Hadovka (usedlost) Homestead

Welcome to Dejvice. You're standing right in front of Snake's, a beautiful estate that will carry you through its atmosphere to other times. If you look around you now, you will see an elegant structure in front of you, which today acts as a quiet island in the urban rush. It is a place with a very long history that has constantly changed over the centuries and adapted to the needs of its owners. What you see today is not just one house, but the result of a long process of connecting smaller land and buildings.

Now let's look together at how this place came to be. Imagine that in the first half of the 16th century, Dejvice was not as you know them today. Instead of asphalt streets and modern houses there were vast fields and above all vineyards. It was from these vineyards that the Hadovic rose. It wasn't one big building from the start, but there were seven small vineyards. It was a practical solution to increase economic space and make grape cultivation more efficient. The first written mention of a thousand six hundred and two brings us to one of the most important elements of the site at the time, namely the vineyard press. This was the heart of the entire economy, because it was here that wine was produced from the crop, which was the basic product of this area at the time.

Over time, however, the purpose of this place began to change. From a simple agricultural area with presses and vineyards, Hadovka gradually developed into a representative residence. The owners no longer wanted only wine profits, but they wanted a place where they could show their wealth and social status. Now pay attention to the overall appearance of the building. Note her character, which is the result of interventions from different periods. The most significant change came in the middle of the nineteenth century. In the year a thousand and eight hundred and fifty houses bought Gabriel František Janoušek. He was the one who decided that instead of the original look, the building would be rebuilt into a neo-gothic style.

Now, if you look at the details of the facade and the total silhouette of the building, feel this neo-gothic spirit. This style was very popular at the time because it followed medieval architecture, but added comfort and pomp to it. The architect Josef Niklas was behind these changes. It is fascinating to think about how one and the land itself has turned from a simple vineyard into a Baroque mansion and finally into this castle. In addition to the main house, the Baroque Chapel of the Holy Trinity is a very important element in the complex, which gives the complex a spiritual dimension and reminds us of the deep faith of people who once lived and worked here.

Let's now talk about the people who made up the history of this place. In addition to Gabriel František Janoušek, names such as František Ferdinand de Serponte, Antonín Messler or Vojtěch Vincenc Zarda are associated with Hadovka. Each of them put something of their own into the estate, whether it was the extension of the site or its maintenance. In later times, namely in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty, the estate was bought by Zdenka Havranková, who took care of its further reconstruction and keeping it in good condition. It is interesting that the building also served as a seat of the Canadian Embassy in the newer times, which shows that Hadovka was not only a local matter, but a part of international diplomatic relations in Prague.

Now I want to interest you in one little mystery that concerns the very name of this place. Whenever you say the word Snake, you probably imagine a snake or reptile. But the truth is much funnier and a little tragic. The name has nothing to do with reptiles. It all started on behalf of one of the owners named Serponte. But the people in the area could not pronounce that name correctly or could not understand it, and so it was improper. Because the Latin word for a snake is "serpen," people associate Serponte with a snake, and that's how the name "snake" came up. It's a beautiful example of how one little language error can name the whole memory for centuries and change its perception.

When you're standing outside this building today, think of it as a layered pie of history. Under the neo-gothic details are hidden traces of baroque manor and even deeper beneath them are the roots of seven small vineyards from the sixteenth century. It's a place where agriculture has met art, where wine presses have turned into diplomatic salons, and where one person's name has turned into a reptile.

I suggest you now rewind the building in peace, look at its facade and try to imagine how wine smelled here hundreds of years ago, and how there was a spectacular neo-gothic reconstruction here in the nineteenth century. Feel the peace and quiet this area offers in the middle of modern Prague.

This concludes our short journey through the history of the Snake. I hope you're interested in this story about vineyards, architectural changes and language errors. It is now up to you whether you decide to explore the surroundings of Dejvice further or enjoy the atmosphere of this unique place for a while longer. Thank you for your attention and I wish you a pleasant continued walk through the city.