Bezovka Hostinec

Welcome, distinguished visitors, to this place in the heart of Žižkov. Please stop for a moment and look around you. You may now wonder why you're standing right here, where at first glance you don't see any magnificent palace or high tower. It's because you're in a place that used to beat the heart of the social life of the entire district. You're standing in front of the tracks of Bezovka, places that no longer exist in its original form, but its story is so powerful that we can still feel its presence in the very air of this space.

Try to close your eyes for a moment and forget the noise of today's transportation and modern buildings. Imagine going back more than a hundred years. In the place where you are now standing, a vast area once spread out, which began its journey very modestly. Originally it was a water mill with a small touring pub. It was such a stop for passengers, a place of rest and rest by the water. But with the advancing time and development of Prague, this mill has become something much bigger.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, it was decided that the place would get a whole new face. In the year eight hundred seventy six, the builder Josef Kalkus implemented a new storey construction. It wasn't just an ordinary house, it was an ambitious project. Bezovka was converted into a garden entertainment company at the time. If you have ever visited Vienna or Berlin, perhaps you can imagine those famous garden restaurants where nature, culture and entertainment were united. According to this model Bezovka was built. The goal was to create a space where people could relax from the dust and noise of the city, find peace in the green while meeting friends at a glass of beer or a piece of food.

Now, when you look around, feel the atmosphere of this place. Although the main building from the year one thousand eight hundred seventy-six is no longer visible, try to imagine what the period architecture must have looked like. A storey building with large terraces, surrounded by carefully maintained gardens, where walks were made. Notice the surroundings and realize that this is where thousands of stories took place. Bezovka wasn't just a restaurant, it was a real institution. She became the center of social and social life of Žižkov. Imagine the Saturday nights where the dances took place, where the couples in their elegant dresses, or the days when there were various shows that attracted people from all over the city.

Now let's think about how people got here. In the year of the thousand eight hundred eighty-three there was a fundamental change which connected Bezkoka even more with the centre of Prague. The first horse track was established. Imagine those horse-drawn cars that regularly drove out of the inn towards Old Town and Malostran Square. It was a luxury journey at that time, which made Bezovka a sought-after target not only for local Žižkovans, but also for the Prague bourgeoisie, which sought to escape from the centre.

Now pay attention to how the site evolved further. In the year one thousand and nine hundred and eight, the inn was redeemed by the board committee Žižkova. This meant that the company was in the hands of the city, which led to further reconstruction and extension of its functions. Bezovka wasn't just about food and drink anymore. It has become a multi-functional centre, which may today resemble modern cultural houses. There was a gym where people took care of their health, and even a kindergarten was set up so that parents could spend time in the gardens. There was also space for crafts, such as the organist workshop, which shows how diverse people attracted this place.

When we think about the personalities we associate with Bezovka, remember names like Dismas Šlambor, known under his artistic pseudonym Viktor Ponrepo, or Bohumil Šmerala. They were people who formed the face of the then Žižkov, people with vision and passion, who found room for their meetings and discussions in Bezovka. Imagine those heralds, poets and politicians sitting here in the shade of trees planning the future of their neighborhood.

And now we come to the part that may interest you most. Bezovka was a place of real adventure and unexpected events. Try to imagine looking up into the sky. This is where the balloon flying races took place. By the time the flying was in diapers, the view of the colored balloons taking off from the Žižkov gardens must have been absolutely fascinating. And that wasn't all. Summer cinema worked here during the summer months, which was the peak of modernity at that time. People sat in the grass or on chairs and watched the painting projected on the screen under the stars.

One more interesting thing that points to the international overlap of this place. In March of the year a thousand nine hundred and four here hosted a pioneer in communication and technology. The fact that such people decided to stop in Bezová shows how high the level and prestige of this business was at that time.

Unfortunately, every story has a break. If you look at Prokop Street today, you'll see a modern traffic deposit. This is exactly what happened at the end of the main building. In the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-six, the main building was demolished. The reason for this was to adjust traffic and extend the street. It was a painful decision by which the city sacrificed a piece of its history in favour of modernisation and mobility.

Today, all that remains of the premises is traces and memories that are stored in the archives and hearts of people who remember telling their ancestors. If you stand in this place today, you may not see the walls, but feel the spirit of the place. Feel the joy of balls, the excitement of balloon flights, the silence of kindergarten and the intellectual discussion of beer. Bezovka was a symbol of Žižkov identity, a place where the simple mill with the elegance of Vienna gardens was connected.

It's fascinating how the landscape of the city changes. What was once the center of the world for thousands of people changed in the street we walk through every day without realizing what was under our feet. Bezovka teaches us that monuments are not only made of stone and bricks, but that the monument is also the very space and emotions that we associate with it.

Thank you for stopping in time for a moment. I hope you could imagine this lost paradise Žižkova. Now I invite you to continue your journey and explore other corners of this fascinating circuit. Follow the details, look for clues of the past in the details of the houses and ask what stories other streets hide. I wish you a pleasant continued walk through Prague and seek new inspiration. Goodbye.