Restaurace Nebozízek Building

Welcome, distinguished visitors. Stop for a moment, take a breath and look around you. You're standing in front of a building that carries centuries of Prague history and romance. In front of you stands the restaurant Březízek, an object which, by its appearance and location in Petrín orchards, is very light and at the same time noble. It's a place where nature is bound to human architecture and where you can feel the peace that is so rare in the center of the city. Feel this atmosphere offered by this romantic summer castle, and allow me to lead you through its fascinating story.

Now let's go back in time, deep back, to make it clear to you why this building is even standing here. It all began in the late seventeenth century. It was at this time that he had built the original palace of the nobleman Karel Maxmilián Lažanský. At that time this object served as a resting place and escape from the urban rush, as a space for summer relaxation near nature. It was a symbol of then's luxury and taste, a small palace in green, which was intended to serve the joy of its owner and his guests. It's fascinating to think that, more than three years ago, people here were looking for the same peace and high view of the city that you are offering today.

Now that you're standing outside the building, pay attention to its overall appearance. Although it may seem that the building is old, its present form is the result of a very thorough repair from the 1980s. At that time, a general reconstruction took place, during which the building was essentially rebuilt. If you look at the facade and the overall composition of the object, notice that despite this modernization, the original style has been preserved. Architects, whose names we don't know today, have tried to be loyal to history and keep the spirit of the original castle. Today, the building is rightly protected as a cultural monument to the Czech Republic, which means that the state recognises its irreplaceable value for our national heritage.

If we think more about the fate of this place, we will find that the path to today's form was not easy. The history of Mourning is full of dramatic twists. Imagine the year one thousand eight hundred forty-three. At the time, the building was tragically burned down. The heat of fire destroyed a large part of the object, but the desire for people here to have a place to rest was stronger than the flames. The building was subsequently repaired and its functions began to slowly move from a purely private summer castle towards a more public space.

Here comes another significant character, Bohumil Haase. In the early nineteenth century, this man set up a cruise restaurant here, which was called Haasenburg at the time. It is thanks to him that the enclosed nobility has become an open space for the wider public. People began to flow here to enjoy the beauty of Petrin orchards and to enjoy something to eat or drink in a pleasant environment. The popularity of this place has further increased with the arrival of the rope track, which significantly simplified the way up and made the restaurant one of Prague's most popular destinations.

Interesting is the name the building bears today. In a thousand and eight hundred and eighty-two, this cruise inn began to belong directly to the city of Prague. It was at this time that he received the object of his current, poetic name Brelzizek. It's a name that carries a certain lightness and also refers to the location of a building that appears to be closer to the sky than other buildings in the valley.

However, although the building seems to stand firm, nature had its own plans for this place. If you look at the terrain around you, you'll realize we're on a slope. And it was this slope that, in the year one thousand nine hundred sixty-five, became the source of a great problem. There have been serious landslides which have damaged the building so badly that it has to be completely closed. It was a period of uncertainty when this piece of history threatened to disappear forever. But as we mentioned earlier, there was a rebirth in the 1980s. Between a thousand and nine hundred and eighty-four and eighty-five, there was this general reconstruction that allowed us to stand in front of this building today and admire its beauty.

Now let's get to the one interesting thing that may surprise you, which goes even deeper into the past than the castle itself. Notice the surrounding green and imagine what this place looked like in the 15th century. In these places there were large vineyards that were called Berezez. It is therefore fascinating that even though the functions of the object were changed from vineyards to summer houses, from the summer castle to the Haasenburg inn and finally to the restaurant Berezizek, the name of this place remained in some form for centuries. It's like a thread that connects the Middle Ages to these days.

Now if you look at the building again, you don't just see the walls and the roof, but you see the layers of time. You see the ambitions of Karl Maximilian Lažanski, the entrepreneurship of Bohumil Haas, the tragedy of fire, the struggle with nature in the landslides, and finally the victory of the reconstruction that saved the building for future generations. It all creates the unique character of this place.

I suggest you now go around the building loundly, perceive its harmony with the surrounding trees and perhaps think about how many thousands of people have sat here over the centuries and watched the same view of Prague as you have today. The deceased is not just a restaurant, it is a monument to human efforts to keep a piece of beauty and peace in the midst of a constantly changing city.

Thank you for your attention and for taking this short journey through time with me. Now you can enjoy the atmosphere of this romantic place in peace, meet the surrounding paths or enjoy a moment of rest near this historic monument. I wish you the pleasant rest of your stay in the Petrin orchards. Goodbye.