Dagmar Šimková Footbridge

Opened in autumn 2018, the Dagmar Šimková Footbridge is a striking piece of contemporary architecture connecting the banks of the Otava River in Písek. It links the historic Wenceslas suburb with the Hradiště area in the southwest part of the town. The footbridge was designed by the renowned Czech architect Josef Pleskot, a native of Písek.

Measuring approximately 140 meters in length and 3 meters in width, the bridge is the eighth to span the river in Písek. It is accessible to both pedestrians and cyclists and is seamlessly integrated into a 1.5 km-long walking and cycling path that connects the town center with the industrial zone.

The bridge is named in honor of Dagmar Šimková, a Písek-born political prisoner and writer who was persecuted under the communist regime. Nearby stands Villa Marta, connected to the tragic story of the Šimek family.

Architect Josef Pleskot described the bridge as symbolic: “If we look from the Wenceslas bank, it’s an arrow aimed at Hradiště hill, and if we look from the other side, it’s an arrow aimed at St. Wenceslas Church. The footbridges meet at the point where the arrows would cross.”