The Horka Reservoir is a peaceful drinking-water dam tucked into a narrow valley in northwestern Bohemia. It's a place for those who appreciate quiet views over calm blue water framed by forested hills, rather than crowded trails.

The surrounding landscape is rugged and scenic - a tight valley, dense forest reaching down to the shoreline, and a dam wall standing 40.7 m tall that impresses up close. In autumn the hillsides glow with color, while in winter the water and snow create a striking, stark contrast. This is more a place for walking and taking in the view from a distance than for water activities, since direct access to the dam itself is forbidden.

How to get there

• From road 21030 running alongside the reservoir - easy route, accessible to everyone, though entry to the dam area itself is not allowed
• Near the village of Horka, where the dam crest is located - easy approach, view of the structure from a safe distance

Practical information

• Access to the dam grounds is forbidden - it lies within a drinking water protection zone
• 300 m below the dam begins protection zone I for drinking water
• Access is also prohibited above the reservoir, starting from road 21030

An interesting fact: when the reservoir was filled in 1969, it flooded the village of Leopoldovy Hamry, while two other settlements, Smrčí and Svažec, were evacuated and vanished from the map entirely.