Branišovský les, Forest near České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Branišovský les is a mixed woodland situated between the Máj district of České Budějovice and the villages of Branišov, Mokré, and Třebín at about 400 meters elevation. The forest composition varies by section, with spruce and oak mixing in the northeastern areas while pine predominates in the southwestern portions.

During a plague outbreak from 1679 to 1681, authorities established a cemetery with a central cross at the forest edge, which was consecrated on October 12, 1680. This site marks one of the darkest periods in local history when disease claimed many lives across the region.

The forest's Czech name Bor gave the restaurant U Hada its name, after owner František Had. Oral tradition holds that the wooden wayside shrine called Černý sloup (Black Column) marks the site of an unspecified tragic event; it stands where the cadastres of Branišov, Mokré and Třebín meet, and no municipality claims it. Villagers from Branišov replaced the collapsed column in 2019.

A marked educational trail with information boards on trees, wildlife and people runs from the Máj housing estate to Zavadilka. Forest paths with rest stops were built in 2014. The terrain is uneven and partly overgrown, so sturdy footwear is advisable.

Military records reference an investigation into soldiers who died during night duty in an unusual incident, though the exact circumstances remain poorly documented. This little-known episode adds another layer of mystery to the woodland's past.