Brno-Kníničky

Kníničky — the Brno district whose old village lies beneath a lake

Kníničky is a small administrative district in the northwestern part of Brno, sitting on the shore of the Brno Reservoir (Brněnská přehrada), the city's largest body of water. Together with the neighbouring district of Bystrc, it forms the most popular recreational area in Brno, drawing locals and visitors for lakeside walks, boat trips and weekend relaxation. The district's coordinates are roughly 49.236°N, 16.528°E.

Why does Kníničky have such an unusual history among Brno's districts?

The answer is literally underwater. The original village of Kníničky stood in the Svratka river valley from medieval times, but between 1936 and 1940 its entire settlement was flooded during the construction of a dam on the Svratka. The project, led by the then Ministry of Public Works, was designed to secure a water reserve for Brno and to generate electric power for the region. Moravian officials had discussed building a dam in this stretch of the valley since the early 20th century — the earliest known design for damming the natural rock gorge dates back to 1872, though serious preparatory work only began in the mid-1920s. Ultimately, the dam at Kníničky was completed before the parallel project at Vír, becoming the first of the Moravian valley dams designed by Professor Vladimír List of the Brno University of Technology.

Residents of the drowned village had to relocate, and a new settlement — Nové Kníničky (New Kníničky) — was built on higher ground to replace it. That settlement is the modern district that still carries the name today. The reservoir that swallowed the original village is known under two names: the Brno Reservoir and the Kníničky Reservoir (Kníničská přehrada), both referring to the same body of water.

What draws visitors to Kníničky today?

The reservoir was officially opened on 2 July 1940, and while its original purpose was to supply the city with water and electricity, its role gradually shifted toward recreation. Already in the post-war years the area became a favourite destination for leisure, and boat trips across the lake turned into one of the region's signature attractions. Passenger boat transport on the Brno Reservoir has operated continuously since 5 May 1946, making it one of the longest-running regular boat lines in the Czech Republic. The route runs from the pier at Bystrc through Rokle and Veveří Castle all the way to Veverská Bítýška, with the fullest schedule available from April to October.

Right next door, in the district of Bystrc, sits Brno Zoo, opened in 1953 and a popular stop for families, often combined with a walk along the reservoir shore. Together, Kníničky and Bystrc make up the largest and most visited recreational area in Brno, offering swimming spots, lakeside footpaths and viewpoints over water framed by forested hills.

Frequently asked questions

Can you still see remains of the original, flooded village in Kníničky? No physical remains are visible on the surface — the original settlement now lies beneath the reservoir, which was deliberately created by flooding the valley during the dam's construction between 1936 and 1940.

How do you reach the Brno Reservoir from the city centre? Kníničky lies in the northwestern part of Brno, directly adjacent to Bystrc, from where the reservoir's excursion boats also depart.

Is it worth combining a visit to Kníničky with other attractions? Yes — nearby Bystrc is home to Brno Zoo, and the reservoir's boat route heads toward Veveří Castle, making it easy to pair lakeside time with sightseeing.

Since when has passenger boat transport operated on the reservoir? Regular boat service has run without interruption since 5 May 1946, covering the Bystrc–Rokle–Veveří Castle–Veverská Bítýška route.