Renovation work on Malostranské náměstí will finally begin next spring. Preparations have been completed, and the project has a building permit.
Prague city councilors have approved a CZK 74 million public works project to reconstruct Malostranské Square to make it more pedestrian-friendly.
Tramlines will be disrupted so the tracks can be rebuilt, and traffic will be redirected during repairs. To make the square more friendly to pedestrians, traffic will remain limited even after the tram tracks are rebuilt.
The square should get a coherent look with a uniform paving design. There will be more places to sit, trees and a fountain.
Part of Nerudova Street will turn into a pedestrian area. The corner at Mostecká Street will have more pedestrian space.
Petr Hejma, Mayor for Prague 1, adds that “Prague 1 wants to shape the lower part of Lesser Town Square into an area that will allow residents to sit and meet in a peaceful and green environment. We very much welcome this project from our colleagues at City Hall, as it will help us considerably towards achieving this goal.”
The Lesser Town Square’s new design was selected in an architectural competition organized by IPR Prague in 2014. The winning design is the work of three architects—Martin Hájek, Václav Hájek and Petr Horský.
History
Malostranské náměstí has a long history going back to the 13th century. The name of the square has changed over the years. The square has long been divided into two parts and was called Horní rynk and Dolní rynk (Upper and Lower Marketplace), and Malostranský rynek. The upper part was also called Vlašský plac, as many Italian merchants were there.
In the first half of the 19th century it became Štepanské námestí (Stephan Square), and after 1869 it was officially Malostranské náměstí, but people called it náměstí Maršála Radeckého, or Radecký Square, after a large statue located there at that time.
Whether the bronze statue, which still exists, will be returned is still being debated, but Field Marshall Radecký is associated with the Habsburg occupation of Bohemia.
