“Prosek,” whispers the wind. It carries tales of old Prague. Prosek is a district and cadastral area in the north of Prague in the Czech Republic. It is part of the Prague 9 administrative district.
Prosek borders Střížkov to the west. Letňany is to the north. Vysočany lies to the south. Libeň is to the southwest. Prague–Kbely Airport is to the east.
Prosek’s history began long ago. The name likely comes from the verb “prosekati”. It means “to cut through”. Saint Wenceslas’ legend speaks of a path cut through the woods. It was the path where Prince Wenceslas’ body was carried. The path went across the then-flooded Rokytka to Prague.
Imagine Prosek long ago. Forests and meadows once covered this area. Older residents remember impenetrable thickets. They recall muddy paths without sidewalks. These paths ran between unfinished panel buildings. Today, the Prosek housing estate is surprisingly pleasant. You can find kindergartens here. There are newly renovated playgrounds. Shopping centers are available.
Prosek is one of the oldest inhabited areas in Prague. Prosek started to develop rapidly at the end of the 19th century. Colonies arose for employees from Vysočany and Libeň factories. The construction of the Severní Město housing estate truly integrated Prosek into Prague. This happened in the second half of the 1960s.
In 2021, Prosek had a population of 16850. The total area of Prosek is 1.68 square kilometers. That’s a population density of 10000 per square kilometer.
The square in Old Prosek breathes a calm old-world atmosphere. Here you can find a baroque stone Pietà. There is also a replica of a vineyard column from the early 17th century.
The oldest architectural monument of Prague 9 is likely from the mid-11th century. It is the three-nave Romanesque basilica in Old Prosek. According to Hájek’s chronicle, Boleslav II founded it in 970. Saint Wenceslas appeared to him in a dream at this place. It was rebuilt around 1200. Gothic modifications occurred after 1470. The main nave was vaulted with a rib vault. A renaissance porch dates from 1572. The prismatic tower is from 1712.
The Church of Saint Wenceslas gained its current appearance in 1732. It got a baroque onion dome. The sacristy was added in 1770. Structural modifications damaged the tower’s stability. Therefore, a separate bell tower was built. Remains of Romanesque paintings have been preserved in the southern nave.
The main altar holds a painting of Saint Wenceslas by Ignác Raab from the mid-18th century. A tin font dates from 1622. Josef Stratter’s paintings adorn the presbytery. They depict motifs from the life of Saint Wenceslas.
The facade of the opposite baroque rectory is decorated with a sculpture of Saint John of Nepomuk. Jan Santini probably designed it around 1715. The original entrance to the adjacent romantic cemetery is decorated with a baroque portal from 1770.
Prosek also hides a mysterious underground. The entire area from Prosek to Hloubětín served for mining for many years. Under Prosek, sandstone was mined. The entire underground labyrinth was originally 5 to 7 kilometers long.
Legends speak of an underground corridor. It led to Stará Boleslav under a pilgrimage route. Only a few underground spaces have been preserved today.