Swimming at the oldest swimming pool

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A parking lot is available near the swimming pool

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The Volyně municipal swimming pool, whose atmosphere and facilities still reflect the time of its construction in 1941, is experiencing an exceptional summer. The Ministry of Culture recently declared it a cultural monument, recognizing its uniqueness as the only pool of its kind in the Czech Republic. This prestigious designation attracts tourists and gives the town a greater chance to receive funding to preserve the historical character of the area.

"This way of summer seems fortunate," one could say at the pool, recalling the atmosphere of the famous Czech film Capricious Summer (Rozmarné léto), which the swimming area resembles in many ways. Built between 1939 and 1941 for nearly 300,000 CZK, the pool was financed by the Civic Savings Bank in Volyně.

The wooden changing cabins, showers, and pool remain original. Water is drawn from the Volyňka River and is regularly replaced. The 18 × 50-meter pool is surrounded by tall trees and a railway track, making waving at passing trains from the pool a beloved local pastime.

The cultural monument status has increased its appeal, especially for tourists. Regular visitors, however, have long known the charm of this unique place. The mayor of Volyně, Lenka Nestřebová, initiated the process of obtaining the designation after being encouraged by a local historian and witness to its past.

A Wedding Reception at the Pool?

"When the Ministry approved the status, we took it as confirmation that we are recognizing the right values," said the mayor. She spent her childhood and summer vacations there as a seasonal worker and even held her wedding reception at the pool's summer restaurant.

To celebrate the new status, today's swimming competitions will be accompanied by an exhibition on the history of the pool, marking 70 years since the initial decision to build the pool.