It is wonderful to live in Prague and at the same time in the middle of nature, says Jana Divišová, a resident of Divoká Šárka
The first mentions of the Devil’s Mill, which was then called Tučkův mlýn, date back to 1620. Later, the building was used as a restaurant until 1945. When the Diviš couple bought the building, only the perimeter walls and the roof remained.
“My husband bought it in an absolutely desolate condition. He came from Šumava, and when he studied architecture in Prague’s Dejvice, he was sad, so he went to learn in nature, i.e. in nearby Šárka. And when he discovered the Devil’s Mill in it, he wanted them to rent him a room there. But the owners kicked him out. Years later, when he went there again to learn, he found the mill abandoned and dilapidated. And that’s when he bought it,” says Jana Divišová. It is said that until his death he did nothing but glorify him. “And now my son continues it,” he adds.
The Devil’s Mill stands in the middle of a nature park, where there is no other building anywhere. “Life there is absolutely wonderful, especially for those who like nature. And he can handle even minor discomfort. After all, it’s approximately two kilometers to the nearest civilization,” laughs Jana Divišová.
It is possible to comfortably walk through Šárecký údolí on a paved asphalt road along the Šárecký stream. The routes are marked with tourist signs. Massive cobblestone rocks rise up all around. “One is called Šestákova and the other Kozákova. They stand directly opposite each other. And mountaineers even come to train there,” explains Jana Divišová. And he also mentions the Nebušická viewpoint. “It is really beautiful, from it you can see almost the whole of Prague 6, across the Hvězd field, then to Břevnov and the Ruzynsk airport. And of course the entire Šárecka Valley.”
In Divoká Šárka, you will also come across a restaurant called Dívčí skok, which is open depending on the weather. And you would also find two swimming pools there. Džbán and U Veselíků. While the Džbán swimming pool has been closed in recent years, at Veselíků you can certainly refresh yourself in the summer and enjoy lounging by the water in the bosom of nature.
“U Veselíků natural swimming pool offers crystal clear, but at the same time ice-cold water, because it is fed by a spring springing from the rock. So it’s really refreshing there. And really wonderful, the owners take excellent care of the swimming pool,” says Jana Divišová.
Summer scene of the National Theatre
However, it is also possible to go to Šarka for culture. The National Theater built a summer stage there in 1913. The first performance took place on May 16. The Natural Theater always operated during the summer season, until 1922. “Opera, operetta and drama were performed there. And really famous artists performed there. Vlasta Burian, Hana Kvapilová, Ema Destinnová.”
And because Jana Divišová worked at Czech Television, she was interested in documents and history. “And so I looked for everything that was in Šárka before. And I learned that there was a theater there. And I decided to restore it. It was an incredible ordeal, but in the end it worked,” he says with a satisfied smile.
Today, one performance a year is held in the natural theater in Šárka. “Prague 6 always celebrates its birthday on the first weekend in September, and that’s when one opera performance is held.” Next year will be 110 years since the theater was founded, so plans are already starting. “We don’t yet know what the title will be, but theater lovers can definitely look forward to some Czech opera,” concludes Jana Divišová.
You will learn about the fact that there were once over thirty mills and several pubs on the local stream in Šárecký údolí when you listen to the entire program.