Trip and refreshment in one place: where to go for a natural swim in the surroundings of Prague?
Lom Kosov
Clear water and scenery as cut from the Vinnetou movies can be found in the flooded area quarry just outside Beroun. Swimming is officially forbidden here, so the quarry is not marked – you can get here by a three-kilometer walk from the railway station, from where you will follow the green sign towards Jarov. The somewhat hidden lake was played in the famous film by David Ondříček Loners – Jitka Schneiderová and Jiří Macháček swam in it.
Kosov quarry near Beroun. Photo © Petr Pánek, archive of the Diving Party
Lake Konětopy
You will feel almost like by the sea in a sandpit with famous azure blue water near Brandýs nad Labemwhich is surrounded by bike paths and hiking trails. There is a facility for visitors with a changing room, toilets and several stalls with refreshments. The all-day entrance fee for an adult is CZK 100, young people under the age of 15 pay CZK 50 and children under the age of six have free admission. Parking in the area is 200 CZK (car) and 100 CZK (motorbike). The complex is open between 8 am and 9 pm.
Lake Konětopy. Photo: lake laketetopy.eu archive
Swimming pool Vyžlovka
On the outskirts of the village Jevany, which became famous mainly as a shooting location for the film Holiday with an Angel with the trade union convalescent home Jezerka, there is a natural swimming pool Vyžlovka. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, you can play table tennis, darts, football, beach volleyball, skittles or croquet. In the vicinity you will find the Voděradské bučiny nature trail, the Skalka lookout tower or the Kamenický open-air museum in neighboring Louňovice. Admission to the complex, which is accessible from 9 am to 6 pm depending on the weather, costs 40 CZK, reduced 20 CZK.
Swimming pool Vyžlovka. Photo: vyzlovka.cz archive
Lake Lhota
Near Konětop in Stará Boleslav you will find a natural swimming pool, which became known to the public by opening the first nudist beach in Czechoslovakia in 1985, which has remained here to this day. Refreshment stalls and lockers have been added recently, and the owners have refurbished changing rooms and mini golf. It is popular for its water quality and secured shade thanks to the planting of beaches. Admission is charged – adults pay CZK 80, reduced costs CZK 50, after 5 pm the complex offers a reduced entrance fee of CZK 20. You can visit the sandpit between 6 am and 10 pm.
Lake Lhota. Photo: archive lhotajezero.cz
Jureček swimming pool
The famous First Republic swimming pool, which was also visited by an actor Oldrich Novy, you will find in Říčany near Prague in the Radošovice district. When you get tired of swimming, you can play table tennis or beach volleyball, ride the Poletuše cable car and children can have fun on the playground in the meantime. You can combine a visit to the swimming pool with a walk through the Rokytka valley, which runs along the Říčansko nature trail. The full entrance fee to the complex is CZK 50, reduced CZK 30, it is open from 8 am to 10 pm.
Jureček swimming pool. Photo: archive jurecek-ricany.cz
Skryj Lakes
If you only need refreshing in the cold water to half your body, take a trip to They hide in the Křivoklát region between Beroun and Rakovník. When you follow the blue sign from Podmokelský Mlýn, you will come to the local picturesque lakes hidden in the middle of a shady forest. With a little luck, you will meet salamanders, crayfish or even kingfishers.
Skryj Lakes. Photo: archive skryjskajezirka.cz
Also read our overview of summer swimming pools in Prague, or tips on the most beautiful swimming pools in the Czech Republic.
Photo: Unsplash