From castles to concrete: The expanding story of Prague

Unlike most episodes of Prague Off the Beaten Track, this one doesn’t take you to just one place. Instead, it takes a step back to look at the bigger picture—because before we head out to places like Libeň, Karlín, or Jižní Město, it helps to understand how Prague became what it is today.

Charles Square and New Town Hall|Photo: Kristýna Maková, Radio Prague International

The city we know wasn’t built all at once. It grew in layers—medieval and baroque quarters, industrial towns, socialist housing estates. Each wave of growth left its mark. And it’s often in these outer, less touristy districts where you find the most interesting cultural, social, and historical stories. The layout of the city, its strange mix of architecture and the names on tram stops, all tell a deeper story that starts long before today’s Prague.

The first major turning point came in 1784, when Emperor Joseph II unified four previously independent towns—Old Town, New Town, Lesser Town, and Hradčany—into a single administrative unit. This wasn’t just bureaucratic tidying. It was the first step toward Prague becoming a modern European capital.

Old Town of Prague|Photo: Radio Prague International

Then came industrialization, and with it, slow but steady expansion. Districts like Holešovice, Libeň, and Vyšehrad were absorbed into the city. But it was after the creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918 that Prague exploded in size. A law passed in 1920 paved the way for the formation of Greater Prague in 1922, merging in 37 surrounding towns and villages—among them Karlín, Žižkov, Vinohrady, and Smíchov. Overnight, Prague’s population tripled and its area grew more than eightfold.

Zbraslav Castle|Photo: Hana Slavická, Radio Prague International

The post-war Communist government took this even further. In 1968 and 1974, Prague annexed over fifty more municipalities. The city's borders stretched far into the countryside, swallowing up small villages like Stodůlky, Chodov, and Zbraslav. These weren’t just land grabs—they laid the groundwork for massive new housing estates to rise on the city’s edges.

Stodůlky|Photo: Miloš Turek, Radio Prague International

Built from prefabricated concrete panels, these paneláky gave rise to vast residential zones like Jižní Město, Černý Most, and Kobylisy. They were meant to be self-sufficient “cities within the city,” complete with metro stations, schools, and health clinics. Depending on your perspective, they’re either monuments to modernist planning—or concrete jungles. But either way, they’re home to almost half the city’s population today.

Jižní Město housing estate|Photo: Barbora Němcová, Radio Prague International

And if all the names and numbers seem confusing, that’s because they are. Prague’s administrative divisions are notoriously tangled: 112 cadastral areas, 57 city districts, 22 administrative zones. But most people ignore the paperwork and stick to traditional neighborhood names like Žižkov, Dejvice, or Vinohrady. It’s all part of the city’s layered, living identity.

Understanding how Prague grew helps us understand why some of its most culturally rich, socially dynamic, and historically significant places are found far from the center. These districts—once villages or industrial zones—have their own unique character. And in Prague Off the Beaten Track, we’ll be exploring them one by one.

View of Prague from the Chotek orchards (Chotkovy sady) near Prague Castle (around 1900)|Photo: e-Sbírky, National Museum, CC BY 4.0 DEED

How Prague grew over time

• 1784 – The Great Merger: Emperor Joseph II combines four historic towns: Old Town, New Town, Lesser Town, and Hradčany into the “Royal Capital City of Prague.”
• 1922 – Greater Prague: thirty-seven municipalities are added, tripling the population and expanding Prague’s area more than eightfold.
• 1968 & 1974 – Communist-Era Expansion: two major waves of annexation add over 50 more municipalities to Prague. The city’s area grows to nearly 500 km².
• Paneláky and population: In response to postwar housing shortages, massive prefabricated housing estates are built. Today, about 43–44 % of Prague’s population lives in these buildings.
• A maze of divisions: Prague is divided into 112 cadastral areas, 57 city districts, and 22 administrative zones—but most people use traditional neighborhood names like Žižkov or Dejvice.