VLTAVA RIVER IN PRAGUE
Prague is justifiably celebrated for its buildings, with hundreds of nonpareil constructions illustrating more than 10 centuries of amazing architecture. But in recent years the Czech capital has embraced its natural beauty as well, especially the Vltava, which slides through the city like a serpent.
One of the first big moves was the 2010 start of the weekend farmers’ market, commonly called Naplavka, on the Rasinovo Nabrezi embankment south of the Old Town. The growing popularity of cycling, jogging and rollerblading among residents, combined with the city’s unexpected turn as the European Capital of Sport in 2016, has drawn even more people to the river, especially in the Troja district north of the centre.
Part of the popular A2 bike trail that spans the city, the Troja embankment is bustling with bikers, runners and in-line skaters on any sunny afternoon, to say nothing of the pedestrians heading to the nearby Prague Zoo. Heading south, strollers can cross the scenic Trojska Lavka footbridge over the Vltava to Cisarsky Ostrov and on to Stromovka, a park that was founded as a game preserve in the 13th century. For evening fun, Troja’s Galerie Trojsky Kun puts on open-air blues, country and jazz concerts.
Closer to the centre, new waterfront attractions include Lod Pivovar, a recently opened microbrewery on an anchored boat next to Stefanikuv Most bridge, as well as a ferry line crossing the Vltava between the Karlin and Holesovice neighbourhoods by way of Stvanice island.