Lake Lhota (20.5 ha), located about 20 km northeast of Prague, is one of the most popular natural destinations near the Czech capital. This flooded sandpit belongs to the category of man-made reclamation lakes, created through human activity — in this case, sand mining. The name “Lake Lhota” is therefore somewhat misleading, but it certainly doesn’t ruin the experience for those who come here for a trip.

History

After sand mining ended (1961–1983), the area was used immediately as a nudist beach — initially unofficially. For dozens of people, it was the best time in the “lake’s” history. Visitor numbers were very low, no stalls or anything like that around, but it was a kind of lagoon of peace and freedom during the former regime. Sometimes someone would bring a cassette player and play Karel Kryl, Marta Kubišová, The Plastic People of the Universe, Tom Jones, The Temptations, Greenhorns, chart recordings from Radio Luxembourg, etc. Nobody was offended, nobody informed on anyone…
Many times, we didn’t even return home for the night but slept under the pine trees in sleeping bags, just a few meters from the water. The morning swims were always unforgettable.

People used to ride their bikes or come on (small or large) motorcycles. But there was a problem with the motorcycles. The only safe place to park them was under the trees near the beach (and to lock them with a chain, for example). Still, it sometimes happened that while the motorcycle was still there in the evening, its indicators or mirrors had been stolen. Just like people used to steal hard-to-find windshield wipers from cars, they would steal these parts from motorcycles.

The sandpit fell under the jurisdiction of the SNB station in Benátky nad Jizerou, and it was always funny when, in the evening, a Public Security officer would arrive on a motorcycle to the forest where the parking lot is today. He’d park and sneak over to the motorcycles by the trees near the beach — not too close, though, to avoid being seen. And he would wait. He didn’t dare to walk among the nudists.
As soon as a motorcyclist prepared to leave, the officer would rush over. He’d rightly point out that the forest wasn’t a parking spot and warn that the exhaust could start a fire. Usually, it ended with a 50 Kčs fine and a warning not to park in the forest again. But if we had obeyed, he would have lost a regular source of fines. So some motorcyclists met him more than once over the summer.

This era is gone now, but if you get up early or stay late into the evening, you can feel that pioneering time of swimming at Lhota return for a moment — far from people, the regime, and civilization.

Present Day

Today, the beach is divided between those with swimsuits and those without, and swimming here has become commercial and mass-oriented. The good news is that the water is clean thanks to ultrasonic technology, it’s regularly monitored, and the beach services are extensive (stalls, rentals, showers, toilets, parking, etc.). Nearly 20 years ago, the unpleasant Canadian waterweed was also removed. This is an annoying plant that either roots at the bottom or floats freely in the water, giving swimmers the feeling of swimming through twigs.

An unusual phenomenon — perhaps still happening — is when a windstorm with rain arrives from the west. It seems to me it used to happen more often. But adventurous types always enjoy it. The wind stirs up the water so much that it feels like being at the sea. Waves half a meter or even a full meter high can carry you along. And when the storm ends, they linger for a while. Some fish become so disoriented by the waves that they just float on the surface. You only need to watch the treetops — here and there, a predator bird won’t resist the opportunity and snatches a fish from the surface, despite the wind and rain.

How to Get There

You can get to Lhota by bus, and from the stop, it’s less than a 5-minute walk to the sandpit. You can also come by car and park near the beach. Or you can walk or cycle from the villages of Hlavenec, Borek, Dřísy, Sudovo Hlavno, and Kostelní Hlavno. The nicest route, though, is from the town of Brandýs nad Labem–Stará Boleslav. It leads through the forest and makes for a lovely walk or bike ride. Whatever forest path you choose, it’s about 5–6 km.

You can also go from the train station in Stará Boleslav. If not, be extra cautious when crossing the railway in the forest (point 2). Quite a few people walk there, even carrying bicycles, but it’s not an official railway crossing. Fortunately, the tracks there are straight and provide a good line of sight.