In the first episode of our series we introduced you to 10 barche built to order directly for Praga.
Today, in our 2nd episode of the series on passenger barche sailing in Praga on the Moldava, we will focus only on those vessels which were built by skilful Ceco hands in Ceco shipyards.
1. Vysehrad piroscafo
The large paddle Vysehrad piroscafo is the oldest historic piroscafo. In order it is the fourth bearer of this name in the history of Praga steam navigation. It was built in 1938 by the Usti shipyard as a vessel intended for passenger transport. At first it bore the name Antonin Svehla, later T.G. Masaryk or Devin e only since 1952 was it called Vysehrad.
To this day it has gone through 3 reconstructions; the last one in 1992 helped restore its original character. Since 2013 it has been a cultural monument. The Vysehrad piroscafo has an air-conditioned main lounge, a lower lounge e an open sunny deck, a restaurant, cafe, wine bar e bar. The piroscafo's capacity is 350 persons, of which 200 can be seated indoors e 150 on the viewing deck. It is 62 metres long e 6 metres wide e is still the largest barca in Praga overall. The original steam engine reaches an output of 165 kW (220 hp).
2. Moldava piroscafo
The second historic paddle piroscafo that still sails on the Moldava in Praga is the Moldava piroscafo. It was built in 1940 in the Liben shipyard Praga as a smaller and, for Moldava operations, more practical piroscafo. Initially it was deployed on the express line Praga-Stechovice until 1945. It then sailed on regular lines e today we can see it on sightseeing crociere to Slapy, to Melnik or special crociere to the Praga Zoo.
The Moldava piroscafo was also reconstructed several times. The last reconstruction in 2009 restored its original character. In 2013 it was declared a cultural monument. The piroscafo has its own restaurant, cafe, wine bar, bar, lounge e an open viewing deck. It is 53 m long e 5 m wide. The capacity of the piroscafo is 250 persons, of which 100 indoors e 150 on the open deck. The output of the steam engine is 112.5 kW (150 hp).
3. Sumava barca
The Sumava barca sailed out of the dock of the Liben shipyard Praga in 1951 as a stern paddle motor tugboat. In 1991 it was bought by the EVD company e converted into a passenger motor barca. Later it underwent a complete renovation e modernisation, thanks to which it is today fully sound-equipped e suitable for year-round operation.
Sumava is one of the largest barche in Praga e also has the largest barca lounge. Its capacity is 190 persons inside the barca e 200 persons on the sunny deck. The barca hosts larger privato eventi, company parties, conferences, but it also sails on sightseeing crociere. Sumava offers complete gastronomic service, buffet tables or the option of grilling on the upper open deck.
4. Tyrs barca
The Tyrs barca, which we can see today in the centre of Praga, was built by the Melnik shipyard e first set sail on 5 June 1958. Originally the barca was called Lipno e it was a stern paddle motor tugboat. In 1992 this Lipno tugboat was rebuilt by the Brnak shipping company into a passenger barca e at the same time renamed Tyrs. Subsequently, between 1992 e 1993 it sailed on the Decin-Hrensko route.
In 1994 the Tyrs barca was bought e to this day it is operated in Praga on the Moldava on sightseeing crociere. The capacity of the barca is 296 persons, of whom 176 are seated on the covered deck. The barca also has a restaurant e a bar.
5. Petra barca
The Petra barca was built around 56 years ago in the Liben shipyard as a tow barca. And as a tow barca it was also brought in 2014 from Kralupy nad Vltavou to Praga. A small tugboat towed it on a rope to the lungofiume at Rasin lungofiume, wqui it also docked. The Petra barca used to serve to transport malt to Western European breweries e on its way back carried coffee, tea or cocoa beans for the Modrany Orionka.
This purpose was also the inspiration for its current use, when on its renovated upper deck the first floating farmers' market was placed. Cultural eventi are also held on this farmers' barca e its use will continue to expand in the future.
6. Gladius
The Gladius barca comes from the shipyard of the Brno City Transport Company on the Brno (Kninicska) reservoir. It was made in 1956 e from 1957 it was deployed on regular lines on the Slapy reservoir. Its original name was Druzba. In 1961 it began regular service on the Orlik reservoir.
In 1992 it was bought, renovated e rebuilt into a restaurant excursion barca. Since then it bears the name Gladius. Its capacity is 50 persons.
