Černý Most () is a large

panel Panel may refer to: Arts and media Visual arts * Panel (comics), a single image in a comic book, comic strip or cartoon; also, a comic strip containing one such image *Panel painting, in art, either one element of a multi-element piece of art ...

housing estate A housing estate (or sometimes housing complex or housing development) is a group of homes and other buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Popular throughout the United States ...

in the north-east of

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and List of cities in the Czech Republic, largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 milli ...

, belonging to

Prague 14 Prague 14 is a municipal district in Prague since 1994. It is located in the north-eastern part of the city, east of district Prague 9. It consists of four cadastres: Hloubětín (part), Kyje, Černý Most and Hostavice. The administrative dist ...

. At the end of 2013 it was home to 22,355 residents. As well as residential complexes, the area has a large retail park with the same name.

History

The area, whose name means "black bridge" in English, was named after a stone bridge over the nearby railway line from Prague to Čelákovice, which was blackened by smoke from passing steam locomotives. The area was newly formed from parts of the former suburbs of Hloubětín,

Kyje Kyje (german: Keeg) is a cadastral district of Prague, Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, German ...

and Horní Počernice in 1987. It became a part of Prague on January 1, 1988. The housing estate was built during the late 1970s and the 1980s in several stages. The first section, ''sídliště Černý Most I'', was completed in 1980 and comprised 1,780 flats. The second section, ''sídliště Černý Most II'', was started in 1985 under the

Czechoslovak Socialist Republic The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, ČSSR, formerly known from 1948 to 1960 as the Czechoslovak Republic or Fourth Czechoslovak Republic, was the official name of Czechoslovakia from 1960 to 29 March 1990, when it was renamed the Czechoslovak ...

, but not completed until 1992 after the

Velvet Revolution The Velvet Revolution ( cs, Sametová revoluce) or Gentle Revolution ( sk, Nežná revolúcia) was a non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia, occurring from 17 November to 28 November 1989. Popular demonstrations agains ...

had ended Communist rule. The streets were originally to be named after Communist officials, mostly from the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

. Instead they were named after Czechoslovak airmen who fought in the French Air Force and Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. They include: Vašátkova str, Prague Černý Most

* "Generála Janouška" – after Air Marshal Karel Janoušek, * "Bryksova" – after Flight Lieutenant

Josef Bryks Josef Bryks, MBE, (; 18 March 1916– 11 August 1957) was a Czechoslovak cavalryman, fighter pilot, prisoner of war and political prisoner. In 1940 he escaped the German occupation of Czechoslovakia and joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer ...

, * "Dygrýnova" – after Flight Sergeant Josef Dygrýn, * "Františkova" – after Flight Sergeant

Josef František Josef František, (7 October 1914 – 8 October 1940) was a First Czechoslovak Republic, Czechoslovak Fighter aircraft, fighter pilot and Second World War Flying ace, fighter ace who flew for the air forces of Czechoslovak Air Force, Czechoslova ...

, * "Himrova" – after Staff Captain Jaroslav Himr, * "Kuttelwascherova" – after Squadron Leader Karel Kuttelwascher, * "Mansfeldova" – after Squadron Leader Miloslav Mansfeld, * "Smikova" – after Squadron Leader

Otto Smik Otto Smik DFC (20 January 1922 – 28 November 1944) was a Czechoslovak pilot who became a fighter ace in the Royal Air Force. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in July 1940 and was in training until the end of 1942. Between Ma ...

, * "Arnošta Valenty" – after Flying Officer Arnošt Valenta, * "Vašátková" – after Wing Commander Alois Vašátko.

Today

The estate is served by the last two Prague Metro stations on Line B, Rajská zahrada and

Černý Most Černý Most () is a large panel housing estate in the north-east of Prague, belonging to Prague 14. At the end of 2013 it was home to 22,355 residents. As well as residential complexes, the area has a large retail park with the same name. Hist ...

, the latter of which is adjacent to a large intercity bus station. There are two smaller

Park and ride A park and ride, also known as incentive parking or a commuter lot, is a parking lot with public transport connections that allows commuters and other people heading to city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system ( ...

facilities near both metro stations. The area is also home to a shopping centre, Centrum Černý Most.

History

Today

In popular culture

References

External links