A raft along the Otava river behind a raft
A raft along the Otava river behind a raft
in the springs and years they sailed away,
they passed in the distance, born of the mountains,
and we looked after them.
Even the verses from Fráni Šrámek's poem "Písecká" prove that the town of Písek is connected with the ancient tradition of rafting, which is even listed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Rafts floated through the sand and raft springs were also tied here - the mooring "Na Bělidle" used to be opposite the island and the so-called "new mooring" was created below the town. Swimming pubs were located at Smeták and on the island. At the weir near the Podskalský mill, a toll was collected from each raft. The town of Písek was also among the most important entrepreneurs in Ottawa from the 1820s. We will remember this tradition in 2024 through a series of activities.
In the area in front of the Culture House, you can see a demonstration of the rafting board, supplemented by exhibition panels on the theme of Rafting in Otava . During the summer holidays, there will be a series of talks about rafting, playing swimming songs and creative workshops .
This year's Sand Sculptures in Písek are also dedicated to the theme of rafting and present it as a story of wood, river and people. The gallery is freely accessible on the banks of the Ottawa River, depending on the conditions, until the autumn months.
The rafting phenomenon will also be touched by other traditional events , such as the International Meeting of Accordionists (April 6), the Town Festival (June 7-8, an exhibition about rafting in the U Slona house, renting boats and rafts in Otava) or the Rainbow Theater (June 13 and on June 14th, the afternoon of the punt sailing with a launch on the beach, recitation of texts with river, rowing and sand themes). The Dragoun Gallery then prepared a family painting workshop "Rafts on Otava – a painted story" on May 25, and in September you can look forward to an exhibition of the created works.
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