Divoka Sarka

Divoka Sarka is a nature reserve inside the city boundary of Prague, a valley cut by the Sarecky brook through hard volcanic rock so that the sides rise in genuine cliffs - Dzban rock at the head of it is used by climbers - with woodland, dry grassland on the sunny slopes and a narrow gorge at the lower end. It has been protected since 1964 and covers about twenty-five hectares in the reserve core with a much larger recreational area around it. Near the entrance is a large open-air swimming pool built into the valley in the 1920s, fed with stream water, which is one of the older public baths in the city and still working. The name comes from Sarka, a figure in the legend of the Maidens' War, who is said to have trapped a knight here. Trams from the centre take about twenty minutes to the top of the valley and the walk down is a couple of hours.

What you actually see

• Real cliffs inside the city - volcanic rock with climbing routes on Dzban.
• A stream gorge - the Sarecky brook cutting the narrow lower section.
• A 1920s open-air pool - built into the valley and still in use.
• Dry grassland slopes - protected steppe vegetation on the sunny sides.

When to go

April to September. Half a day.

Honest expectations

The valley floor gets busy at weekends and the pool queues in hot weather. Paths are rocky and slippery when wet. It is a city park in effect - do not expect wilderness.

Nearby

Prague Castle and the centre are twenty minutes away by tram.