Did Sonntag truly foresee Santoška’s future as a haven for children’s laughter? Santoška, once a sprawling vineyard estate in southwest Smíchov, now echoes with the joyful sounds of a kindergarten. The estate’s name, a charming evolution from its original moniker, “Sontoška,” after its owner Franz Wilhelm Sonntag, hints at a rich past. Gifted this estate in 1719 by Prince Adam Franz of Schwarzenberg, Sonntag transformed Santoška into a Baroque masterpiece. The gardens, adorned with sculptures like the graceful Flora and playful putti guarding the entrance gate, are a testament to his vision. The surviving villa, however, showcases a later transformation. In 1868, it was rebuilt in a striking neo-Gothic style, thanks to the then-owner, Knight Eduard Doubek Jr. He also expanded the gardens by acquiring neighboring estates. In 1907, Santoška entered public life. The Smíchov council purchased the estate with a grand vision: to create a beautiful public park. Just a few years later, a grand restaurant with a music pavilion opened its doors. The advent of a tram line in 1913, ending conveniently at the foot of the park, cemented Santoška’s popularity. However, despite decades of operation, the restaurant’s financial woes led to its closure in the late 1930s. A new chapter began with its conversion into a home for young men, a first for Prague. Post World War II, Santoška embraced its current role as a kindergarten, nurturing generations of young minds since the 1950s. Now a combined institution with the elementary school next door, Santoška continues to be a vibrant hub, its history woven into the fabric of Smíchov.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to