Once a grand estate. That’s what the Klikovka was. Now only its sýpka or granary remains standing in Prague’s Smíchov district.
The story of Klikovka begins in 1643. Johann Christof Alsterle commissioned its construction. Emperor Ferdinand II elevated Alsterle. He came from a Českobudějovice family. They were the Alsterle z Astfeldu. In 1689, his nephew inherited the property. His name was Maxmilián Wenzl Alsterle z Astfeldu.
Fast forward to 1758. A miller named Václav Klyka bought the estate. The area is named after him to this day. Klikovka consisted of two buildings. They formed an L shape with an open courtyard. Across today’s Podbělohorská street stood another rectangular building.
By the late 19th century, the Renner family owned Klikovka. This medical family also possessed Skalka, Zámečnice, and the now-gone Klimentka. After World War II, the City of Prague acquired it. They established the State Farm of Prague here.
Until the early 1970s, the estate straddled both sides of Podbělohorská road. It boasted a large garden. Before demolition, a two-winged residential building stood. It dated back to the late 18th century. It had a classicist facade and a dormer above the entrance. A brick stable, pigsty, and barn were also present. The barn was already three-quarters demolished then. Nearby, a shed and old well existed. The well disappeared. The shed was removed. The building contained two residential units.
The demolition in 1971 erased most of Klikovka’s history. Yet, the Baroque granary survived. It stands as a solitary reminder of the past. This one-story brick building is vaulted. It has retained its original form. It was residential by the 19th century. Since 1964, it has been protected as a historical monument.
Today, you will find the street named “U Klikovky.” You will also find another street named “Pod Klikovkou.” These streets are near the former Smíchov estate. Another Klikovka existed in Prague. Nothing remains of it today. It disappeared after 1910. A similarly named street “Na Klikovce” exists. It has a bus stop and restaurant named Klikovka. This one is in Prague 4-Nusle on Pankrác. The two Klikovkas are about 7 km apart.
So, while much of the Alsterlischer Hof is gone, Klikovka’s legacy lives on. It lives on in its preserved granary and street names. It is a reminder of Smíchov’s rich agricultural past. It is a testament to the enduring power of history. Even when bricks and mortar fade away.