7. Alois Jirasek Square and Bridge (Jiráskovo náměstí a Jiráskův most)

Alois Jirasek Statue

The bronze statue is the work of the sculptor Karl Pokorny. It is located in a small park directly outsidethe house where the writer lived from 1903 – 1930. It was in this house that Alois finished his famous works such as FLVěk, Dark (well-known historical novels) , that we know from television and the list of required school reading for all of us. Even though many of us have his character closely associated with the communist era, himself a writer at the time, the communist idea was disapproved, and vice versa, he was an active leader in realism. In 1917, he was one of the first to sign the Manifesto of Czech writers, a significant statement in support of political efforts for the independence of Czechoslovakia.

Jiráskův Bridge /Jirasek bridge

Construction of another bridge over the Vltava River in the vicinity of the already existing Palacky bridge sought to solve the precarious transport situation of the city, due to the stormy development of Prague Smíchov. After long deliberations the route that was decided on was to follow Resslova street leading to the Smichov waterfront. The Smichov the construction of the bridge was unfortunately prevented by the Dientzenhoferův Baroque pavilion, which was dismantled and should have been restored at another site. This reconstruction, however, never happened because there has been no one willing to take on the risk of displacement and eventual destruction. The pavilion also used to be a botanical garden, so today the name under the bridge is called Dientzenhoferovy.

Jiráskův bridge is, counting down the river, the sixth bridge Prague. It was built between 1929 – 1932 by the architects Hofman and Francis Mencl. The bridge is made of reinforced concrete and its total length is 310 meters and a width of 21 meters. The bridge has six arches and five pillars. The surface of the exterior wall is made of artificial stone. The bridge is equipped with a concrete railing and lamposts. The undoubted attractions of the bridge is the fact that in two of its pillars were placed hollow tubes, which could, if necessary,destroy the bridge if charges were set in them. These tubes lasted until World War II, when German soldiers filled them in over concerns that the Czech Resistance would blow up the bridge.

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