Kališčák

Kališčák (also known locally as Kališok) is a flooded former gravel pit covering roughly 50 hectares in Bohumín, a town in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic, right by the border with Poland. The lake sits between the districts of Starý Bohumín and Šunychl, directly next to the Oder river, whose water partly feeds the reservoir.

How did this lake form?

Kališčák was created on the site of a former gravel quarry - extraction left behind a depression that gradually filled with groundwater and seepage from the nearby Oder. A gravel operation, Žwirownia Starý Bohumín, still works next to the lake today, so the area has kept something of its industrial origins. Until 1996 the reservoir served as a backup source of drinking water for part of Bohumín; only afterward did it become primarily a recreation spot.

Can you swim here?

Yes - during the summer season Kališčák is one of the more popular swimming spots around Bohumín. Water quality is checked regularly by the regional public health authority and meets the standards required for bathing sites. In 2024 the town built beach facilities including a snack bar, seating and social amenities, and a year later added three piers to make entering the water easier. The snack bar is open Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 20:00, and on weekends from 10:00 to 20:00.

How do you get there, and what's on site?

Cycling route no. 10 leads to the lake, and it's also reachable by bus line 565. The beach area has a designated dog zone and paid, seasonal parking. Besides swimmers, anglers regularly come to Kališčák - fishing is, alongside bathing, one of the main reasons people spend time by the water here.

What else is worth knowing about the surroundings?

Right next to Kališčák stands an infantry fort from the Czechoslovak border fortifications built in the 1930s, designated MO S-3 "U mlýna" - one of the surviving pieces of the defensive line built along the pre-war border with Germany. For anyone interested in military history, it's a natural addition to a visit at the lake. Bohumín itself sits at the confluence of the Oder and Olše rivers, close to the border crossing with Poland, which makes Kališčák a fairly easy day-trip destination for visitors from the Polish side of the border.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Kališčák? The reservoir covers roughly 50 hectares (some sources cite a figure closer to 60 ha).

Is the water at Kališčák clean? Yes - water quality is continuously monitored by the regional public health authority and meets the standards required for bathing sites.

What amenities are available at the lake? A snack bar open daily, seating areas, three piers (installed in 2025), a dog zone, and seasonal parking.

Can you reach Kališčák without a car? Yes - cycling route no. 10 goes there, and it's also served by bus line 565.

Until when was the lake used as a drinking water source? Until 1996, Kališčák served as a drinking water reservoir for part of Bohumín.