LIBUŠE’S DREAM: HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN PRAGUE, THE CZECH REPUBLIC by RAMONA MURPHY BARTOS (Under the direction of JOHN C. WATERS) ABSTRACT This study deals with the issue of historic preservation as practiced in Prague, Czech Republic. A developmental history of the city prefaces a discussion of the city’s history of historic preservation practice. Historic preservation in Prague has precedents in medieval law, but formally coalesced in the late nineteenth century, marked by the creation of the Austro- Hungarian governmental agency Central Commission for the Study and Preservation of Built Monuments, and the founding of the Club for Old Prague. This study also analyzes the century of historic preservation legislation in the Czech lands from the Austro-Hungarian empire to the Communist era. Finally, this study examines the legacy of the Communist era and the challenges of post-Communism in regards to historic preservation, and makes recommendations for improvement of both the official and private historic preservation movements in Prague. INDEX WORDS: Prague, Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Historic Preservation, Monument Care, Architectural Conservation LIBUŠE’S DREAM: HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN PRAGUE, THE CZECH REPUBLIC by RAMONA MURPHY BARTOS B.A., Emory University, 1997 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION ATHENS, GEORGIA 2002 © 2002 Ramona Murphy Bartos All Rights Reserved LIBUŠE’S DREAM: HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN PRAGUE, THE CZECH REPUBLIC by RAMONA MURPHY BARTOS Approved: Major Professor: John C. Waters Committee: Mark E. Reinberger Melvin B. Hill, Jr. Thomas J. Pavlak Electronic Version Approved: Gordhan L. Patel Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia May 2002 DEDICATION To my husband Omar Bartos—how could I have ever done this without you—and to the memory of Josef Nádvorník, Master Builder. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Please allow me the opportunity to thank those who have been provided support to my study as well as guidance and friendship. My heartfelt thanks to the members of my committee— Professor John C. Waters, Major Professor; Dr. Mark Reinberger; Mr. Melvin B. Hill, Jr., Esq.; and Dr. Thomas J. Pavlak—each of you has given me much encouragement and valuable advice. Dean Jack Crowley provided much needed financial support for my research trip to Prague during the summer of 2000. Mr. Václav Váňa of the State Institute of Historic Preservation (Státní ústav památkové péče) in Prague has been my steadfast contact and friend at the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. Miss Kateřina Pechová and Mr. Martin Zídek of the Legislative and Legal Section of the Historic Preservation Division of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic kindly submitted to my requests for interviews in June 2000. Dr. Kateřina Bečková, Secretary of the Club for Old Prague (Klub za Starou Prahu), enthusiastically corresponded with me concerning the activities of her organization. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Lobkowicz made time in their busy schedule to discuss with me the saga of their family’s retribution struggle and success, and Mrs. Lobkowicz sent much useful information. The staff of the Interlibrary Loan Office at the Main Library of the University of Georgia always managed to find the obscure books and materials I needed with speed and professionalism. My cousins-in-law Jindra Nahodílová and Jaroslav Nahodíl in Brno, Czech Republic generously gave of their time and mileage to show me some of the treasures of southern Moravia, provided me with wonderful source material, and helped to plant the seed that grew into this thesis. Hana Frauenterková and Zbyněk Fraunterka and their family offered their home and their friendship to me and my husband in Prague. v vi At birth, I received two parents—Pat and Barbara Murphy—and at marriage, two more— Zdenek and Daniela Bartos. Thank you for all of your love, encouragement, and patience with me and this project. Finally, my deepest gratitude to my best friend, my beloved husband Omar Bartos, who has stood by my side these long four years in Athens and proved over and over again how much he really loves me. Děkuji, můj drahý manžele. Ty jsi můj celý život, a já Tebe miluji. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................... x A FEW WORDS ABOUT CZECH VOCABULARY AND PRONUNCIATION.......................xii CHAPTER 1 HISTORY OF THE CITYSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE OF PRAGUE................................................................................................................ 1 Prague from its Origins to the Middle Ages .......................................................... 1 Prague from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age............................................... 18 2 HISTORY OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN PRAGUE PRIOR TO THE VELVET REVOLUTION OF 1989........................................................................... 65 Historic Preservation under the Austro-Hungarian Empire................................. 66 The First Republic (1918-1938), the Protectorate (1939-1945), and Post-1945 Developments............................................................................................. 79 The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1948-1989)............................................. 85 3 HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN PRAGUE SINCE 1989..................................... 120 Prague’s Status in 1990 and the Legacy of Communism .................................. 120 Private property, restitution, and what they have wrought ................................ 126 Tourism and Development................................................................................. 134 Historic Preservation and Public Administration .............................................. 140 The Nonprofit Sector, Money, and Historic Preservation after 1989 ................ 145 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 154 4 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN PRAGUE IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: RECLAIMING THE CZECH PATRIMONY ...... 155 viii ix Private Property and Restitution ........................................................................ 155 Funding for Historic Preservation...................................................................... 156 Public Participation and Historic Preservation .................................................. 158 Planning, Development, and Historic Preservation ........................................... 161 Looking to the Future ........................................................................................ 165 WORKS CITED .......................................................................................................................... 166 APPENDIX.................................................................................................................................. 178 NATIONAL CULTURAL MONUMENTS IN PRAGUE LIST OF TABLES 1. Protected lands subject to official historic preservation review in the City of Prague as of August 2001 .......................................................................................................................... 133 ix LIST OF FIGURES 1. “Libuše Prophesizes the Glory of Prague” ................................................................................2 2. Topographical map of Prague....................................................................................................4 3. Archaeological Sites of Ancient and Medieval Prague..............................................................5 3.1 1971 Historic Reservation..........................................................................................................6 4. Prague Castle, or Hradčany complex.........................................................................................8 5. Prague and the Judith Bridge ...................................................................................................10 6. Staré Město (Old Town) and its medieval fortifications..........................................................11 7. St. Gall Town...........................................................................................................................12 8. Vyšehrad in the 11th century ...................................................................................................13 9. 18th-century engraving by I.G. Ringle, showing Vyšehrad and the Vltava ............................14 10. Vyšehrad in the reign of Charles IV ........................................................................................14 11. Plan of the New Town (Nové Město) circa late fourteenth century showing its landmark markets, churches, and gates....................................................................................................16 12. 1493 panorama of Prague ........................................................................................................18 13. Wenceslaus Square circa 1830.................................................................................................20 14.