Page 58 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

56  INTRODUCING PR A GUE

A RIVER VIEW OF PRAGUE

The Vltava river has played a vital part in the In 2002 however, a state of emergency was
city’s history (see pp22–3) and has provided declared as flooding devastated large parts of
inspiration for artists, poets and musicians the city. Despite its destructive side, the
throughout the centuries. Vltava has provided a vital method of
Up until the 19th century, parts of the transport for the city, as well as a source of
city were exposed to the danger of heavy income. As technology improved, the river
flooding. To try and alleviate the problem, became increasingly important; water mills,
the river’s embankments have been weirs and water towers were built. In 1912, a
strengthened and raised many times, in large hydroelectric power plant was built on
order to try to prevent the water penetrating Štvanice Island, supplying almost a third of
too far (the foundations of today’s Prague’s electricity. To make the river navi­
embankments are made of stone or gable, eight dams, a large canal and weirs
concrete). During the Middle Ages, year after were constructed along the Slapy­Prague­
year of disastrous flooding led to the decision Mělník stretch, where the Vltava flows into
to bury the areas affected under 2 m (6 ft) the river Elbe. For the visitor, an excursion on
of earth to try to minimize the damage. one of the many boats and paddle steamers
Although this strategy was only partially that travel up and down the river is worth­
effective, it meant that the ground floors of while. There are trips to Troja (see pp166–7)
many Romanesque and Gothic buildings were and as far as Slapy Lake. Catching a boat from
preserved and can still be seen today, such one of the piers on the river is a pleasant way
as in the Church of St Francis (see pp80–81). to see the city from a different perspective.

A view of the steamboat landing stage (přístaviště parníků) on Rašínovo nábřeží

056-057_EW_Prague.indd 56 20/03/17 11:28 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Seasonal template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.2)
Date 2nd August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm