Like a phantom whisper from the past, the name Šátalka lingers. Šátalka is a former settlement near Prague. Today, it’s part of Vestec. The name Šátalka evokes images of a time long gone. It calls to mind old roads and forgotten stories.
Šátalka sits along Vídeňská street. This road was once the imperial highway. It stretched from Prague to Budějovice. Even now, the name Šátalka extends to buildings in Jesenice. Here, the main road is called Budějovická. A side street even carries the name Šátalka.
The area of Šátalka isn’t officially defined anymore. Yet, its memory lives on. The bus stop “Vestec, Šátalka” keeps the name alive.
Once upon a time, the Na Šátalce Inn stood here. It was a well known coaching inn. From 1604 to 1631, it even served as a postal station. In 1565, the post office was originally in Jesenice. But Prague citizens owned Jesenice. They refused to rent a house to Prague’s postmaster. So around 1604, the post office moved to Vestec at Šátalka. It remained there until about 1631. Then, it moved back to Jesenice.
The Na Šátalce Inn stood for centuries. After 1953, it was converted into apartments. In 1983, the inn and its farm buildings were torn down. Now, a bus stop and car park occupy the site. This is for used cars.
The Budějovická road was paved with stone. The stone came from a nearby quarry. The quarry was near house number 111. Today, the quarry is filled in.
Near the crossroads, a small village pond existed. It was filled in during the 1980s. Until 1983, a 63 meter tall radio tower stood by the road. It pointed towards Hodkovice. There was also a forester’s lodge in Šátalka.
The Na Šátalce Inn witnessed many events. The last innkeeper was V. Polánecký. In 1983, the inn was demolished. Šátalka is crossed by a busy road. This road has connected important places for ages. It was paved with stones from a nearby quarry. Now this quarry is abandoned.
Not far from here stood the Na Šátalce Inn. It stood as a silent witness to history. Though gone, Šátalka remains a point to remember. Today we find a bus station and a car park for used cars where the inn once stood. It reminds us that even the most familiar places change over time. The past makes way for the present. However, we should never forget the past.