Prague Main Railway Station: The first train arrived here in 1871
The precondition for the construction of the railway station in Prague was the imperial decision of 1866 to demolish the walls. The original station building was built between the Horse Gate at the upper end of Wenceslas Square and the New Gate in the eastern part of Senovážné náměstí. The Neo-Renaissance building with a number of decorative elements was completed in 1870 and later earned the nickname of the castle station.
The 500-kilometer-long Vienna-Benešov-Prague line was the first to lead to the railway station. It began to be built as early as 1866 as a private enterprise, whose co-owners included a number of important nobles, including the Schwarzenbergs. However, due to a number of combinations, for example during the construction of the Vinohrady Tunnel or the bridge in Čerčany, the completion of the line was delayed.
The first train arrived on December 14, 1871 and brought only nine people from Vienna. However, over the years, its popularity has grown and it now handles over 25 million people a year.
The Renaissance was replaced by Art Nouveau
With the development of the railway, the capacity of the building ceased to be sufficient. In the years 1901 – 1909 it was therefore rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style according to the design of the architect Josef Fanty (1856 – 1954). Together with the hall above the platform, it forms our largest Art Nouveau monument. At that time, the platforms were connected to the station building by underpasses. In addition to cash registers, waiting rooms and restaurants were also built here luxurious lounges for important guests. In them, for example, President Masaryk (1850 – 1937), inventor Edison (1847 – 1931) or comedian Chaplin (1889 – 1977).
New vestibule and highway
The second The station underwent a major transformation at the turn of the 1960s and 1970swhen a vestibule was built with a highway leading along its roof and a metro stop below it. The main life moved to new halls, “Fantovka” began to decay. After the Velvet Revolution, stalls filled the area, and the homeless used it as an overnight placei. The adjoining park has earned the unflattering nickname Sherwood, referring to Robin Hood’s forest. The complex began to be reconstructed in 2006. Shops were established in the lobby, and historic buildings and roofs above the platform were repaired.
Welcome that…
The historic station building has been a cultural monument since 1976. This status is probably protected from demolition during the construction of the highway.
Politics has changed names
In 1871 it was called the Emperor Franz Josef Railway Station. After the proclamation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, the name of the former Austrian statesman was no longer appropriate, and therefore it was renamed Wilson Station in honor of US President Woodrow Wilson (1856 – 1924). For a change, however, the Communists, who introduced the name Central Station in 1953, did not like this name.
Prague Main Railway Station.
Author: Blesk: Daniel Černovský