Minimalism, Art Nouveau Nostalgia, and Brutalism by the Water: Where to Swim in Style This Summer
Treat yourself to a whimsical summer and head to places shaped by renowned architects — places so breathtaking, they go far beyond just swimming. This is about experience. About encountering architecture that soothes the senses, stories scented with First Republic charm, and landscapes that embrace you the moment your feet touch the water. Welcome to places you won’t want to leave. Because here, summer is lived differently — slowly.
Forest Swimming Pool Liberec: Bauhaus meets Wes Anderson
An architectural dream come to life, balancing functionalism and nostalgic film poetry. Studio Mjölk transformed this natural swimming pool into a space where white structures ripple between centuries-old spruces. It feels like a confectionery in the woods at one moment, a dreamy paper pavilion the next. Organic curves, pastel blues, and perfectly balanced proportions create a harmony that reminds you beauty can be ice cold.
Admission: Free, open daily depending on weather
Instagram – Lesní koupaliště Liberec
Mšeno City Spa: First Republic Wooden Geometry
In Mšeno, swimming becomes ritual, stage, and gallery all at once. The spa building with its two wings was built in 1932 in the Art Deco style by Professor Karel Bachura. He brought to life the ideal of Czech national decorative design: color, order, and proportional harmony. This swimming pool is not only for the body — it’s a theatrical backdrop for summer nostalgia.
Admission: 100 CZK (adults), after 4pm: 50 CZK; open daily 10am–7pm
Opava: Summer Baths with the Soul of Viennese Classicism
Opava’s pool was born from the city’s ambition to build an entire recreational complex. An international architectural competition attracted several German and Austrian architects. The winning design came from renowned architect Otto Reichner. Built between 1929–1931, the pool stands out with its elegant composition — and don’t miss the Water Sprite and Frog statue by Josef Obeth.
Admission: 120 CZK (adults), after 4pm: 70 CZK; open daily 9am–7pm
Dachova Pool: Art Nouveau Introvert in the Forest
Wooden structures that whisper of a time when architecture was still drawn with a pen. Dachova Pool is pure sentiment — with white sand, dark water, and wooden cabins like something out of a First Republic postcard. Built between 1923–1925 along with sunbathing facilities, it was designed by architect Karel Bachura. Originally an experimental dream of swimming in the middle of the forest, it has stood the test of time. Today, it feels like a retro dream.
Admission: 80 CZK (adults), open daily 10am–8pm
Thermal Karlovy Vary: Brutalism with a View
A brutalist cathedral of summer hedonism. The outdoor pool of Hotel Thermal is a kinetic piece of art: concrete silhouettes, iconic contours, a masterclass in vertical and spatial composition. Designed by Věra and Vladimír Machonin in the late 1960s, it’s a showcase of Czech modernism. With four lanes, underwater loungers, and a view straight out of a Tarkovsky film — even the chlorine here smells sophisticated.
All-day admission: 999 CZK, open daily 9am–11pm
