Once upon a time Podlesku00fd rybnu00edk was much more than a pond. It was part of a vast network of fishponds a system perhaps rivaled only by the southern Bohemian fishponds of Jakub Kru010du00edu0148. Imagine fifty fishponds stretching across the landscape. Podlesku00fd rybnu00edk itself boasts a history reaching back to the 16th century.
Look around you. This is Podlesku00fd rybnu00edk. Today it’s the second largest pond in Prague. Only Pou010dernicku00fd rybnu00edk surpasses it in size. Kyjsku00fd rybnu00edk was larger once but not any more. Podlesku00fd rybnu00edk’s name derives from its location below the Great Forest. This forest once stood on the northern side of the pond. Its remnants disappeared around 1870.
Originally Podlesku00fd rybnu00edk was a flow-through pond. The current bypass canal on the left bank is a much later addition possibly from the latter half of the 20th century. The pond has an elongated triangular shape. In its northwestern corner you will find the outlet and safety spillway.
The 200-meter-long dam is lined with several notable summer oaks. A magnificent oak also stands near the right bank of the u0158u00edu010dansku00fd stream below the mill. The original Podlesku00fd mill operated until the 1950s. It was demolished in 2012-2013 replaced by a new building. Only a barn dating back to the mid-19th century remains. It stands independently on the western side. The entire complex with the land beneath the dam belongs to the Research Institute for Animal Production. They run an experimental farm there.
East of the mill behind the dam lies a small unused quarry. This quarry dates back to the early 20th century. It’s a source of Ordovician quartzite. The dilapidated remains of a building on the left southern bank of the pond are the remnants of a waterworks. This waterworks supplied water to the Uhu0159u00ednu011bves sugar factory in 1866.
In 1919 a bathing area was established by the pond. President T G Masaryk frequented it. He used the pond for swimming because it was close to his summer residence at Kolodu011bje Castle. Today Podlesku00fd rybnu00edk is a popular tourist destination. Despite occasional water quality issues people continue to visit the pond. A nature trail and a marked hiking trail pass by the pond.
So the next time you are in Prague remember the story of Podlesku00fd rybnu00edk. It’s a living testament to the rich history and natural beauty found within the city limits. A place where history and nature meet. A place where presidents swam and stories were born.