- Address: 544 01 Bílá Třemešná, Česko
- Year of construction: 1920
- Working hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Usually the concept of "dam" causes in thoughts the same "picture": concrete bulk - a structure that can impress with its size, but not in appearance. However, from the rule there is one pleasant exception: the Teshnov dam on the Laba river, better known as the Forest of the Kingdom. This building, similar to an ancient fortress, attracts with its beauty and sophistication a large number of tourists. Since 1964, it is considered a national technical monument, and in 2010 it was added to the list of monuments of national culture .
A bit of history
The decision to build the dam arose after a severe flood in 1897, when the flooded Laba flooded a vast territory from Vrchlabi to Pardubice . It was decided to build two dams: near the Krkonoše Mountains and near the village of Teshnov.
Preparatory work was started in 1903, and the construction of the structure itself, under a project created by Czech architects under the leadership of Joseph Plisky, began in 1910.
In 1914, construction was suspended in connection with the outbreak of World War I. The Teshnov dam was completed in 1920, and in 1923 a hydroelectric power station was constructed, which was maintained in the same style as the dam itself.
Features of the structure
At the time of construction, the Teshnov dam became the largest hydrotechnical structure in the Czech Republic . Its construction cost 4.7 million Austrian kroner. The maximum height of the dam is 41 m. The width at the base is 37 m, and at the top - 7,2 m.
The reservoir of the Forest of the Kingdom itself is in the form of a regular oval. It is not allowed to swim in it - it serves as a reservoir for drinking water, but you can go fishing: there are many fish in the waters, which is clearly visible due to the high transparency of the water. To fish here, you first need to buy a ticket. The depth of the reservoir near the dam is 28 m.
The structure itself is built of local gray sandstone and is aged in an old style. Through the dam passes a road, the entrance to which is decorated with turrets with tiled roofs.
How to visit the reservoir?
For this, you can reach the railway station Bílá Třemešná by train, and then walk about 2.5 km. You can come here by car: for example, from Prague to the Forest of the Kingdom, there is the D11 road, along which the reservoir can be reached in about 1 hour 45 minutes; you can go and another way - to D10 / E65 (travel time - the same). The reservoir can be visited any day and at any time of the day.