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This page is one of a series of pages showing images
of the huge number of Prague river excursion boats. This page
shows the older paddle vessels which have survived.
Prague Steamboat Company
The Prague Steamboat Company (Czech: Pražská paroplavební
společnost, a.s.) provides regular sightseeing cruises in the
lower Vltava river. It is one of the oldest Czech companies.
The person who played a very important part in establishing the
company was František Dittrich (who later became a mayor of
Prague). Prague Steamboat Company was established as a purely
Czech company in 1865 when, after receiving a concession from
Emperor Franz Josef I, it launched the steamboat Praha
(Prague) on the route from Prague to Štěchovice (a small town
about 20 km south of Prague). The first years were not easy
mainly due to the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, however, two
decades later the company flourished in the economic boom that
began in 1884. More steamboats were being built and in 1902
operations between Prague and Klecany (a village situated to the
north of Prague) were launched.
After World War I the fleet comprised 8 large and 2 smaller
paddle wheelers and 13 propeller steamboats. A new route from
Prague through Mělník to Litoměřice and on the central Elbe
River above Mělník was opened. The economic crisis combined with
competition from bus line transport, the construction of the
Vrané Dam and other factors nearly led PPS to bankruptcy in
1936. The company was taken over by Czechoslovak Joint Stock
Elbe Steamboat Company while preserving the original name. In
1961 the company was incorporated into Prague Public Transport
Company. Problems with the maintenance of steam engines brought
about the retirement of several paddle wheelers and in 1970 only
four remained in operation. After the Iron Curtain collapsed the
company got its independence back and within a few years it was
able to adapt itself to a market economy when it became part of
the EVD group (Evropská vodní doprava, s.r.o. – European Water
Transport).
The Prague Steamboat Company operates two historical restaurant
paddle steamers, the Vltava and the Vyšehrad, which were
declared cultural monuments in 2013. Both refurbished and
completely functional steamers cruise on regular routes through
Prague, on excursions to Slapy and Mělník and are a popular
place for company and private events. There mission is to
preserve both historical steamboats in such a way that current
as well as future generations get to know the magic of steam
navigation in its most original form. The Prague Steamboat Co
paddle steamers work in conjunction with Prague Boats (see
below). Ref:
Wikipedia
www.praguesteamboats.com/
Prague Boats
Prague Boats has been in the excursion market for 25 years and
it is the most famous company operating boat tours in Prague. It
now runs a large fleet of excursion motor vessels from very
small launches to large river boats.
www.prague-boats.cz
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