Old postcards of Prague   Podskalí

359 - Southern part of the area of Podskalí (Under the Rocks)

An overall view of the southern part of the area of Podskalí (Under the Rocks) from the Railway Bridge to the Palacký Bridge. The river bank has not yet been regulated. From the late 19th century, when the trade in rafted timber became essentially concentrated at the new market at Královská louka (The Royal Meadow) opposite Vyšehrad, this part of Podskalí was no longer so lively. Timber was transported here only for processing, for construction use, or was stored for fuel. The picture depicts the last moments before construction of the bank wall between the two bridges was launched. The embankment was also significantly elevated here (by nearly 60 metres - see picture 382). The low profile of houses in the Podskalí area contrasts with that of the newly completed buildings on Palacký Square and with that of Na Moráni and Trojická Streets. In the picture you can easily identify the group of houses, Nos. 392, 393 and 406, on the left, and houses Nos. 407, 409 and 410 on the right. The long boats in the foreground were used for transporting sand which was exploited from the Vltava.

COLOURED PHOTOTYPE. F. J. JEDLIČKA, 1903

360 - The northernmost part of Podskalí below Zderaz, demarcated in the north (on the left) by Resslova Street

Three buildings of this area, which used to be located under the massive St Wenceslas Penitentiary, can be seen after the Penitentiary had been demolished. From the entire complex on the elevated rock plateau only the Church of St Wenceslas remained intact. In the background on the left, at the corner, you can see building of the Women’s Production Association (see picture 356), on the right the new house at the corner of Dittrichova and Jenštejnská Streets. The free space beside the Church would house building of the Hlávka students dormitory in four years’ time. Of the depicted timber-rafting houses (Nos. 333, 334 and 335) the central one, referred to as U Císařských, stands out with its rich Baroque facade and the statue of St John Nepomuk above the entrance portal. The buildings in the foreground were demolished in 1908.

PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD. PICTURE AROUND 1900. Z. REACH, 1920s

361 - A two-storey house, No. 336, at the corner of Podskalská and Trojanova Streets (until 1897 the latter street was referred to as Kočičí)

It was one of the typical Podskalí houses, not remarkable for decorativeness of its facade, but rather its firm mass. The overall design and particularly the design of its windows indicate Renaissance style in which it was built. In the newer house beyond it, which was constructed on the same lot, V. Prášek (meaning powder in Czech), a businessman with a fitting name, produced and sold concrete, lime, plaster of Paris and other goods connected with construction. From Trojanova Street one could enter a small shop, which served as a tobacconist’s where miscellaneous goods apart from tobacco could be purchased (you can see cups and crockery in the shop window). The street lamp at the corner bears an interesting sign saying fire alarm, and so apparently some method of alarm functioned here.

PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD. 1899

362 - Two somewhat atypical Podskalí houses, U Svátků, No. 405, and U Vostrovských, No. 406, in Podskalská Street

They differ from other mainly Baroque buildings on the embankment, particularly in their more sober Neo-Classical facades, but also in their roofs and stone walls with wooden palings. The famous pub U Hejduků, a favourite of Podskalí inhabitants, has been documented in the first house. On June 11th, 1871 Vltavan, an association of rafters, fishermen and other river workers who supported each other, was set up here. Although clearance of the Podskalí Quarter put an end to the timber-rafting profession, the tradition is still alive and the Vltavan association still extant. In front of the pub you can see a few typical Podskalí people. Buildings in the picture shall be demolished in 1912.

PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD. PICTURE AROUND 1905. Z. REACH, 1920s

363 - A common courtyard of two houses, Nos. 1589 (on the left) and 350, U Zahrádků, (on the right)

The house U Zahrádků, at the corner of Emauzská and U Vápenice (At the Lime Works) Streets enjoys a better view and is higher compared to other houses in the neighbourhood. Originally, a brick-field and lime works on the gentle slope under Emauzy pertained to it as well. The other house, also with three storeys, faces U Vápenice Street. The view along the narrow passage with horizontal arches ends at the high, possibly side wall of the opposite house, No. 362. The opposite view to the south would show a nameless lane with the side wing of No. 372 (see picture 364).

