Lake Paprocany (Jezioro Paprocańskie)

Lake Paprocany, known locally simply as Paprocany, is not a natural lake. It is an artificial reservoir of 132 ha, dammed for a former ironworks whose water cooled the furnace casing and drove the bellows and the hammer. Today it is the most popular leisure spot in Tychy, with a wave-shaped wooden promenade, two beaches and a loop of just under 8 km for cycling around the water.

History: a lake made for an ironworks

According to some sources the reservoir was created in 1796 for the Paprocany ironworks, although the Silesian Tourist Organisation gives the date as 1870 and links it to the ironworks' excavation. Traces of the works survive: the regional attractions map marks the site of the former ironworks a few hundred metres from the shore. The lake is fed by the Stara Gostynka stream and small forest brooks flowing from the south.

From 1986 to 1992 the reservoir was drained completely, the silt removed and the bottom lowered by half a metre over 110 ha, and the banks reinforced with stone. Paprocany is about 2 km long and 0.5 km wide, with an average depth of 1.5–1.9 m, reaching about 3.5 m only in the old bed of the Gostynka. The dam protects the Gostynka valley and the south-eastern districts of the city from flooding.

Things to do

• The loop around the lake – about 7.7 km, 90% asphalt, with just 9 m of climbing. By bike it takes about an hour and is easy for families.
• The promenade – a wooden structure shaped like a wave that swings away from the water and back again, with benches and a viewing deck with hammocks.
• MOSiR Paprocany leisure centre on the north-eastern shore – beach, sports pitches, tennis court, marina and playground; entry to the grounds is free.
• On the water – a seasonal rental point for kayaks, pedal boats and SUP boards; water sports competitions are held on the lake, and in summer it hosts the "Port Pieśni Pracy" sea shanty festival.
• For children – a water playground, a playground with a wooden replica ship and a paid rope park on the ul. Sikorskiego side.

Nature

Bream is the most common fish in the lake, alongside pike, tench, carp and sizeable catfish, so it is popular with anglers. Mussels such as the painter's mussel help to clean the water. On the shores you can see grey herons, mute swans and black-headed gulls, and the reservoir is home to protected white water lilies and water chestnut.

Tripto tip

The area around the lake is open free of charge all year, while the rental points are seasonal. A word on swimming: since July 2006 swimming has regularly been banned in summer because of toxic blue-green algae blooms, and the Silesian Tourist Organisation says it is not allowed for most of the year. Check the MOSiR notices before going in. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the cycling loop with stops; there are several car parks around the lake. On the south-western shore, already in Kobiór, stands the neo-Gothic Promnice hunting lodge of 1861, a former residence of the Hochberg family and now a hotel with a restaurant.