3. Leisure and Recreation

Recreation in Radotín has always been shaped by its location on the banks of the Berounka River – the largest left‑bank tributary of the Vltava, into which it flows at Lahovice. The river is almost 140 km long and was formed by the gradual confluence of four rivers, the most important being the meeting of the Mže and Radbuza in the centre of Plzeň. The name Berounka has been documented since the 17th century.

According to the Plzeň chronicler Jan Tanner, the name comes from the Beroun estate, through which the river once flowed. Originally, the river ran near Lipence and just below Zbraslav. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, it divided today’s Upper and Lower Černošice. As early as the beginning of the 12th century, the river found its way around Radotín, which is confirmed by written records of a ferry in Radotín from 1115 and 1158. Later changes to the riverbed were caused mainly by major floods in 1797 and 1829, which shifted the main flow toward Lahovice. The branch near Zbraslav was abandoned after the flood of 1845.

Říční lázně - River Spa (1930)

The Berounka river is a beautiful and calm river, surrounded by impressive nature reserves and two protected landscape areas: the UNESCO Křivoklátsko Biosphere Reserve and the Bohemian Karst Protected Landscape Area. Its banks are enriched by many historical landmarks, including the famous castles Karlštejn and Křivoklát, as well as the lesser‑known Týřov, Libštejn, Krašov and others. There is always something to discover.

Interesting Fact

• Did you know there was once an initiative to change the name of the Berounka River? Thanks to the position of local municipalities and state authorities, the change fortunately never happened.

Water‑based recreation in Radotín has a long and interesting history. Even in the distant past, when the first ferries appeared near Radotín, the river served not only practical purposes but also offered space for swimming and summer fun.

Swimming spots that are almost unused today – such as Šárovo kolo, V hlavách, Na Benátkách and others – were once known mainly for bad experiences. These places were dangerous and even claimed lives. That is why, already in 1898, it was decided to build a public swimming area below the cemetery. It was created on the initiative of the Radotín Sokol organisation, but due to low interest it existed only for a short time.

Between 1908 and 1916, swimming below the church was first banned because of the high risk of drowning. Later, the municipal council actively searched for safer places for swimming and placed warning signs at unsafe spots.

Despite this, the river – still wild, clean and free‑flowing at the time – attracted visitors from Prague during the summer. Families with small children most often used the area below the ferry, where the water was safe for bathing.

Around 1920, the local beautification society established the so‑called River Spa. It operated at a loss until 1922. When a new operator, Mr. Myška and his wife, took over, the spa began to flourish. At that time, it was a beautifully maintained facility with an English‑style lawn, a sandy beach, changing cabins, a playground, a boat rental and even a dance floor. The River Spa offered peace, relaxation, sports, excellent food and entertainment on the banks of the shimmering Berounka.

The spa closed in 1950, and the area gradually deteriorated until its final removal in 1980.

1935: Peace, Relaxation, Swimming

Today, the former River Spa lives a different, but equally interesting life. The area now includes horse stables, a country‑style pub, a concert stage, canoeing and hiking clubs with their clubrooms, a children’s playground and even a small mini‑zoo. The place is a popular stop for hikers, cyclists, water sports fans and, thanks to regular music events, also for musicians. During the annual rodeo, visitors from all over the country come here to enjoy horses, western atmosphere and great entertainment. In 2014, the swimming function of the River Spa was taken over by the new biotope.

Radotín and its surroundings offer many other opportunities for recreation: hiking, cycling, mushroom picking, fishing and canoeing. In winter, people can ski and sled in Slavičí Valley or skate at Šárovo kolo.

1956: The canoeing club built its clubhouse in the spa area in the 1950s

The spa in 1950…

…and deteriorating twenty years later

The history of recreation in Radotín is also closely connected with the local canoeists and hikers, whose club base has long been located in the area of today’s River Spa. Canoeists from the Radotín Sports Club began meeting here in 1943, on the meadow next to the spa. They organised canoe trips and races. In 1949, a new canoeing section was founded within the Sokol organisation under the fitting name: Canoing Club(VOR). After Sokol was dissolved in 1950, the club was moved under the workers’ sports association Stavoloko Radotín. It relocated to the spa area and built a clubhouse in an old recreational cottage it had acquired.

In 1952, the club was renamed TJ Spartak Radotín. Canoeing reached its greatest success between 1957 and 1973, both in sprint canoeing and slalom. A new boathouse was opened in 1978. In 1991, the club returned to its original name VOR and became an independent legal entity.

Skating on the Berounka below the church (1932)

The Youth Hiking Club (TOM) was founded in 1970. Its activities followed the tradition of Junák, which had been active in Radotín since 1938 until it was banned by the German authorities during the war. After the war, Junák was restored, but in 1950 it was banned again due to the political situation. Under the umbrella of the hiking club, Junák’s activities continued quietly and unofficially.

With the arrival of democracy, Junák was able to officially renew its activities in 1990, but merging TOM with Junák was not successful. Over the years, TOM used several different clubrooms. From 1982 they had a brick and later a prefabricated clubhouse, which was destroyed by the 2002 flood. Since then, the hikers have been based in a large wooden lodge, which they helped finance themselves.

Skiing on Homolka

After its renewal, Junák was based in the courtyard of the “U Koruny” house. In 2019, the scouts acquired the former gardening house to the right of the church. Both clubs – VOR and TOM – have long been an important part of Radotín’s history, sport and community life.