What you may not know about the Luhačovice Dam

The history of the Luhačovice waterworks is a turbulent one. In 1910, a flood so devastating in the surroundings and the spa itself led to action. Two years later, those in charge decided that similar natural excesses would have to be prevented by building a dam.

Building began in 1913, but the Austrian potentate had somewhat different concerns a year later. The "Great War" had started and building dams was somehow not on the agenda. Work began again four years after the end of the war and the reservoir was not filled for the first time until 1930.

But what has been true here ever since is still true today. Anyone who wants to walk around the dam - today on perfect asphalt, including the dam - will have to walk 3.3 kilometres. You'll see Pirate's Cove, a partial campsite, cottages, restaurants and hotels, as well as a tributary of the Luhačovice Creek, fishermen, a mooring for watercraft and much more, including a neighboring swimming pool.

In our case, two lone swans, hopefully a pair, are also up for grabs at the end of a not-so-benign November. They are very inquisitive, swim up to "feel" and certainly wouldn't mind some goodies. Far more numerous is the flock of water ducks, and there are a few fishermen on the shore here and there, but above all, unlike the summer months, this is a complete oasis of calm.

Sometimes the kids head here too. And rightly inquisitive is the loud question: "Grandpa and what's in that little house, in that tower on the water, who lives there, the waterman or who?"

The question is simple, but the answer is actually not so much. "No, no one lives there, it's a kind of office and also a facility to control the lower outlets," she explains. Unfortunately, he does not confirm the assumption that there is an underwater shaft leading from here under the entire dam.

"But beware, there is a manhole, of course, as in every dam, but it runs out of the water under the dam just on the other side," adds the lovely lady.

Categories: Tourism, What to do in Luhačovice, History, Tips for a trip, Why to Luhačovice, Luhačovice, Luhačovice dam, Dam