Písník u Chárovny

Písník u Chárovny is an 8.55-hectare water body lying about 0.5 km east of the village of Pamětník, part of the town of Chlumec nad Cidlinou in the Hradec Králové Region of the northeastern Czech Republic. It began life as a sand and gravel pit and is now mainly used as an angling water.

Where does the name come from?

The lake takes its name from the nearby Chárovna, a seasonal restaurant standing between the villages of Pamětník and Štít, at Štít 24, roughly 1 km from Štít on the way toward Chlumec nad Cidlinou. The building was put up in 1833 by František Chára of Klamoš as a rest stop for teamsters hauling timber out of the surrounding forests. The land was donated by the estate's owner at the time, Count Oktavián Kinský, on condition that only beer from Chlumec would ever be served there.

How did the water body form?

Písník u Chárovny is a classic post-extraction pit lake. Sand and gravel were dug here during the 1970s, and once mining stopped the pit filled with water, creating the 8.55-hectare lake that exists today.

What is the lake used for now?

The water is managed by the local branch of the Czech Anglers' Union (Český rybářský svaz) in Chlumec nad Cidlinou, which runs it as a fishing ground. The club keeps its own clubhouse on the shore, used during competitions and members' meetings.

What happened to the Chárovna building itself?

In the second half of the 20th century the building was bought by the Trutnov-based firm ZPA (Závody průmyslové automatizace, Industrial Automation Works), which operated it as a summer recreation facility for its employees until 1995. After the property was sold, its appearance changed considerably — only the foundations of the original structure survive today. A cycling path was later built connecting Chárovna with the nearby Penzion Kolesa. The building now again functions as a seasonal summer restaurant, with a social hall equipped for 50 guests, a non-smoking hunting-themed lounge for 15, an outdoor terrace for 40, and a summer pavilion for events that can hold up to 100 people.

Where exactly is this area located?

Pamětník, the village next to which the lake lies, sits about 3.5 km south of the centre of Chlumec nad Cidlinou. It is first recorded in written sources in 1548. Pamětník was an independent municipality until 1985, and before that, between 1850 and 1950, it formed part of the municipality of Lučice. Since 1 July 1985 it has administratively belonged to Chlumec nad Cidlinou, a town in the Hradec Králové district made up of seven municipal parts. According to the 2021 census, Pamětník had 116 inhabitants.

Frequently asked questions

How large is Písník u Chárovny? The lake covers 8.55 hectares.

Where does the name come from? From the nearby Chárovna restaurant, built in 1833 by František Chára of Klamoš.

How was the lake formed? It is a former sand and gravel pit, worked in the 1970s, that filled with water once extraction ended.

What is the lake used for today? It functions as a fishing water managed by the local branch of the Czech Anglers' Union in Chlumec nad Cidlinou, which maintains a clubhouse on the shore.

Is there anywhere to eat nearby? Yes — the former Chárovna building, at Štít 24 between the villages of Pamětník and Štít, now houses a seasonal summer restaurant.