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General info
Pacoldova vápenka is a lime kiln located in the Velká Chuchle district of Prague.
Designed by the Czech civil engineering and professor Jiří Pacold during the second half of the 19th century, this kiln improved lime production.
With this innovative design, the kiln could process unseparated limestone, an activity that was not possible to accomplish before.
The structure consists of two double furnaces, called Pacoldovky in honor of the professor.
These oval shaped furnaces are positioned facing each other and are interconnected. Each furnace features two cylindrical shafts topped by a pair of low, conical chimneys.
The limestone for the lime processing was extracted in a nearby quarry and transported using hand-pushed wagons on a 450 mm gauge track. Subsequently, the material was loaded into the kilns via lifts and wooden walkways.
The vápenka remained operational until the beginning of the Second World War, after which it fell into disrepair for many years.
Extensive renovations occurred in 2004 and 2005, with plans for the furnace building to exhibit the history of the local limestone mining.
However, the idea never materialized, and now the area around the two furnaces is fenced off and overgrown.
Due to the rarity of kilns built in this style, Pacoldova vápenka was designated an industrial cultural monument in 1958.
How to get there
By car, the place is easily reachable and you should be able to park somewhere in the area. Note that the narrow road in front of the vápenka is marked as private property.
For hiking enthusiasts there are various routes to explore.
- You can take a train to Praha-Holyně or a tram to the Slivenec terminus, then walk along the blue marked path. It is a 4 km walk from Holyně or 2 km from Slivenec.
- Alternatively, you can head to the Poliklinika Barrandov tram stop, and walk following the cycling path A 112, which crosses into the Chuchle grove (Chuchelský háj).
This route will give you the opportunity to stop at a few viewpoints to enjoy the view of the Vltava river.
The first two viewpoints (points 2 and 3) are located behind the Baroque church of St. John of Nepomuk (svatého Jan Nepomucký).
The third one is the Homolka viewpoint (point 5), which offers a nice view of the Chuchle valley and the Pacoldova vápenka. - For a longer version of the above, including a couple of extra stops, you can consider this trail, which includes a visit to a mini zoo (zookoutek) and the Marian spring, featuring a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
To return to town, you can catch a bus or a train from Velká Chuchle train station down the hill.
