Prague emergency colonies. To this day, we can find First Republic dwellings and rebuilt railway wagons in them
“Today we met on the territory of emergency colonies, which have remained beautifully preserved from the period of the First Republic. We are located on the border of Michle, Strašnice and Záběhlice. This is an area of two square kilometers, which the unemployed occupied during the First Republic and built various dwellings there. In 1918, Prague became the new capital and hundreds of thousands of new craftsmen came here, mostly from the countryside. There was a lot of construction in Prague and they traveled for work. They also needed to live somewhere, but even the worst loggias were completely overpriced and overcrowded. Twelve people lived there in one cell. The time is unimaginable for us today, “says Petr Ryska, author of the Prague Unknown project. It describes how the then newcomers began to “colonize” the areas of Na Slatinách and Pod Bohdalcem.
“The floors used to be only clay. In some dwellings in Slatiny, they are said to remain to this day.”
Petr Ryska
“They occupy land on the outskirts of Prague, areas that are not intended for construction, mostly very unfriendly. Either it is located in a steep slope, or there is waterlogged soil like in the colony Na Slatinách, in short, these were places where no one wanted. The colonists will then make their homes here from emergency material, such as demolition bricks and planks. The buildings were created as follows, first four poles were hammered into the ground, around them it was beaten with a row of planks, inside it was glued with newspapers, tarred cardboard was put on top and the home was finished. The floors used to be only clay. It is said that they have remained in some of the Na Slatinách residences to this day, ”Petr Ryska describes the origin of the first houses.
However, the capital did not like to see the emergence of such slums on the periphery, the colonies tore down and expelled the people. However, after a wave of criticism, the municipality decided to set aside land for the newcomers. However, this only meant marking the area with stakes. The introduction of water, electricity and some roads came much later, but sewerage is still missing today.
The colonists had to arrange themselves
The colonists did not have simple positions in many respects, the other inhabitants despised them, and in the neighboring neighborhoods they did not want to serve them in shops or other businesses. So they had to arrange themselves. “They have set up their own civic amenities. There were many inns, shops, barbershops, Na Slatinách also a church, cinema or theater, “describes the guide.
Today, we can only find a few car repair shops in them. However, the colonies continue to survive in some form. For the most part, they are still used for permanent living, partly they serve as gardens. Here we can see houses from the period of the First Republic, rebuilt railway wagons and other interesting buildings.
Program of events:
Several Prague walks take place every week, usually lasting from 90 minutes to three hours, you can also take part in a themed First Republic evening or a trip to Brno. You can find the most up-to-date information on walks on the website www.prahaneznama.cz.
This weekend you can go, for example, to the First Republic emergency colony Na Slatinách or for a walk around the famous villas in Bubeneč or to the industrial Vysočany.
Admission:
– Full 200 – 240 CZK depending on the length of the walk, with a pre-purchased ticket (+ 100 CZK on the spot)
– Reduced 150 – 240 CZK (+ 100 CZK), children up to 12 years free