Paprocany

Lake Paprocańskie in the southern part of Tychy is an artificial reservoir of remarkable pedigree: it was created in 1796 for the needs of the Paprocany ironworks — it served to cool the furnace casing and to power the blowers and the hammer. Today its 132 hectares of water are the city's summer parlour, ringed by one of the most pleasant promenades in the conurbation.

A reservoir with two roles

The body of water is about 2 km long and up to 0.5 km wide; the average depth is 1.5–1.9 m, and the water surface sits at 242 m above sea level. The reservoir protects the south-eastern districts of Tychy against flooding. In 1986–1992 reclamation was carried out: the lake was drained, the silt removed and the bottom lowered by 0.5 m over an area of 110 ha.

The promenade and activities

By the main sandy beach await a pier and a wooden terrace with benches right above the water, and net hammocks strung between the piers. A route for bikes and rollerblades runs around the reservoir, and the shore path is accessible for prams. Children are drawn to the playground shaped like a wooden ship and the free water playground; the challenge is the rope park with 14 routes — the first was launched in 2013, 166 m long. Boats and pedalos ply the water, and entry and parking remain free.

Promnice at the end of the lake

On the southern shore, already in Kobiór, stands the former Promnice Hunting Lodge of the Hochbergs, dukes of Pszczyna, with the Princely Restaurant. Next to it is the Bavarian House, known from the „Kuchenne rewolucje" TV programme.