Vltava River: The Longest River of the Czech Lands

The Vltava River is the longest river lying entirely within Czechia, flowing about 430 kilometres from its source in the Bohemian Forest (Šumava) near the German border to its confluence with the Elbe (Labe) at Mělník, north of Prague. It flows through a single country — Czechia — and drains most of the region of Bohemia. Known in German as the Moldau, it is the national river of the Czech people and the setting for the capital city of Prague.

Introduction

The Vltava is to the Czechs what the Seine is to the French or the Thames to the English: the river of the nation and its capital. It curves through the heart of Prague, passing beneath the medieval Charles Bridge and reflecting the towers of the castle and the Old Town, and it inspired one of the most famous pieces of Czech music ever written. Though it is not among Europe's largest rivers, its cultural weight in Czech identity is immense.

A quirk of geography defines the river's status. Where it meets the Elbe at Mělník, the Vltava is actually the longer and higher-volume of the two watercourses; by the usual rules of hydrology it might be considered the main stem and the Elbe its tributary. By convention, however, the combined river continues under the name Elbe, so the Vltava is classed as a tributary despite being the longer river to that point.

Course & Geography

The Vltava rises in the Šumava, the forested mountains of southwestern Bohemia along the border with Germany and Austria, from the joining of two headstreams known as the Warm Vltava and the Cold Vltava. From these highlands the river flows first southeast, then swings north in a great arc through southern Bohemia, passing the historic town of Český Krumlov, whose castle sits above a tight loop of the river, and the city of České Budějovice.

Continuing northward, the Vltava passes through a chain of large reservoirs before reaching Prague, where it winds through the city in a series of broad curves, dividing the districts of the capital and framing landmarks such as Prague Castle and the National Theatre. Below Prague the river flows the short remaining distance to Mělník, where it joins the Elbe. The Elbe then carries the combined waters north across Germany to the North Sea.

Length & Key Facts

• Length: ~430 km (the longest river entirely within Czechia)
• Source: Šumava (Bohemian Forest), southwestern Czechia (~1,170 m elevation)
• Mouth: Confluence with the Elbe (Labe) at Mělník, Czechia
• Country: Czechia
• Basin area: ~28,000 km²
• German name: Moldau
• Major tributaries: Sázava, Berounka, Lužnice, Otava

The Vltava drains roughly the southern half of Bohemia. Its flow has been heavily regulated by a series of dams, and it passes through Prague as a broad, calm urban river dotted with islands and spanned by many bridges. At its confluence the Vltava contributes more water than the Elbe, reinforcing the popular Czech view of it as the true main river of the country.

History

Prague grew up around a natural crossing point of the Vltava, and the river has been central to the city's life for more than a thousand years. The earliest permanent bridge, the stone Judith Bridge, was built in the 12th century; after it was destroyed by a flood, Emperor Charles IV commissioned its famous successor. The Charles Bridge, begun in 1357 and lined with baroque statues added centuries later, remains the most beloved crossing of the river and one of the most recognizable monuments in central Europe.

For centuries the Vltava was a working river, floating timber down from the Bohemian forests and carrying goods to and from Prague. It was also a recurrent source of danger: major floods repeatedly inundated low-lying parts of the city, most catastrophically in 2002, when a great flood submerged riverside districts and prompted the construction of extensive new flood defences. The river's role in Czech national feeling was crystallized in the 19th century by the composer Bedřich Smetana.

Smetana and "The Moldau"

Smetana's symphonic poem "Vltava," better known internationally by its German title "The Moldau," is the second and most famous movement of his cycle Má vlast ("My Homeland"). The music traces the river musically from its two small mountain springs, through forests and past a peasant wedding, over rapids, and finally in a broad, majestic theme as it flows through Prague. Composed in the 1870s while Smetana was going deaf, it became an enduring symbol of Czech national identity and is one of the most widely performed pieces of Czech music.

Economy & Human Use

The Vltava Cascade

The middle course of the Vltava has been transformed by a series of large dams and reservoirs built mainly in the mid-20th century, collectively known as the Vltava Cascade. These dams generate hydroelectric power, control flooding, and store water, and their reservoirs — the largest of which is the Lipno reservoir in the south and the Orlík reservoir on the middle river — are major centres for recreation, boating, and summer tourism.

Tourism and City Life

In Prague the Vltava is the setting for much of the city's tourism. Excursion boats ply the river, rowing and paddle boats can be hired around its islands, and the embankments and bridges are among the most photographed spots in the city. The river's scenic upper reaches around Český Krumlov and the Šumava forests are popular for canoeing and hiking, making the Vltava a recreational spine for much of Bohemia.

Cities Along the River

• Český Krumlov: A UNESCO-listed medieval town wrapped around a loop of the river beneath its castle.
• České Budějovice: A southern Bohemian city famous for its brewing tradition.
• Prague: The Czech capital, whose historic core straddles the Vltava and its bridges.
• Mělník: The town at the confluence of the Vltava and the Elbe, set in a wine-growing region.

Ecology

The Šumava headwaters of the Vltava lie within a large national park and biosphere reserve that protects extensive forests, peat bogs, and glacial lakes, one of the most important natural areas in central Europe. Along its middle course the chain of dams has changed the river from a free-flowing stream into a series of reservoirs, altering water temperature and flow and affecting native fish, while also creating new wetland and lake habitats. Water quality in the river has improved considerably since the end of the communist era as industrial pollution has been reduced and treatment has improved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Vltava River?

The Vltava is about 430 kilometres long, making it the longest river lying entirely within Czechia.

Which river does the Vltava flow into?

The Vltava joins the Elbe (Labe) at Mělník, north of Prague; the combined river then flows on through Germany to the North Sea.

What is "The Moldau"?

"The Moldau" is the international title of Smetana's symphonic poem "Vltava," which musically depicts the river's journey from its mountain springs to Prague and is a celebrated symbol of Czech national identity.