Lužický seminář Building

Welcome to the heart of old Prague, one of those parts of the city where every rock seems to have its own voice and every alley tells a story that doesn't end. You're standing in front of a building that's much more than just a private house or an ordinary state. The Lužický seminář stands before your eyes. Although it may seem at first glance that this object simply integrated into the Prague landscape, its existence is evidence of a deep connection between Prague and the remote region. Feel the atmosphere of the Little Party, where history mingles with every step you take and where the past constantly touches the present.

Let's go back together to when something special was being built here. Imagine the year one thousand seven hundred twenty-six. In that year, the foundation stone of the new building was laid here. It was a period when Prague was changing, blooming and looking for its new face in the context of major European changes. This seminar began in the years of a thousand seven hundred twenty-six to a thousand seven hundred two eight. Its original purpose was to serve as a place for the education and training of priests who were to come from Upper Lusatia. Imagine those young men who have travelled from very distant areas to gain knowledge here in Prague, which they will then be able to transfer back to their homes. This building was not just a building for study, it was a gateway to preserving the culture and identity of people in those areas. This is where events took place that had a major impact on what we now call the LužickoSerbian national birth. This building was the heart of motion that sought to protect language and traditions.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself, which now surrounds you. Look at how the building operates in its entirety and fits into the rhythm of the surrounding streets. This whole project was designed by one of the largest and most important builders of his time. It's Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer. His name in the history of architecture means quality, art and depth. Even though you're looking at a finished construction today, try to imagine the huge work that craftsmen and workers had to spend to perfect every detail according to his vision. Notice how the building looks dignified and how it maintains its own seriousness. Now, look at the corner of the building, right on the corner, where the two streets face each other. See that statue? It's a statue of St. Peter's. Her author is Matej Václav Jäckel. This statue stands here as a silent witness to all the years the building has lived, reminding us of the spiritual foundations that this seminar once stood on.

When you look at these walls, you might think how many people have gone through them and how many thoughts have been born here. The history of this place is not only about stones and painting details, but above all about human destinies and ideas. In these premises or in their immediate surroundings, there were individuals whose names are still among the most important in our history and in the wider context of national awareness. Imagine the intellectual air that was here. Names like Josef Dobrovský or Václav Hanka are not just names in textbooks, they were people who were doing their job changing the world around them. In connection with this place, we must also mention other names such as Karel Jaromír Erben or Martin Hattala. Even Adolf Černý, Karl Heinrich Seibt and the Simon family were part of the great story that took place here. These people were associated with a movement that sought to protect language and culture, and this seminar was one of their key points. Each brought his own experience and his own passion, which still seems to echo in these walls.

I also want to tell you one thing that makes this place truly unique throughout Prague. Did you know that in the summer of the year a thousand eight hundred forty-six something absolutely extraordinary happened here? The students established a sorority called Serbowka. It wasn't just a student club or a free club. It was the first Slavic student association in Prague. Imagine the energy, the passion, and the effort these young people were bringing into this city. They were pioneers who, through their society, built bonds between different nations and sought their way to knowledge through common goals. This moment was one of the largest contributions of this place to the whole Slavic world and an example of how education can be a powerful tool for identity building.

But time passes, and things change all the time. After a thousand and nine hundred and twenty-two years, the fate of the building changed when the Catholic seminar was canceled and the building was sold to the Earth Fund. But even though students no longer study priests here, the place has not lost its soul or its importance. The Society of Friends of Lusatia and Hornikov currently resides here and you will also find the LužickoSerbian Library. It's a place where history still feeds on books, science, and meeting people who respect traditions and want to preserve them for future generations. The library in this building works as a memory keeper that links the past to today.

I hope you were interested in this brief view of Lužický seminář and that it helped you to see more than just a stone structure in this building. Now it's time to continue your journey. Take a look around the streets, see the atmosphere of Little Party and let yourself be surprised by what else Prague offers. Any next step can lead you to another story. Thank you for your time and I wish you a nice walk.