PHOTOTYPE. PICTURE 1906. UNIE PRAGUE, 1910

364 - In Václavská Street

Opposite the fence wall of the Emauzy monastery and the small Church of St Cosmo and Damian, there used to be a group of low, village-like houses. The house at the end, U Sluníčků (The Suns), No. 372, was built on the corner of a narrow, unnamed street descending between fences to the Podskalí bank. In the grocery store of K. Tůma you could obtain various goods, judging by the signs: coffee, sugar, flour, and pulses, as well as different drinks ranging from water to cognac. The owner also sold stamps, as advertised on the sign above the post box. Another notice reveals that the opposite building was a workshop of two shoemakers, one serving gentlemen and the other ladies. The row of houses was demolished in 1925.

PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD. PICTURE 1910. Z. REACH, 1920s

365 - The courtyard of the house U Vránů, No. 348, in the wedge between Václavská and Emauzská Streets

The complex of buildings on the moderately rising terrain behind the major thoroughfare, Podskalská Street, comprised houses of small businessmen and craftsmen who sought a living in Podskalí in professions linked with timber. On the left you can see a roofed staircase leading to a verandah - a construction motif often to be encountered in old housing complexes of the Jewish ghetto, however with staircase open on both sides (see pictures 236 and 257). From the narrow, cobble-stoned yard one can see that no space was wasted that could be used for flats in this area either. The house was probably demolished shortly before the construction of the complex of ministerial buildings in its neighbourhood in the 1920s was launched. Today a park is located here.

PHOTOTYPE. PICTURE 1906. UNIE PRAGUE, 1910

366 - The central part of the Podskalí area viewed from the elevated embankment at Palacký Bridge

The Emauzy Monastery and Church on the plateau constituted a group of buildings which dominated all panoramic views of the New Town river bank. The sign U Zahrádků on the wall of the high building No. 1589 is confusing, as it related to No. 350 behind it (for the interior of both buildings see picture 363). In the foreground you can see the street U Vápenice, which splits in two at No. 361, on the corner of Podskalská Street. In front of the Emauzy Monastery, which you can see in its re-Gothicised form of 1888, there is the lower building of the Podskalí parish Church of St Cosmo and Damian, originally probably constructed in Romaneseque style. It was reconstructed between 1657 and 1659 and acquired a Baroque appearance. After demolition of the houses below the Church, a complex of ministerial buildings designed by B. Hypšman was constructed on this moderately elevated land, between 1924 and 1931.

PHOTOTYPE. K. BELLMANN, 1899

367 - A configuration approximately similar to that in picture 366, but in a depiction made ten years later from a more distant and more southern point

The picture shows an unfenced section of Podskalská Street with Baroque houses U Boreckých, No. 363, U Zlaté hrušky (The Golden Pear), No. 364, and parts of the house No. 365, already after construction of the embankment, from the new level (significantly elevated here) from which the remainder of Podskalská Street had to be descended to by stairs. In the space in the foreground were yards for fuel wood, which was piled up to a height of 10 to 12 metres. The above-mentioned three houses shall be demolished in 1926. In the background you can see the above-mentioned street without a name, with a one-storey house, No. 372. Its reverse facade in Václavská Street can be seen in picture No. 364.

PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD. PICTURE 1910. PUBLISHED IN THE 1930s

368 - The central part of Podskalská Street

It was the longest thoroughfare in the Podskalí area (about 900 metres long) and a number of short and narrow streets led into it, separating the individual blocks of timber-rafting houses and gardens. The group of houses depicted in the previous picture can be seen here before construction of the embankment, in the original street, framed by yards at the river bank. On the left you can see the house U Boreckých, with its Baroque facade and two entrance portals, dating from the last quarter of the 18th century. In the centre between the windows is the sign of E. Eisner, Knight of Eisenstein, who purchased the house in 1772 and had it rebuilt. Beyond two further houses you can see Závětová Street with a corner house U Kobrů, No. 367. In the yard in front of it you can see piles of timber. Nowadays ministerial buildings, as well as the Zítek Public Gardens occupy this area.

