Czech timber rafting tradition makes prestigious UNESCO list
The centuries-old Czech tradition of timber rafting has been newly added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. The nomination, submitted together with rafts men’s associations in Germany, Austria, Poland, Latvia and Spain, was approved by UNESCO experts this week.
Timber rafting, or vorařství, has had a long tradition in the Czech lands, ranking among highly respected and recognised, but also dangerous professions.
According to most sources, the first historical mention of timber rafting on the Vltava River dates back to medieval times. In those days, the biggest source of timber, needed for the construction of houses, was in South and Southwest Bohemia, and the fastest way to deliver the logs where they were needed was the river.
Rafting on the Vltava ended after the Second World War with the construction of a cascade system of dams. The last raft is said to have arrived in Prague in 1947 and the very last raft on the Vltava was floated on the Orlík dam in September 1960.
Today, the centuries-long tradition is kept alive thanks to the Vltavan Club, which also initiated its nomination for the UNESCO listing.
The last time that a Czech tradition was placed on the prestigious UNESCO list was the handmade production of glass-blown Christmas beads, which was added there two years ago.
Other Czech traditions on the list of UNESCO world intangible cultural heritage include falconry, the Ride of Kings, the Slovácko verbuňk dance, Shrovetide processions, puppetry and the blueprint textile technique.
