Flowing mostly underground today, what stories could the Dejvick\u00fd potok tell? The Dejvick\u00fd potok also known as Veleslav\u00ednsk\u00fd potok is a small stream in Prague 6. Much of it is now channelled underground.
Let’s uncover some of its secrets.
The Dejvick\u00fd potok once flowed freely. It began near the center of Veleslav\u00edn. The name of Poto\u010dn\u00ed Street reminds us of its presence. So does the small lake at the Veleslav\u00edn Castle.
In the past the Dejvick\u00fd potok meandered through Vokovice. It continued through Dejvice, flowing along today’s Na rozd\u00edlu and U dejvick\u00e9ho rybn\u00ed\u010dku streets. As late as 1935 it fed a small pond there. The Dejvick\u00fd potok then made its way along Zavadilova Street. It reached the old Dejvice area.
Construction at Hadovka revealed muddy deposits. These suggest a medieval pond or series of ponds existed here. Imagine knights and villagers gathering by these waters.
The Dejvick\u00fd potok continued towards Bubene\u010d. It followed the path of today’s Evropsk\u00e1 Street. In Bubene\u010d, the Dejvick\u00fd potok flowed through N\u00e1m\u011bst\u00ed Interbrig\u00e1dy. It passed through Ma\u010farsk\u00e1 and Ml\u00fdnsk\u00e1 streets. Finally it joined a branch of the Vltava River at the Imperial Mill.
Today the Dejvick\u00fd potok is mostly hidden. Only two short sections remain open. You can find the first in Vokovice. It lies between V P\u0159edn\u00edm Veleslav\u00edn\u011b and Na rozd\u00edlu streets. This stretch still has a natural feel. Sadly new construction threatens it.
The second visible section is in a viaduct. Find it on Ml\u00fdnsk\u00e1 Street near the Bubene\u010d train station. Look closely and you can see the Dejvick\u00fd potok flowing.
Old willows in the park along Na rozd\u00edlu Street hint at the stream’s history. The street name U Dejvick\u00e9ho rybn\u00ed\u010dku also tells a story. They remind us of the Dejvick\u00fd potok’s past presence.
A tributary flowed into the Dejvick\u00fd potok near Bubene\u010d Hospital. This nameless stream started in Willy Brandt Park. Its source was called Ve struh\u00e1ch. The park is what remains of the large Bu\u010dkovy sady. Josef Ign\u00e1c Bu\u010dek z Heraltic founded these gardens in 1786.
The Dejvick\u00fd potok may be concealed. Yet its story flows through the streets and memories of Prague 6. Keep an eye out for these subtle reminders of the Dejvick\u00fd potok’s journey.