic. Its drainage basin covers about 154 square kilometers, of which around 83 square kilometers are in the Czech part.

Origin and course
The Dračice starts in Kunžak in the Javořice Highlands at about 672 meters above sea level. It flows to Suchdol nad Lužnicí, where it joins the Lužnice at about 443 meters above sea level. Along its route it passes through Kunžak, Staré Město pod Landštejnem and Nová Bystřice in the Czech Republic, then through Haugschlag, Reingers, Litschau and Brand-Nagelberg in Austria, and finally through Rapšach and Suchdol nad Lužnicí in the Czech Republic again.

Tributaries and ponds
The river has many small tributaries but no major ones. The Osika fishpond, about 67 hectares, is the largest on the river. Another notable pond is Herrensee, 24 hectares, inside Litschau.

Nature and wildlife
Fish found in the river include European bullhead, stone loach and brook lamprey. About 19 dragonfly species live near the water, including the green snaketail and the golden-ringed dragonfly. The river is also home to the Eurasian otter, common kingfisher and grey wagtail.

Protected areas and special nature
The lower part of the Dračice runs through the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area. A 3.5-kilometer stretch and its surroundings are protected as a nature reserve (8.1 hectares) with a typically meandering, canyon-like river valley. Near the mouth, the river passes through the Na Ivance Nature Reserve, focused on the meandering Lužnice River and nearby forests. The Osika fishpond area is protected as the Osika Nature Monument because of the endangered aquatic plant Littorella uniflora. The Mnišský rybník pond area is protected as the Mnišský rybník Nature Monument due to the endangered grass Coleanthus subtilis.

Recreational use
The lower course of the Dračice is suitable for river tourism, mainly in spring or after heavy rains when water levels are higher.