Following two years of restrictions, Náplavka gears up for a full season

The spring season at Prague’s Náplavka waterfront will take place without restrictions, and is already getting underway.

A timely exhibition on how recent history impacts the present has just opened at Smíchovská náplavka, and work by Ukrainian artists will be seen later this month. The popular farmers market, which had been moved around a bit due to construction, will be permanently back at its usual location.

“After two years of restrictions connected with the Covid, the Náplavka embankments are finally waiting for a full-fledged season. The operators of the unique cubicles will finally be able to launch a complete program and show the full potential of these award-winning spaces,” City Councilor Jan Chabr said.

Renovation work on Náplavka and Smíchovská náplavka is in its final phases. The remaining work on Rašínovo nábřeží is planned with minimal impact on the public. An architectural competition will soon be announced for the modification of Hořejší nábřeží between the Palacký and Jirásek bridges.

“Prague is also waiting for a novelty, namely the launch of a heliport. If financial possibilities allow, we would like to complete the project for the floating pool on the Vltava,” Chabr added.

The construction of a heliport to serve the General University Hospital (VFN) should be completed by the end of this year. The CZK 10 million pontoon would be exclusively used by the Air Rescue Service (LZS), and not for commercial or military flights. It will be located between Výtoň and Vyšehrad, just south of the railway bridge.

While there are potential landing areas closer to the hospital, located next to Karlovo náměstí, studies have found the Vltava site is more advantageous from both a practical and economic point of view.

The exhibition Meeting With History, by the Twentieth Century Memorial Museum (Muzeum paměti XX. století), shows the relationship between recent history and the present. The exhibition is in Kobka 17 on the Smíchov side of the waterfront. Holding it in a formerly inaccessible “dungeon” (as “kobka” can be translated) is symbolic. The exhibition runs to April 12, on weekdays from 4 pm to 8 pm and on weekends from noon to 8 pm.

“To deal with history honestly means first and foremost seeking the truth – and the truth has been repeatedly silenced and locked up in dungeons of all kinds over the last century” City Councilor Hana Kordová Marvanová, who is also chairwoman of the board of the Museum, said.

The project will present, among other things, the museum’s activities and plans, as well as a cycle of discussions (in Czech) on the war in Ukraine. The program will end with an anniversary evening of songs dedicated to the late Czech dissident singer Karel Kryl, who was born on April 12, 1944. The concert starts at 6 pm. More details are on the museum website and Facebook.

An exhibition of Ukrainian artists is currently being created in cooperation with the Prague City Gallery (GHMP). It will take place from April 24 to May 23.

Regular farmers markets are returning to their usual spot on Rašínovo nábřeží, now that construction has ended. Every second Saturday of the month will be reserved for various food events on Hořejší nábřeží on the opposite side of the Vltava river.

At the end of April, Čapadla Hollar will reopen. The space at Smetanovo nábřeží first opened last summer. A formerly closed tunnel was renovated to create a passage to a small terrace right on the water, where people can now sit and relax.

Fishing and wine festivals will take place on both sides of the waterfront on June 11–12. These will complement the planned piers and other places along the river for fishing.

Visitors also can look forward to previously announced events including the Children’s Day at Náplavka on June 1, the Arena theater festival by the Forman Brothers from June 21 to July 2, the 109th Pražské primátorky boat race on June 4–5, which will be preceded by an exhibition in Kobka 17, as well as the Prague Biennale and the Signal festival.

The program and a map can be found on Pražské náplavky website, and more information can also be found on Facebook.