Everyone who walks past the former example of representative architecture from 1905 will really know that the check-in hall of the former Prague-Vyšehrad train station is in a state of disrepair. Jiří Chmelenský from the National Monuments Institute describes the current technical condition of the building, which has been a cultural monument since 2000, as follows: We also secure the roofing against leaks, but even that is not enough. The wooden structures are attacked by wood chips and in the eastern part of the building there has even been a partial collapse of the ceiling. “

In other words, the condition of the building is getting worse every year. Based on their findings, the conservationists have therefore given several suggestions in recent years to initiate administrative proceedings with the owner of the building, RailCity Vyšehrad. In the last year alone, the Municipal Department of Monument Care has imposed a total of four fines in the order of hundreds of thousands. Three have already come into force, the fourth decision is not yet final.

A planned fix that never started

The architect Martin Kotík, who cooperates with the company, prepared a study of the station’s repairs years ago, including two extensions on both sides, and the owner obtained a building permit for the repair, which, however, never began. why? The architect did not want to comment and the owner’s representative could not be contacted. In the past, conservationists and Prague 2 also asked for inspections of the railway station building, but often in vain. “The last inspection in the presence of the investor took place in April 2017. Otherwise, the investor apologized for the meeting, was absent, did not communicate and so on,” says conservationist Jiří Chmelenský.

But now the situation seems to be different. Prague has expressed interest in buying the building and the owner, who bought it from České dráhy in 2007 as a Real Tip Estate company for 41 million crowns, is offering it for 117 million crowns. According to Prague 2, this price does not correspond to the condition of the building, moreover, it exceeds the possibilities of the city district. Prague 2 therefore insists that it will negotiate with the owner exclusively through the capital city of Prague. Also according to the Prague councilor for the property of Jan Chabr for the United Forces for Prague, the amount of 117 million is exorbitant. Prague has a report of 67 million crowns.

Slavic epic at Vyšehrad railway station?

Some Prague politicians also came up with the idea of ​​placing a Slavic epic in the well-known outbuildings of the station. “It is now up to the Institute of Planning and Development of the Capital City of Prague to check whether the work would fit in at all and it would be possible to do it architecturally and structurally,” even if it was not possible, Prague is interested in the building, according to Councilor Chabr. The meeting of the station owner with the representatives of Prague is scheduled for March 13.

The city of Prague asked for the station to be enlarged for years, and in 1901 trains even crashed here.

architecture historian Lukáš Beran

An important industrial and technical monument

Who is the author of the building is not clear. While Lukáš Beran attributes her authorship to Jan Heindl, conservationist Jiří Chmelenský leans towards Antonín Balšánek. And he explains what makes this building unique in terms of monument care: “It is a monument and an example of an industrial and technical nature, which forms the environment of the Prague Monument Reserve. It is usually classified in the Art Nouveau style. “

The station ceased to serve its purpose in 1960. To this day, passengers are not allowed on and off the curve of the line and trains only pass through here.