Czechia is called the “roof of Europe” for a reason. Many different rivers originate here and the country lies at the watershed of three seas – Northern, Baltic and Black. Read our tips to discover interesting city corners near rivers or take a trip to one of the beautiful lakes, ponds or along rivers that form the one-of-a-kind character of the Czech countryside.
The Deep Eyes of Prague Embankment
Beautiful Czech cities are criss-crossed by rivers with embankments perfect for pleasant strolls and for exploring historical centres from a different angle. You’ll love the Prague embankment. Not only for its pleasant everyday atmosphere or the Saturday farmer’s market, but also thanks to the ‘cells’. They used to serve as wood and other shipment storage and today you will find vibrant bars, cafés and galleries behind their ‘glazed eyes’– which are, by the way, the largest windows of this type in the world.
Oldest, Largest, Longest
The embankment in South Bohemian Písek is also charming and you can see the oldest stone bridge in Czechia up close there. The East Bohemian Hradec Králové will amaze you with its modernistic buildings from the first half of the 20th century, looking down at River Elbe in the city centre. This place is truly alive especially in summer when many different markets and various cultural events take place in their shade. The Central Bohemian spa of Poděbrady further down Elbe River also offers a beautiful and easy-going trip or you can visit Mělník with a chateau rising high above the confluence of Elbe and Vltava, two largest Czech rivers.
©Písecko s.r.o.
Find the Hotspot!
A stroll along the river bank in the UNESCO-inscribed spa of Karlovy Vary in West Bohemia is also quite impressive. Hot mineral water from thermal springs flows into River Teplá (teplá in Czech means ‘warm’), creating clouds of steam all around… The river surroundings have been transformed into a pleasant promenade thanks to the spa tourism. Just grab one of the typical porcelain cups with a small ‘beak’ to taste the water from the springs and enjoy the atmosphere!
On Bike With the Stream
Fancy a bike trip? How about one of the cycling trails along a river? If you choose the right direction, from the spring to one of the confluences, you can look forward to an easy ride. Where to go?
Taste the gifts of Mother Earth
We have a lot of mineral springs here in Czechia. Some are cold, warm and others even hot, but each is unique, and the different waters can be used to treat various ailments. All the springs are protected natural resources, and their water is pumped from a great depth, meaning the water is guaranteed to be pure. It’s best to just visit a spa town and taste the mineral water at its freshest, but if you don't happen to be in the area, just go to the supermarket and buy some bottled mineral water.
One highly popular mineral water is Vincentka from Luhačovice in Moravia, which is famous for its healing benefits for the respiratory system and digestive tract, and also to aid the treatment of metabolic disorders. Its composition makes it suitable for drinking treatments and inhalation therapy, and it’s widely used for rinsing out the mouth or nose.
The Mill Spring in Karlovy Vary is famous for being high in bicarbonates, sulphates, chlorides and sodium. This water is traditionally used in Karlovy Vary for medicinal purposes and is especially good for treating digestive and metabolic problems.
Poděbradka, from the spa town of Poděbrady, on the other hand, is mainly used to treat heart disease. And what to drink in Moravia? Try Ondrášovka, which is high in natural calcium and helps to heal injuries and fractures, or Hanácká kyselka, which has a more acidic pH and so has a beneficial effect on the digestive tract, aids digestion and helps maintain balance in the body.
And how often should you drink mineral water? It’s best to drink smaller amounts from time to time, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. As it is high in minerals and salts in general, this water isn’t intended for daily consumption and certainly not to be drunk regularly by children. It is supposed to aid a prescribed course of treatment or be drunk at times of increased physical and mental exertion. It is excellent after doing sports or in extremely hot weather, when the body needs to be kept topped up with the minerals it needs.
One highly popular mineral water is Vincentka from Luhačovice in Moravia, which is famous for its healing benefits for the respiratory system and digestive tract, and also to aid the treatment of metabolic disorders. Its composition makes it suitable for drinking treatments and inhalation therapy, and it’s widely used for rinsing out the mouth or nose.
The Mill Spring in Karlovy Vary is famous for being high in bicarbonates, sulphates, chlorides and sodium. This water is traditionally used in Karlovy Vary for medicinal purposes and is especially good for treating digestive and metabolic problems.
Poděbradka, from the spa town of Poděbrady, on the other hand, is mainly used to treat heart disease. And what to drink in Moravia? Try Ondrášovka, which is high in natural calcium and helps to heal injuries and fractures, or Hanácká kyselka, which has a more acidic pH and so has a beneficial effect on the digestive tract, aids digestion and helps maintain balance in the body.
And how often should you drink mineral water? It’s best to drink smaller amounts from time to time, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. As it is high in minerals and salts in general, this water isn’t intended for daily consumption and certainly not to be drunk regularly by children. It is supposed to aid a prescribed course of treatment or be drunk at times of increased physical and mental exertion. It is excellent after doing sports or in extremely hot weather, when the body needs to be kept topped up with the minerals it needs.
