Štefánikova hvězdárna Observatory

Welcome, distinguished visitors. Stop for a moment, take a breath and look around you. You have just arrived at one of the most important places in Prague's Petřín Hill. You're standing in front of a building that's not just a building, but a real window into an infinite universe. The Štefánikova hvězdárna stands before you. Feel her calm atmosphere and imagine how many thousands of people before you have looked in the same direction towards the sky in the silence of the night looking for answers to questions about the origin of the world and our place in it. It's a place where human curiosity meets science and the history of the city intersects with the secrets of the stars.

Let us now look together at how this monument was created and why it is so important to us. Let us go back almost a hundred years to a time when the young Czechoslovak Republic was full of enthusiasm and desire for development. In 1928, this observatory was ceremonially opened. Its main purpose was not only the closed research of several chosen scientists, but mainly the popularization of astronomy. That means she was supposed to be open to everyone. The goal was to bring the beauty and laws of the universe closer to the general public, so that even an ordinary person could feel astonishment from the perspective of distant planets and star constellations. From the beginning, the observatory was thought to be a place of education where lectures were held and where anyone who wanted could look into the depths of space. In 1929, the building was fully accessible to the public with two domes, allowing for much wider and more diverse observation of celestial bodies. Today this institution is a proud member of the contribution organization Observatory and planetarium of the capital city of Prague.

Now that you know its origin, pay attention to the architecture itself. Look carefully at the building and its shapes. The architect Václav Veselík, who had to solve a very interesting technical task, is responsible for its creation. Notice how the dome is hovering over the surrounding area. If you look closer at the bottom of the building, you'll find a fascinating detail. The main dome does not count on the ordinary foundation, but on the concrete wreath. And this concrete ring is located directly above the tower, which once served as part of the medieval city fortification of Prague. It's a unique combination of two completely different epoch. Down below we have a stone foundation from a time when the city protected the walls from the enemies, and above it modern concrete and glass from the twentieth century, which instead of defense serve to discover. It is a symbol of how humanity has moved from the need to move from SPACE beyond the walls to the desire to fly far beyond its own planet.

When we think about this place, we can't forget the people who gave him life and made him famous in their name. Of course there is Milan Rastislav Štefánik, after which the observatory bears its name. He was a man with an extraordinary life, a diplomat, a soldier, but above all a passionate astronomer. His legacy here is still felt in every corner. They left their trail next to him and other prominent personalities like Jaroslav Štych or Karel Anděl. These men were not only experts, but above all enthusiasts who believed that science belonged to everyone. It is through their efforts that this place has become a centre where science has become understandable and accessible. Imagine them here in the forgotten hours of the night watching the movement of the planets and writing down their findings while the whole of Prague was sleeping under them in silence.

Now I want to impress you with one fact, which for many visitors is the most fascinating part of the place. If you reach the main dome, you will encounter a device that is the real jewel of this building. It is a double astrograph of Zeiss brand from 1930. The astrograph is a special type of telescope designed to photograph the sky. By the time it was installed, it was the tip of the technique at the time. It was able to capture images of distant stars and create accurate sky maps. It is fascinating to think that this machine still serves its purpose and reminds us of the time when astronomy began to change dramatically thanks to the development of photography.

But there's one more secret in the main dome that's much more personal and deeper. In the pillar that holds the main telescope are stored urns of important astronomers, such as Jaroslav Štych. It's a very unusual and poetic location. Scientists who spent their whole lives studying stars and heavens are now physically connected to the device through which they looked at these stars. It is as if even after death they remain part of this place and continue to accompany anyone who tries to decipher the secrets of the universe. This detail gives the observatory a strange, almost sacred character. It's not just a building with instruments, but a place of memory and eternal respect for human reason and curiosity.

Now, if you look around you again, consider this building a bridge. A bridge between the earth and the sky, between medieval Prague and modern science, between the past and the future. Štefánikova hvězdárna reminds us that whatever time we are, we will always be fascinated by the look up. We'll always be interested in what's out there in that endless darkness woven by the lights of the distant suns.

All that remains now is for you to explore this place with your own eyes. I suggest you go through the surroundings, perceive the contrast of concrete and old stone, and if you have the chance, look inside, where you will find peace and quiet, which is so rare in the heart of the great city. Let yourself be captivated by the size of the universe and you may feel the same enthusiasm that the founders of this place felt almost a century ago.

Thank you for accompanying me on this short journey through the history and architecture of the Stefan Observatory. I wish you a pleasant rest of the visit to Petrina and I turn you to find your own inspiration when looking at the sky. Goodbye.