Vrané Reservoir, reservoir in Vrané nad Vltavou, Czech Republic

Vrané Reservoir is a dammed stretch of the Vltava held back by the Vrané hydroelectric dam, completed in 1935 and the oldest element of the Vltava Cascade. The impoundment runs 12 km up the Vltava valley and 3 km up the Sázava valley, reaching the foot of the Štěchovice dam. Two lock chambers sit by the left bank, pushed out into the upper water, and four 20 m spillway openings stand between locks and powerhouse.

The reservoir was built between 1930 and 1936 to generate hydroelectric power and improve water management in the region. The power station began operating in 1936 as the first major facility on the Vltava River with two turbines.

The reservoir is a place where technology and nature meet, shaping daily rhythms for those who pass through. The lock chambers allow boats and ships to pass while visitors watch from the banks, and fishing and swimming have become part of how people spend their time here.

The site is easy to access with paths along the dam and grassy areas for relaxing by the water. A restaurant and small buffet shop are nearby for refreshments, and simple cottage accommodations are available for overnight stays.

The reservoir also serves as the lower basin for a pumping station that can push water back into the upper reservoir when electricity demand is low. This allows the facility to generate power later and makes the energy supply more flexible for the region.