First Cold-Water Swim in the Punkva 2016

An entertaining spectacle for our hotel guests and the general public alike is the traditional cold-water swim in the Punkva, taking place this year on Sunday, 2 October 2016.

Swimmers are taken by boat deep into the cave, where they strip to their swimwear and swim back out. Each participant can choose between two routes. Beginners and less experienced swimmers can take the 100-metre route starting in the cave chamber near Masaryk Dome, while the more adventurous can tackle the 300-metre route starting near a spectacular stalactite formation known as “At the Water Sprite”. The water inside the cave maintains an average temperature of around 8°C year-round.

Safety is monitored by divers stationed throughout the cave, though responsibility lies primarily with the swimmers themselves – they must swim in a disciplined manner in pairs, one behind the other, and look out for each other. The breaststroke is required and overtaking is not permitted.

A number of sporting events take place near Skalní mlýn throughout the year.