Flájský plavební kanál Navigation channel

Flájský plavební kanál also known as The new navigation channel or Neugrabenflöße is a historical water work located in the village Český Jiřetín. This channel was built between 1624 and 1629 for transporting wood from the Erzgebirge Mountains to Freiberg, a city in Saxony. It is considered one of the oldest technical water monuments in the Czech Republic and has been protected as a cultural monument since 1958.

The creation of the canal was motivated by the economic needs of the time. The Saxon city of Freiberg, the centre of silver processing in the Middle Ages and the early modern era, required charcoal for metallurgical processes. The nearest forests were located on the ridges of the Erzgebirge Mountains, which led to the need for an efficient way of transporting wood. After negotiations between the Saxon Kurfiøt and Lobkovice, an agreement on the construction of the canal was concluded in 1623, which enabled its implementation in the territory of Lobkovice.

The architecture of the channel is remarkable with its technical skill. He began at the village of Fláj and continued through Český Jiřetín to Saxony, where he flowed into the river Muldy. The total length of the channel was 18.2 km with a depth of 120 cm and a width of 280 cm at the beginning to 180 cm during the period. Above Český Jiřetín he was carved into a rock, which shows the complexity of his construction. The work was completed on 8 March 1629 with costs of 4959 tolars.

The wood flooring took place mainly during the spring season, when there was enough water for the canal's navigability. It was cleaned and repaired after the voyage, which allowed further use. Despite the ban on the export of timber beyond the border, which was issued by the Prague governor in 1729 and Empress Marie Terez, sailing took place until 1872 (or according to some sources even until 1874).

In 1882-1883 a cardboard factory was built in Český Jiřetín, which used the sailing channel as a drive for the water turbine. This new use led to the creation of an artificial waterfall, a popular trip point in the early 20th century.

Today Flájský plavební kanál is protected as a cultural monument and its history has been restored thanks to the efforts of various associations and projects that have tried to communicate contact between the Czech and German parties. In 2012, the project of Czech and German partners started to partially repair the canal and build a cross-border path that was festively opened in 2013.

Flájský plavební kanál is today not only a technical monument, but also a witness to history and cooperation between nations. His visit offers a view of the past and a reminder of the importance of water works for the economy and the environment of the region.