Újezd nad Lesy

On a crisp autumn day in 1783, ten German families arrived at Újezd nad Lesy. The area had been desolate for 140 years. The village of Újezd had been destroyed in 1645 during the Thirty Years’ War. Now, under the patronage of Alois I. Josef of Liechtenstein, these families began to rebuild. Újezd nad Lesy slowly came back to life. Újezd nad Lesy had been mentioned as early as 1309 as the village of Oujezd. Over the centuries, Újezd nad Lesy changed hands many times. It was owned by Vítek of Švábenice, Martin Rotlev, and eventually, Karel I. of Liechtenstein. The church of St. Bartholomew, which once stood in Újezd nad Lesy, was demolished in 1806. The materials were used to build the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Koloděje. A painting of St. Bartholomew and three bells, including one from 1486, were also moved to Koloděje. The bell from 1486 can still be found in the Koloděje church today. The late 19th century brought new life to Újezd nad Lesy with the arrival of the railway from Prague in 1883. The nearby station, originally called Jirna, contributed to growth and development. By 1914, eighty houses stood in Újezd nad Lesy. Újezd nad Lesy officially became an independent municipality on August 14, 1921. That same year, Koloděje separated, but the settlement of Blatov, with its three ponds, joined Újezd nad Lesy. The 1920s and 1930s saw continued growth. New families built homes along the main road from Prague to Kolín. Infrastructure improved with the construction of sewers, sidewalks, a swimming pool, and a fire station. By 1938, Újezd nad Lesy also boasted a Masaryk school, a community center, a library, a post office, and a children’s station. A vibrant social and cultural life emerged, including two theatre groups. A new cemetery was established on the road to Sibřina in 1940. In 1953, the village of Nová Sibřina became part of Újezd nad Lesy. Over the years, Újezd nad Lesy was assigned to various districts, including Žižkov, Říčany, Prague-North, and Prague-East. Újezd nad Lesy, along with Běchovice, Klánovice, and Koloděje, became part of Prague on July 1, 1974, joining the Prague 9 district. The construction of apartment buildings in the 1980s further increased the population. Újezd nad Lesy’s role within Prague continued to grow following administrative changes to the city in 1990, 1994, and 2001. On July 1, 2001, the independent administrative district of Prague 21 was created. It took over state administration responsibilities for Klánovice, Běchovice, and Koloděje. In 2002, Praha-Újezd nad Lesy was officially renamed Prague 21. Today, like many of Prague’s outlying districts, Prague 21 continues to experience significant residential development.