July 1971: Prague city centre is declared historic preservation district

Prague is known as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. To preserve its unique character for future generations, its historic city centre was designated the Prague Heritage Reservation 55 years ago, on July 21, 1971. It covers a vast area of 895 hectares, making it one of the largest protected urban centers in the world.

Regulation of the Government of the Czech Socialist Republic No. 66/1971 Coll., on the Historic Preservation District in the Capital City of Prague|Photo: Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The district in question includes the Old Town, Malá Strana (the Lesser Quarter), Hradčany, New Town, Vyšehrad and large sections of the Vltava River with its islands. It is a place where medieval streets, Romanesque cellars, Gothic churches, Baroque palaces and modern architecture all come together. And all of this in a single vibrant city that was neither destroyed by war nor rebuilt after widespread demolition.

Old Town of Prague|Photo: Radio Prague International

In 1992, Prague’s historic centre was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The reason was simple: the city has a unique skyline, exceptionally rich architecture and an urban structure that has been preserved in an unusually authentic form.

For visitors, downtown Prague is a romantic place steeped in history. For locals things are sometimes more complicated. About 45,000 people live in the historic district today, roughly half the number recorded in the 1980s. Many buildings have been converted into hotels or short-term accommodations, so everyday life is gradually disappearing from the area.

Photo: Karthik Sridharan, Flickr, CC0 1.0 DEED

Tourism is important for Prague, but it also brings problems: congested streets, noise, a lack of services for locals, and pressure for further construction. UNESCO has repeatedly warned of risks that could damage the historic skyline, such as high-rise buildings in Žižkov or Pankrác.

In recent years, Prague has been working to improve the situation. The city has adopted a management plan for the UNESCO site and has begun to more strictly regulate construction in the areas surrounding the centre. The goal is a simple yet challenging task: to preserve Prague’s beauty while maintaining everyday life, rather than turning it into an open-air museum for tourists.

Photo: Martin Vaniš, Radio Prague International