Usedlost Pod Petřinami 14/2 a U Zvoničky 26/1 Homestead

Welcome to Veleslavín. You are standing in front of one of the quiet but very valuable pearls of Prague architecture. In front of you, there is a historical estate that reminds itself of a time when this space was much more connected with nature and agricultural life than with today's urban mountain. The first impression that radiates from the building is a sense of stability and peace. Take a look at the overall appearance of the complex, which forms the main building on a rectangular plan and adjacent former granary. It is a place where time has stopped and where you can feel the atmosphere of old Prague, which is still holding on in the centre of the village Veleslavín.

Let us now stop at how this building was created and in what context it stood in the time of its glory. The exact names of the builders did not preserve history, but we know from the analysis of the building that the main house is probably from the end of the seventeenth or early eighteenth century. So imagine the world around the year seven hundred, where the walls that you see today were rising here in the Baroque style. This estate was not only an ordinary house, but it was part of a wider system of economic use of the surrounding area, as confirmed by its proximity to the local castle. At that time, such settlements were key points for land management and supply, making them the centres of local social and economic events.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and the details that you can observe right in front of you. Notice the material from which the main building is built. It is an optics, which is typical of the local sandstone, which gives the construction its specific texture and color. It is a durable and solid material that keeps the cold in the summer and accumulates heat in the winter. If you look at the facade from the street, the building will look like a storey building, a house with two floors. Here, however, is one of the most interesting architectural elements of this place. If you could move to the side of the yard, you would find that the terrain there is different and what looks like the first floor of the street is actually on the ground floor level. This difference in levels is a fascinating testimony about how the builders adapted to the terrain and how cleverly they used space.

When we think about the inner spaces, even though we're not now exploring them, it's important to know what's hidden behind these exit walls. Interiors are characterized by their arches. Here we will find rolled arches that resemble the shape of a semi-silhouette, and cross arches that are created by counteracting two rolled arches. These elements are not only aesthetic, but used mainly to strengthen the structure and maintain a stable temperature inside the space, which was essential in times without modern heating.

Now let's focus on the second part of the compound, and that's the granary. In the past, the granary was a place for storing cereals and crops, making it the heart of the farm. If you look closely at her front door, you'll see a trace of a later period. Probably around the year these eight hundred were modified in classical style. Classicism has brought with it a desire for purity of lines and a return to patterns of antiques, which gently contrasts with the original baroque character of the main building. It's a little detail, but it tells us a story about how the estate evolved over the centuries and how its owners tried to maintain the period trends.

Although we don't know the specific names of the personalities who lived or worked here, the very existence of this monument tells us the story of the people who were housemaid here, the craftsmen who were lifting up the walls from the outhouse, and the generations who sought refuge in this house. It is a quiet monument to everyday life in Prague centuries ago.

But there remains a certain mystery that can attract any visitor. It's the perspective game we talked about. Why was the building designed to look different from the yard? Was it just because of the terrain, or was it the intention to impress a larger and more representative house towards the public? This question remains open and encourages us to think about how people at the Baroque time perceived the status and appearance of their home.

You're standing in front of a building protected today as a cultural monument for a good reason. It is one of the few preserved examples of this type of homestead in downtown Veleslavína. Its walls are witnessing the transformation of the entire city, from the time of carriages and horses to today's modern metropolis.

We now invite you to explore the entire area in peace, go around the building, and try to imagine what sound this court must have filled two hundred lectureers ago. Feel the texture of the leaf stone and think about the history that is encoded in these walls. We hope this short trip to the past has helped you better understand the value of this place. We wish you a pleasant continuation of the Veleslavín journey and further discovery of hidden treasures of our city. Goodbye.