Prague is the heart of Europe. This city impresses with a huge number of architectural monuments - fortresses, Gothic palaces and ancient buildings. If you do not know which river in Prague is considered its most important waterway, then this article is for you. The Czech capital lies on both banks of the picturesque Vltava River. According to legend, the southern tribes began to settle in this region precisely because they felt the incredible energy that came from the waters. From the Old German language, the name of the Vltava is translated as “wild (ferocious) river”. The first mention of the reservoir can be found in the annals of 872.
general information
This river in Prague is considered one of the main attractions. Vltava is a navigable river on which steamboats and cargo ships ply . Hundreds of tourists go on a daily excursion along the river. By the way, this reservoir is considered the longest river in the Czech Republic. Vltava flows from south to north. It flows into the Elbe, which crosses Germany and reaches the North Sea. Its length is 446 km.
The river in Prague plays the role of a kind of border that divides the city into western and eastern parts. Vltava flows through the most beautiful historical part of the Czech capital. In addition to Prague, there are two more cities on this river - Cesky Krumlov and Ceske Budejovice.
The shortest distance between its banks is 40 meters, and the largest is 330 meters (at the Sitkovskaya dam in the center of the capital). The flow within the capital is quite smooth and calm.
An island was formed under the dam, which is called Slovenian. Next to it is another - Streletsky. In total, there are 10 islands on the Vltava. This majestic river in Prague has 10 streams from the left bank and 14 from the right.
River history
For many centuries, the Vltava for the Czechs is not just a river, but a national treasure. Her presence in the best way affected the development of the capital and the country as a whole. A couple of times this river overflowed the banks, they say that quite a strong flood was observed here in the 15th century. In 2002, the Vltava once again overflowed the coast. This flood has become the most devastating in the last 500 years. As a result of the disaster, the Prague metro and a significant part of the city center suffered.
Bridges of the Vltava
In the XII century, the first stone bridge was built under the name Judith, it was 500 meters long and 7 meters wide. In the XIV century, it was replaced and renamed Karlov. This building is crowned with 30 unique sculptural groups and statues.
The highest is the Nusel Bridge. Its length is 485 meters and its height is 40 meters. It connects two Prague hills and looks like it is curled over a gorge. The Karlinsky Viaduct, which was built in 1850, is considered a very beautiful railway structure. It consists of 85 arches, and its length is more than a kilometer. In total, there are about 15 bridges on the river.
The most picturesque places
Now you know the name of the river in Prague, but you probably still don’t know where the most charming place in this pond is. It is believed that the most beautiful part of the Vltava is its sleeve, which is called the Devil. It separates the Kampa island from the historical part of Prague - the Small Town, which is located on the left bank of the river. In past times, water from this tributary was used in burgher houses, palaces and factories.
You can also admire the wooden giant wheel of one of the old factories of the city, which is surrounded by other strange historical buildings. This place is also called Prague Venice.
Vltava gives the city an extraordinary charm and romance. The beautiful river of Prague linked together the fate of the people and the country with the centuries-old history of the Czech Republic.