Our Story
The Story of Johanka — from idea to reality
Where the past meets the present
The settlement of Johanka — Johannaburg in German — was founded in the 1760s by František Mikusch, a steward of local estates, who named it after his wife Johanna Falkenhaynová.
A small hamlet near the border — an inn, ten houses, children walking over the hill to school in Stará Červená Voda. After the expulsion of the original inhabitants, authorities banned resettlement — too close to the tense Czech-Polish border. By the 1950s, only ruins remained. Officially dissolved in 1965.
The view survived. And the foundations. And one well we unexpectedly discovered while clearing the land.
It started with frustration.
We knew we wanted to share the Jeseníky Mountains. Not as a tourist product — as an experience. A place where you could feel why we live here. Why we stay, even though it's not always easy.
The first attempt ended before it began. Rudohoří, at the foot of Hrubý Jeseník — a beautiful spot, the right energy. Opposition from the protected landscape area and other organisations blocked the plan.
Then came two years of searching. Hundreds of locations. Every time a different obstacle — hunters, nature conservation, neighbours, poor access, wrong orientation, complicated ownership. The list of reasons 'why not' was endless.
And then we came here.
Stepped out of the car. Saw the view. Not a word — it was clear.
The well changed everything. What started as a simple off-grid cabin became a project with a full wellness area — sauna, hot tub, cold plunge. It set us back a whole year. We don't regret a moment.
We built it all from what's here. Granite cobblestones from Žulová, gravel from a quarry just across the Polish border, larch from the Jeseníky forests. Going off-grid wasn't a lifestyle choice — the site simply has no utility connections. But it turned out that's exactly how it should be. We learned to draw water, filter it, manage our own energy.
Petra led the project from the start — every bolt, every decision, every compromise, and every moment that made it worthwhile. Jan takes care of what's behind the scenes — the website, energy, logistics.
We planted the garden with herbs, shrubs, and grasses. At first glance, it looks modest. But it's alive — and its best years are yet to come, just like this whole place.
2024
We bought the land
2025
We built
2026
We launch
2024
We bought the land
2025
We built
2026
We launch
Johanka waited over seventy years. We searched for two before we found her.
“Places, just like people, are far more precious when they have a history.”
— Tančírna v Račím údolí