History of water in the Czech

Republic

Water elixir of life

Tento projekt byl realizován za finanční podpory Evropské unie.

Za obsah publikací (sdělení) odpovídá výlučně autor. Publikace (sdělení) nereprezentují názory Evropské komise a Evropská komise neodpovídá za použití

informací, jež jsou jejich obsahem.

Historical aspects

How water was used and treated by people in our

country in the past?

B.C.People used water from nature, they collected it in hands, they lived near rivers and lakes. They made the first vessels.

0-500 Celts and Germanic tribes lived in our area.

 500 - 1000It is said that the Slavic came to our country through the Moravian Gate.

Great MoraviaIt was the first known west Slavonic

state.It existed mainly in the territory of

today's Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary between 833-906/907.

The important river was the river Morava.

The river Morava

The history of Bohemia started in the 9th century.

 Middle Ages 1000-150012th century - first water line in Prague

The first stone bridge in our country

The bridge was probably built in the 13th century during the reign of Přemysl Otakar II.

The bridge is in the south Bohemia in Písek and it is 109.75 m long.

The name of the river is Otava.

1000 – 1500 Ponds

The first ponds appeared in the 12th century.The largest Czech pond is Rožmberk, which has

an area of 4.89 km2.

Ponds – fish farmingIn the Czech lands, fish farming tradition dates

back to the 12th century.Traditional fish farms are in the South Bohemia.

The most important pondsRožmberk (Lužnice) Horusický rybník (Lužnice)Bezdrev (Vltava)Dvořiště (Lužnice)Velký Tisý (Lužnice)Záblatský rybník (Lužnice)Nesyt (Dyje)

PondsFirst ponds were established in southern Bohemia

in the 14th century, when Charles IV reigned. 20 ponds were founded in that area in 100 years.

LakesThe most famous Máchovo jezero – Mácha lake

is not a lake, but it is a pond. It was built in 1366 during the reign of Charles IV.

Water millsThe first water mills in our country were built in

the 12th century. The monks brought them

to Bohemia.The water wheel is the

basis of the water mill.

1500 – 1800 Plague epidemics Plague epidemics were caused also by contamined

water.

SpasFrantiškovy lázněKarlovy VaryJanské lázněLázně Teplice nad BečvouMariánské lázněPriessnitzovy lázně JeseníkLázně PoděbradyLázně Luhačovice

1800 – 1900Water and transportThere weren‘t sailing boats on our rivers. For water transport the artificial Schwarzenberg

Canal was built in Šumava. The first steamer - Božek steamship - appeared in

Prague 1.6. 1817, however, larger steamers boom dates back to the last third of the 19th century.

Motor boats appeared on our rivers in 20th century.

1800 – 1900Water and transport

1800 – 1900Water and energyHydroelectric Power in PísekIt was constructed in 1888 in

Písek. It was set up following the

great success of the promotional lighting by František Křižík 23.6. 1887.

Písek became the first town in the Czech Republic with permanent electric lighting.

1800 – 1900Water and energyHydroelectric power ŽelinaIt is a remarkable architectural and technical-

historical monument.It was in operation

from 1908-1925 and in 1994 was inducted into its original state.