Budějovická Other

Welcome to Budějovická Station. You are standing in a place that is absolutely key for the entire Krč district and for Prague transport. If you look around you now, you're probably seeing the dynamics of this place where hundreds of people's paths collide at any moment. There are four of you in the heart of Prague's district, and it is here that the different directions of movement of the people of the city are connected. Feel this atmosphere, feel this constant movement that is completely natural for this place.

Let us now return together in time and understand how this place came to be. In order to understand the importance of the station Budějovická, we need to look at the period when Prague was changing beyond recognition. It was the first half of the 1970s. At that time, there was a huge revolution in how people will travel the capital. Budějovická was not just an ordinary stop, it was one of the first pillars of the newly emerging underground transport system.

Imagine the moment when the gates of this station first opened. It was the ninth of May in nineteen hundred seventy-four. It was a festive day when this part of town officially joined the modern underground network. But the entire construction process was extremely difficult. The station didn't just happen. The whole building was in a huge open pit, which meant enormous challenges for the surroundings and for the workers themselves. This method required huge amounts of work and also substantial funds. It was not only a question of money, but also the huge involvement of many different regional companies, which put their knowhow and labour into this project. This whole process was proof of the effort at the time to develop infrastructure and modernise life in the metropolis.

Now pay attention to what you see right in front of you and what surrounds you. Even though the station has been in operation for decades, its architecture still tells the story of the technical maturity of its time. If you look at the platform space, notice the unusual tonnage. It's one of the most important properties of this place. Note that there are no large support columns that would obstruct your path or that would optically divide space into smaller parts. This absence of columns creates a sense of openness and freedom of movement, which is a very rare and highly valued property in underground areas.

Now look even closer at the surface of the walls and surfaces surrounding you. Notice the stone tiles. They're made of large marble plates. But what you see here is not just a simple stone laying. For the first time on this section, a completely new method was used, called dry assembly. Instead of the classic use of wet mixtures and mortar, these large plates were fastened in a way that enabled more accurate and cleaner work. This technical detail was a major innovative step at the time and you can still perceive the quality and stability of the material.

However, Budějovická is not just a static monument to the past. It is a living organism that must adapt to the needs of the people who use it. Although the station was built many years ago, it is still undergoing changes to make it more accessible and modern. Note, for example, how accessibility for all citizens has changed. In the year two thousand and four, namely late June, there was an important milestone. Lifts have been put in place to enable smooth movement for people with reduced mobility. It was a fundamental change that made the station a place open to everyone, regardless of their physical condition.

But the history of this place has been constantly written in recent years. It's not only about the great works of construction, but also about the small events that reflect the spirit of the time. In the year two thousand and eighteen events took place here with the closure of the southern entrance and also with the story of the activist who left his inscription. These events, even if they are smaller, show that the station is part of a living city where there are different views and where space is constantly changing.

If you continue your journey now, try to look at this place again, but this time with the knowledge of everything you've just heard. Feel the space without columns, look in those marble plates for a trace of the old, innovative method of assembly and realize that you are standing in a place that was one of the first steps towards modern movement of people in Prague.

Thank you for stopping by and paying attention to the history of this place. Budějovická is more than just a stop underground. He's a witness to the development of our city. We wish you a pleasant and peaceful journey in your other directions and hope that other parts of our metropolis will surprise you with their history and attractions. Have a good day.