Water Tower

TOP - a recommended destination in České Budějovice

The Water Tower was built in 1721-1724 on the right bank of the Vltava, in the immediate vicinity of the Litvínovický Bridge. It originally provided water from the Vltava River to Samson Fountain, the well-known dominant feature of České Budějovice. It collected water from the Vltava until the early 20th century. The water was pushed up to a copper tank in the top of the tower, and flowed into the city from there by gravity via a pipeline. The original Baroque tower was modified in 1882 and raised to 44.3 meters. It has retained that form to this day. The cylindrical cistern installed at a height of 32 meters is an attraction.

At present, the tower is one of the oldest in the South Bohemian Region. It has recently undergone a sensitive interior renovation and now offers guided tours, including two video projections about the history of waterworks in České Budějovice since the founding of the city. The area around the Water Tower is also worth a visit: it includes an information trail on waterwork engineering, a fountain symbolizing the natural water cycle, and the playful Čevava water fountain. With the new facade and half-timbering restored in 2016, it has reverted to its original late 19th century color scheme and welcomes visitors to its garden and the interior, where you can book a guided tour in advance at vodarenskavezcb.cz.