Háje metro: A cosmic journey through time and space
The Prague metro turned 50 years old last year! To mark the occasion, we explore some of the most iconic stations on the Czech capital's metro network. In this episode, we go to Háje, the southern terminal station of line C. Our guide Martin Karlík from Prague City Tourism awaits us at the station, promising "a journey through time and space".
Our tour begins in front of a sculpture situated close by to Háje metro station. Could you explain who the two figures are and why their statues have been installed here?
“This sculpture is of two astronauts who undertook space missions together: on the left is Czechoslovak cosmonaut Vladimír Remek, and on his right, Soviet spaceman Aleksei Goubarev. This sculpture reminds us that when the station was built in 1978, two years before it opened, Vladimír Remek’s spaceflight marked an important moment in history - he was the first man from outside the United States or Soviet Union to enter into orbit. It was Remek’s honour - and in honour of all astronauts - that the station was named Kosmonautů (station of the Cosmonauts).”
Surrounding ‘spacey’ street names include Cosmos Street, Arkalyk Street (named after the Kazakh town that astronauts landed near returning to Earth), and Baikonur Street (referencing the Baikonur cosmodrome from which the spaceship carrying Remek was launched). Are there any more reminders of the space race in the area?
“Yes, there is also a mosaic in the metro vestibule depicting space exploration. It was a major part of public discourse at the time of construction, which certainly explains why it eventually decided to name the station Kosmonautů.
Regarding the two cosmonaut sculptures, I should note that there are two identical copies. One stood in a courtyard of a school in Kroměříž in the Zlín region), but it has since been removed from public display for political reasons. The other - and I’m not sure if it's still there - used to hang in the Military Air Academy in Košice, Slovakia.”
How do you reflect on Czechoslovakia's contribution to space exploration?
“Czechoslovakia was lucky enough to be selected to take part in the Soviet-run Interkosmos programme. East Germany and Poland were also in the running, but our Czechoslovak astronaut triumphed. Vladimír Remek’s background as a military pilot meant that he had some prior experience. Afraid to throw people off space exploration, most astronauts would avoid discussing the difficulties of the job. But, Remek did not shy away from revealing that space flight was indeed extremely physically demanding, and people liked him for his honesty. He was a man who preferred to speak frankly.”
“The Czechoslovaks developed a series of satellites named Magion, as well as taking part in the Vega program. I even recall that some children's television shows were named after these satellites. Today, the Czech Republic produces many nanosatellites, designed by the Czech Aerospace Research Centre. The country sends many satellites to space, which makes Czechia a major player in the field of space exploration.”
Let's leave the stars and return to Earth to delve underground… Let’s talk about the Háje metro station itself! The interior architecture of Háje reminds me of older metro stations in central Prague, would you agree?
“Well, this station is a little unusual. Similar to its cousin stations on the A line, Háje boasts a pattern of aluminium panels. I think the panels are relatively expensive, which perhaps explains why there are so few of them here. I’d call it an inexpensive nod to the historic central stations. Even so, the station was not cheap - it cost around 330 million Czechoslovak crowns to build.
What other architectural curiosities does Háje metro station hold?
“The station is interesting in that when you exit through the east vestibule, opposite to the Kosmonauty sculpture, you must ascend a flight of stairs before descending down another flight of stairs to reach the street. It’s a funny thing, caused by a difference in elevation.
Another peculiarity, is of course that the metro station holds a petrol station under its eastern vestibule. So, if you come here by car, you can fill up at a metro station!
Did you know?
Marking the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the Prague metro, the Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) transformed some of its trams into metro trains. On line 23, some of the iconic T3 trams abandoned their traditional red colour in favour of the white and grey hues of the Soviet ‘Metrovagonmash Ečs’ metro trains that operated in Prague when the network first opened in 1974.
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The Prague metro turned 50 years old in 2024! To mark the occasion, we trace its history and explore some of the most iconic stations on the Czech capital's metro network.
