Miranka Homestead

Welcome, distinguished visitors, to the heart of Prague's Žižkov. Stop for a moment, take a deep breath and feel the atmosphere of this place. You are standing just outside the residence of Miranka, which is located in Hussite Street. It is a place where the calm of old gardens meets the dynamics of urban life and where in one spatial context the agricultural past meets the industrial boom of the last century. Look in front of you at the buildings that form this area. CZECH NOTE: You may not know at first sight that it is a monument, but it is in the lastiness of time that its greatest value lies. Now, if you look around, notice the total set of objects. The production hall, which is now associated with the logo of the cinema Ponec, will probably take your view. Also look at the chimney from the concrete wall that stands out into the sky. These elements, together with the main building of the estate, have since two thousand and five been protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. This chimney is not just an ordinary building element, it is a silent witness of the time when Žižkov was not just a residential neighborhood but a place of hard work, smoke and machinery. Let us now return together in time, much deeper than the walls of current buildings. Imagine this place in the 16th century. There was no car noise or concrete road back then. In the territory between today's Trocnovsky Street and Kostnický Square, vineyards were decaying. At that time, this area was perceived in a completely different way as a landscape full of green and grape bushes. Vinohradship was firmly rooted here and in the eighteenth century the estate was owned by a man named Václav Mirany, from whom the name of this place probably came. If we move to the middle of the nineteenth century, we can imagine how good sweet grapes smelled here in the summer months. It was a period when the estate served primarily for agricultural purposes and was part of a wider network of Prague vineyards. Just imagine the morning fog over the vineyards and the quiet rhythm of working in the gardens. But everything changed with the arrival of a new era, an era of industrial revolution, which changed the face of the whole of Prague and especially Žižkova. The break occurred in the year one thousand eight hundred thirty-two. It was this year that Josef Hall bought the estate. Halla wasn't a winemaker, he was a vision entrepreneur. He decided to turn a quiet estate into a place of production. He set up a factory here that focused on the production of two products that were very desirable at the time. The first was a coffee substitute, which was a common product at the time for people who could not afford real coffee from remote regions. The second product was rape oil. So imagine how the smell of grapes gradually began to mix with the smell of roasted raw materials and pressed oil. The Miranka estate was thus part of the emerging industrial Žižkova. However, time did not stand and production needs increased. In a thousand and eight hundred and eighty-seven, Rudolf Stabenow came into play. He realized that the original Josef Hall factory was no longer enough for modern needs. So he had the original factory buildings removed and in their place he had a new, more modern and more efficient factory building. It was during this period that the appearance of the site that you see today, including the industrial elements we mentioned earlier, began to be confirmed. But this industrial boom did not last forever. In the year one thousand and nine hundred and five, the factory had to put an end to its activities in these premises. A year later, in the year one thousand nine hundred and six, the entire operation moved to the city of Celakovice. This was the moment when the estate Miranka lost its function as a place of oil production and coffee substitutes. The buildings remained, but their meaning had to change. A few years later, in the year one thousand nine hundred and nine, the city of Žižkov bought land and buildings. This step brought the place into the hands of the public and began a new chapter of its existence. Now that you're standing in front of these buildings, feel the contrast. On the one hand, we have a memory of the winery and a quiet life in the estate, on the other hand, traces of the factory rumble and ambition of industrialists. It's fascinating how one place can change like that over the centuries. Notice that architecture is not uniform because each owner added something of his own. Although we don't know the names of the particular architects who designed these buildings, their work speaks for them. Here we see practical approaches to space, which were intended primarily for production, but at the same time there remains some dignity of the old Prague estate. You may be interested to know that Miranka is not the only name under which this place is known. History is full of different names and local people used names like Bontámka or Halovka. The middle name probably refers to Josef Hall, who founded his factory here. It is typical of Prague's neighborhoods, where the names of the places often change depending on who is currently owned or what is being produced in the building. While you're looking at facades and masonry, try to imagine all the people that were passing through here. From winegrowers collecting sweet grapes, to workers in dusty linen who pressed rape, to officials of the city of Žižkova who took care of the management of this property. Each of them left a trail in this place, even though the names of most of them are no longer known. This estate reminds us that Žižkov is not only about popular pubs and steep streets, but it also has deep roots in agriculture and the early industry. The fact that the site has been protected as a cultural monument since 2,000-five tells us that these clues are valuable. It's evidence of how our society was changing, how our needs were changing and how our city was changing. Take one last look at the chimney and the hall building. Feel the silence that exists here today in contrast to the noise that must have been here over a century ago. It's where history stopped to tell us its story. Now we invite you to slowly say goodbye to the Miranka estate and continue to explore the beautiful Žižkova. We suggest you go through the surrounding alleys, which may still be hiding secrets similar to the ones we discovered today. Take note of the details on houses, old signs and atmosphere, which is so unique for this part of Prague. Thank you for spending a moment with us at this historic monument. We hope this short trip in time has helped you better understand the spirit of this place. We wish you a pleasant further walk and many new discoveries in our beautiful city. Goodbye.