PHOTOTYPE. K. BELLMANN, 1899

369 - The Podskalí Town Hall, No. 383, in Podskalská Street

Between 1582 and 1784 it was the seat of an authorised court in the former Podskalí. A 1783 decree of Emperor Josef II declared a free timber trade. As a result the river privileges, as well as the routine of the timber-rafting houses were abolished. The Town Hall, which had until then administered all matters linked with the river privileges, followed tack. The house was sold into private ownership - a Podskalí timber merchant and a popular mayor of Prague (1870-1873), F. Dittrich, became a later owner as of 1839. The Baroque facade came into being after a reconstruction of 1727. The gable bore a niche with a statue of St Nicholas from 1702, which recalled its past proximity to a church consecrated to this saint. The Town Hall building was demolished in 1911.

FOUR-COLOUR AUTOTYPE. AFTER AN OIL-PAINTING BY J. MINAŘÍK, AROUND 1906. F. J. JEDLIČKA, 1915

370 - The yard of house No. 384 viewed from Soudní (Court) Street

The house was also connected to the former Town Hall in the past - by gradual annexes an interesting blend of buildings came into existence. The original front was altered into a courtyard, which was stressed by the two side wings. The conical railings of the verandah on the third storey date from the 18th century and the spacious courtyard is paved with flat stones. This house belonged to F. Dittrich who, apart from his timber-selling activities, devoted himself to a number of public duties. For example, he presided over the Association for the Construction of the National Theatre and supported the development of steam transport on the Vltava River.

PHOTOTYPE. PICTURE 1906. UNIE PRAGUE, 1910

371 - The former Podskalí Town Hall (with a small tower) and house No. 384 connected with it, as viewed from the south

This building was entered by a gate from Soudní Street, which was demarcated on the west by a wooden fence of the garden of No. 1512 (on the left, out of the picture). In the background a Neo-Classical building, No. 382, stands out. It is the only four-storey house in the row of timber-rafting houses on the embankment (see picture 368, in which it is shown with the large B. Dolejš advertisement on its end). After it had been built, the chimney of the northern wing of the Town Hall, built and annexed to the Town Hall in 1727, had to be elevated (this is more apparent in pictures 369 and also 150). The complex of buildings in the picture would be demolished in 1911.

FOUR-COLOUR AUTOTYPE. AFTER AN OIL-PAINTING BY J. MINAŘÍK, AROUND 1906. F. J. JEDLIČKA, 1915

372 - The timber-rafting house U Kněžourků, No. 389

The front yard of which is visible in the picture, was one of the most imposing Baroque houses in Podskalská Street. Its high attic roof with decorated dormer-windows can be encountered frequently in general views of the area. On the right you can see a gate with the house entrance. The entrance for carriages was located in the rear part of the prolonged yard (behind the photographer), where the side, court wing of the house turned. This wing had a verandah and a number of flats on the ground floor as well as on the second storey. The numerous children in the picture seem to indicate that the bulky building must have been inhabited by quite a few families. In fact, when taking the picture, the photographer used a well-tried trick - he divided the children into two groups in order to balance out a certain distortion of perception of the space caused by the depth of the shot. The house was demolished in 1911.

PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD. PICTURE AROUND 1907. Z. REACH, 1920s

373 - The Baroque building U Somrů, also referred to as U Kubiců, No. 393

Another significantly large timber-rafting house, the Baroque building U Somrů, also referred to as U Kubiců, No. 393, at the corner of Podskalská and Plavecká Streets (on the right, just out of the picture). Its attic roof was decorated by two dormer windows with curved frames and a tympanum lacking a frieze. The house had a large courtyard with a prolonged northern, residential wing. Until its demolition in 1908 boards for construction use were made here. A big sign above the entrance reveals the name of the company: Löwy & Winterberg. An annex with a small shop is attached to the house. The former is located in another spacious courtyard belonging to the house which was entered via a big wooden gate. Above the shop you can see the top of another timber-rafting house, U Žebráků, No. 392, and in the background a Neo-Renaissance house with a cupola, No. 1571, dating from 1889, at the northern corner of Palackého Square. At the corner a large group of Podskalí inhabitants pose for the photographer.

PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD. PHOTOGRAPHER A. KLÍMA, 1907. Z. REACH, 1920s

374 - A typical yard of a Podskalí house, probably No. 395

On the corner of Plavecká and Ozerovská Streets, or No. 394 in Plavecká Street. Timber-rafting houses, which had access to the bank of the river, also had spacious yards and timber stores to their rears where the timber was processed, bundled and prepared for distribution to customers. There were also a number of sawmills for preparing the timber, above which were workshops of craftsmen who specialised in producing various wooden products. In the middle background, at the end of the administrative block with its open window overlooking a small garden, you can see one of the narrowest flats, probably occupied by a servant.

PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD. AROUND 1905

375 - The southern part of Podskalí with a remainder of the former Podskalská Street

This ran in an oblique form on the site of the yards in front of the Baroque houses dating from the second half of the 18th century - U Kněžourků, No. 389, U Rychlíků, No. 390, U Moklíčů, No. 391, and U Žebráků, No. 392. The picture originates from the period when the old houses still existed, whilst on the right the newly constructed, extended embankment was being completed. Its regulated line is shown by the railings separating the original terrain from the embankment, elevated on this site by about 4 or 5 metres. In the background you can see the Railway Bridge of the Prague Connecting Railway between Smíchov and the New Town. The houses in the picture shall be demolished during the period 1908-1911 - their site will be occupied by another southern block of new structures, including the General Pension Institution building designed by J. Kotěra and J. Zasche.

PHOTOGRAPH. 1907

376 - The U Pěti králů (The Five Kings) Building, No. 415

At the corner of Vyšehradská and Na Hrobci Streets, the alleged location of one of the mythical burial places of the Přemyslid ducal house. This legend was recalled in the frescoes on the house, depicting six Bohemian dukes, one of whom, St Wenceslas, was considered by the people to be primarily a saint rather than a king. This explains the popular name of the house. The pictures on the facade between the windows were painted by V. Ambrozzi, a court painter of Empress Maria Theresa, and they did not respect historical authenticity - the garments of the dukes rather reflecting the contemporary period taste, e.g. Přemysl was depicted with a standing collar and a marshall stick. The building, with its pub, was demolished in 1906. Its site saw construction of a Neo-Renaissance residential block bearing the same name, the facade of which is decorated nowadays merely by five monarchs (without St Wenceslas). The old paintings may be original, but it is more likely that they were not preserved but rather recreated. On the left is the house No. 413 which dates from 1875.

PHOTOTYPE. PICTURE AROUND 1905. UNIE PRAGUE, 1910

377 - A picture from the series depicting Prague types, published by Z. Reach

Depicts Podskalí men - mostly timber-rafting veterans, probably taking their Sunday rest. An inhabitant of Podskalí (Podskalák) was one of the most characteristic figures of old Prague. He was associated with physical strength, which was linked to nature of the hard work he did - work in the yards with heavy timber, on the water, in summer at the supply ferry, in winter on the ice (J. Neruda), warmth in friendship and pig-headed stubbornness in business relations. No less typical was his manner of expression, a somewhat special Prague dialect which was difficult to understand. On the right in front of the toll lane you can see a part of the house U Zlaté lodi (The Golden Ship), No. 409, beyond it a vast building, U Černého orla (The Black Eagle), No. 407, with a richly decorated portal and roof bearing two arches.

PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD. PICTURE AROUND 1905. Z. REACH, 1920s

378 - The Podskalí Customs Office at Na Výtoni, No. 412

The Renaissance building, later modified in Baroque style, of the Podskalí Customs Office at Na Výtoni, No. 412, in the southernmost part of Podskalí. From the Hussite Period the right to levy customs on the rafted goods belonged to the New Town and, from 1771, it belonged to the state. Following abolition of a direct customs levy in the early 19th century (after its integration into the state tax structures), the house was sold in 1833, a pub was established on the ground floor and the second storey comprised flats. As late as in the late 19th century it was possible to hire unemployed Podskalí inhabitants in front of the pub, for rafting as well as for other temporary jobs, particularly in the numerous timber storage houses. The Customs Office Building was the only one of the old complex of houses to remain intact. Today it houses the museum of the Old Podskalí Area.

PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD. AROUND 1899

379 - A view along Na Moráni Street from Palacký Bridge

The originally short street was extended to the newly established Palacký Square after demolition of the old complex of Podskalí houses in this area and following elevation of the terrain in 1894. Palacký Square was then demarcated by buildings only in its northern part, by a row of Neo-Renaissance buildings. Among these we can encounter from the left: a part of No. 1571 from 1889 (see picture 381) - one of the first three structures built on the newly constructed embankment in the section between the bridge and Resslova Street, a building referred to as U Přívozu (At the Ferry), new No. 358, built according to the project of I. Ullmann and B. Münzberger, and the third, dating from 1897 and called U Pomníku (At the Monument), new No. 357, at the corner of Podskalská Street. The entire block behind Podskalská Street was built approximately in the same period. Behind the kiosk, under the level of the elevated embankment (on the right, out of the picture) you can see some old Podskalí houses which still existed.

PHOTOTYPE. K. BELLMANN, 1901

380 - The first southern block of the new complex of buildings on the newly built Palackého Embankment

Construction work in the section between the Railway Bridge to the Palacký Bridge was carried out after demolition of houses in the Podskalí area and after elevation of the terrain in the period shortly preceding the First World War. Houses in a more sober, geometrical, Late Art Nouveau style (from the left new Nos. 406, 407, 409 and 410) are completely new - advertisements in the small shop on the left and signs on the facade of new No. 409 undoubtedly offer luxury flats to let, available immediately. Tram line No. 1 was soon introduced on the Embankment and ran between the Powder Gate and the Vršovice Quarter.

PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARD. AROUND 1914

381 - Palacký Bridge and Palackého Square beyond it with a view along Na Moráni Street

The Bridge was built between 1876 and 1878 and it was linked with the subsequent construction of the embankment northwards. Only a short, about 140 metre-long, section was then built southwards. The entire embankment as far as the Railway Bridge was not completed until 1909. Both ends of the Bridge have columns bearing sculptural groups by J. V. Myslbek, inspired by figures from Czech mythology. We still cannot see the monument dedicated to F. Palacký in the Square - it shall not stand here until 1907. On the right, below the Emauzy Monastery, stand out parts of roofs of the old Podskalí houses located on the original level which have not yet been demolished (see picture 367). A troop of soldiers is marching across the Bridge, going from the Albrecht Barracks in the Lesser Town.

PHOTOTYPE. 1902

382 - The southern part of the Podskalí area after the completed construction of the embankment to the Railway Bridge (compare picture 359)

Behind the embankment wall you can see, this time under the level of the bank thoroughfare, some of the original timber-rafting houses in Podskalská Street. The rafts, some of the last to be seen here, make a nostalgic contrast with the newly-built embankment. Demolition of majority of the remaining houses in Podskalská Street between 1911 and 1914 makes an end to the timber-rafting tradition in this area. After elevation of the terrain in the years 1911-1931, eight blocks of new buildings in parallel rows shall rise on this site.

COLOURED PHOTOTYPE. V. KRÁTKORUKÝ, AROUND 1910

383 - The new Podskalská Street

Its post-clearance trajectory was laid out more to the east than the original one, in this site by about 90 metres. It is now the second street parallel to the embankment. The houses built here originate prevailingly from the 1920s. The left picture depicts the new Podskalská Street from the south. The photographer took this picture a few metres behind the perpendicular Plavecká Street in order to include in his picture the tobacconist’s of J. Kubíček, the publisher of this postcard. The corner building on the left is a residential block, originally built in Art Nouveau style in 1912 by A. Dryák, the facade of which was modernized later. Beyond it you can see the front of the General Pension Institution built between 1920 and 1922, new No. 1290, designed by L. Skřivánek, a disciple of F. Ohmann. On the right, on the site of the original Podskalí houses Nos. 394, 395 and other building lots behind them, the extensive building of the City Girls’ Specialised Family and Economic School was constructed between 1927 and 1930, according to designs by J. Martínek and V. Lhota. The right picture depicts the southernmost part of the new Podskalská Street (out of the picture on the left is the building of the former Podskalí Customs Office, standing apart from the other buildings). In the background you can see a part of the above mentioned Girls’ School. On the right, the entire corner of Podskalská, Na Hrobci and Na Výtoni Streets is occupied by a modern residential block built between 1921 and 1922 to designs by F. Toníček for the Pilsen-Prague company of Müller-Kapsa.

PHOTOTYPE. J. KUBÍČEK, 1930s

top of the page    history Charles Square    postcards Charles Square