“Did you know this square was once called the Square of the People’s Militia?” I ask my captivated audience. We stand in the heart of Prague’s Náměstí Organizace spojených národů or the United Nations Square. Its history is far richer and more complex than its current name suggests.
This seemingly ordinary square holds layers of history. In the mid-1950s it was completely reshaped. Previously occupied by residential and commercial buildings it became a park. This transformation erased much of the original Vysočany’s character. It’s a reminder that even seemingly permanent structures can be swept away.
Before its transformation the area had a long and interesting history. It included the Špitálský dvůr and the Vysočanská fortress. Even an 1896 extension of the Křižíkova electric railway added to its character. A Vysočanská dairy was established on the west side. There were ambitious plans to redevelop Vysočany in the First Republic. However only partial realization occurred with tenement buildings and a school complex appearing. Sadly both the fortress and the dairy were damaged during Allied bombing raids.
The square’s name changed in 1955 to Náměstí Lidových milicí the Square of the People’s Militia. This commemorated a march of People’s Militia members from Vysočany and Libeň to Prague in February 1948. This march initiated here. A monument to the People’s Militia was unveiled in 1973. It was removed after the Velvet Revolution. Its current whereabouts remain unknown.
Further changes came in the 1980s. Due to the renaming of Emanuel Klíma Street to Freyova Street houses in the west and southwest were demolished. Only one house from that era remains.
After the Velvet Revolution the square lost its name. For a time it existed anonymously. In 1995 it received its current name. The UN’s 50th anniversary influenced this decision. The square has only one address building 844/1. This building once housed Komerční banka. The 1998 opening of the Vysočanská metro station’s eastern entrance further reshaped the square. The addition of the Fenix shopping centre ten years later completed this transformation.
Today’s square is a crossroads. Sokolovská Jandova Pod Pekárnami Kolbenova and Freyova streets meet here. There’s also a tram loop and an air quality monitoring station. A bust of Ladislav Klíma who lived in what was once the Krása hotel from 1915 to 1927 adorns a building. Replicated bell towers and a well from the Vysočanská fortress stand in the park. A monument to Emil Kolben and other Vysočany residents who perished during Nazi occupation is also here.
Recent plans to replace part of the park with residential and office buildings have faced significant opposition. A petition with over 3500 signatures attests to the community’s desire to preserve this historical space. The United Nations Square stands as a testament to Prague’s ever-evolving urban landscape. Its history and present are intertwined and continue to shape this dynamic area.