Horní Palata Homestead

Welcome to the historical part of Smíchova. You are standing in front of just one of the most interesting monuments of this place called Horní Palata. Before we take a deeper look at her past, let me first invite you to take a good look at her. In front of your eyes is a storey residential building, which with its presence brings to today's urban development a sense of peace and stability. Notice the characteristic saddle roof and the tiny, prismatic turret that rises above the roof and gives the whole whole thing a noble touch. This whole area is not just one house, but it forms a complex. There are also economic buildings around the irregular court that used to operate the whole estate. If you raise your sight even higher, you can see how this building floats over the surrounding area, as if it still holds its original role as guardian of vineyards.

Now let's move further into time together to understand why this place looks just like this and how history formed here. To understand the essence of Upper Palata, we must return to the first half of the seventeenth century. There was no unified area at the time, as you see it today. Instead, there were several separate vineyards scattered in this part of Smíchova. But everything fundamentally changed in 16-24. That's when a man named Jakub Baševi z Treuenburka came in. This man had great imagination and ambition. He bought four of these separate vineyards and decided to unite them under one common name. He's the one who created Palata. However, this name is not random. It is derived from the former designation Myslářka, which was the name for the house in Podskalí, and thus the name was transferred here.

Now pay close attention to how the fate of this place changed in the years to come. After James Bashevi came a time of spiritual influence. In 16,000, the heirs decided to sell the vineyard to the New Town Jesuits from St. Ignatius. This meant that the estate became part of a wider religious and educational world. Over time, the building continued to change and expand. If you look at her present appearance, you need to know that in the year seven-twenty-five, this vineyard house went through a significant redevelopment. It was adapted to the Baroque style at the time, which probably gave the building the elegance and balance that you can perceive today. This era brought a new dimension to the building and made it a place that seemed much more noble than a simple farmhouse.

In the next centuries, the roles of the owners changed again. In the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine the estate was bought by the Czech savings bank on Smíchov. This is a fascinating transition from farming and a religious monastery to the modern world of finance and banking. This change shows how Smíchov gradually changed from the vineyard area in a densely populated and economically significant part of Prague. Even though wine is no longer produced, the spirit of the old vineyards is still felt in how this area is organized.

Now I want to invite you to take another look at the details surrounding you. Notice the massive wall that borders the big garden. This wall is not just an ordinary interface, but a powerful element that defines the privacy and peace of this place. Notice also the large entrance gate that leads you to this space. The whole complex, with its irregular courtyard and the spacing of buildings, creates an atmosphere that is rare in today's city. Although we do not know the names of the particular architects who designed these buildings, their work is evident in every detail - from the shape of the roof to the way the main residential building is surrounded by economic buildings.

If you want to look for any deeper secrets or unexpected information in history, I have to tell you one thing. Although this building may seem to you as a relatively young building from the eighteenth or nineteenth century, its roots go much deeper. The foundations of this estate go back to the Middle Ages. That means there's a history much older than what you see on the surface under your feet. This building is in a place where people have lived and worked for centuries.

It's also very interesting how this place transformed in modern times. The place where people used to grow grapes and where bankers later moved, now serves a completely different purpose. The entire area is now a daily psychotherapeutic stationary. It is a fascinating contrast - a place that was once full of work on a vineyard or busy banking operation, is now a place that serves to treat, calm and inner understanding of man. This change from the outside invisible but deeply affecting the character of the site is one of the biggest stories Horní Palata tells.

In your next look at the building, try to imagine all the people who were here. Imagine James Bashevi planning to unite his vineyards. Imagine the Jesuits doing their duty in these areas. Imagine a bank employee in the late century walking through that door. Each of these era has left its mark in this place, although it may not appear at first sight.

I hope you are interested in this brief insight into the past and that it has helped you better understand what you are seeing in front of you. Horní Palata is not just a building, it is a living chronicler Smíchova. Please continue your walk and pay attention to other details in the area. Maybe the next time you look at that massive wall or that turret, you'll see something you missed in this recording. Thank you for your time and I wish you a pleasant continuation in discovering the beauty of this city. Goodbye.