Na Příkopě Street
Na Příkopě Street
Street called Na Příkopě connects Wenceslas Square with the Republic Square. This street separates the Old Town from the New Town and was founded in 14th century.
Buildings
It is lined with numerous important representative buildings including the headquarters of the Czech National Bank, old palaces and last but not least, luxury shops. During the 19th century the street was transformed by construction of important commercial buildings and by the end of the century it was an extremely frequented city boulevard. Na Příkopě contains some of the most expensive commercial real estates not only in Prague but also throughout the world. The avenue is bordered with many shops and shopping “galleries”, including the passages, Černá Růže, Myslbek, and Slovanský dům. It is also possible to see major banks, including the imposing building of the Czech National Bank.
Koruna Palace
One of the famous properties of Na Příkopě is Koruna Palace. It was built here at the beginning of the twentieth century on the site of an older building – according to historical sources, and is one of the first buildings to be constructed after the establishment of Prague’s New Town in the 14th century. In 1912, the corner building and two neighbouring buildings were torn down to clear enough space for the construction of the present Koruna Palace as the seat for the life insurance company. The project was prepared by the architect Antonín Pfeiffer who cooperated with the builder Matěj Blecha. The building’s sculptural decorations are the work of sculptor Vojtěch Sucharda, who refers in this important project to classical and mythological ideals. Between 1974 and 1977, Koruna Palace was adapted for the purposes of the foreign trade company Technoexport and later it was converted into a shopping centre. Its last extensive reconstruction was carried out between 1992 and 1996 by the atelier „Achammer, Tritthart und Partner“ from Munich. Nowadays, the palace serves as an important commercial, business and administrative center.
Myslbek Building
Another property on the left side if you are walking from the Wenceslas Square is the large Myslbek building. The name originated in the thirties of the 20th century when the Arts association named it in honor of the outstanding sculptor Josef Václav Myslbek. The association had a temporary exhibition pavilion here. Nowadays it houses a huge shopping centre.
Czech National Bank
The last property which should not be missed out is the building of the Czech National Bank. The modern built-up area around the present-day CNB and throughout the centre of Prague originated in the 19th century and the construction works continued the following century.
Commercial Centre
Wenceslas Square and Na Příkopě Street grew high in importance and became the commercial centres of the city attracting the attention of new financial institutions. In addition to the economic advantages of the strategic location in the centre the building of banks was conditional on the availability of real estate. The development of new banks in the second half of the 19th century was concentrated in this area.
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