Trolejbusový památník na Orionce

The Orionka Trolleybus Memorial is a small open-air site in Prague's Vinohrady district that preserves a physical fragment of the city's vanished trolleybus network — not a plaque describing a history, but actual overhead poles and roadway surface left from the system itself.

Where exactly is the memorial located?

The site sits on náměstí Na Orionce (the square has carried this name since 2014), between Benešovská and Korunní streets, right next to the former Vinohrady tram depot. This is a quiet residential corner of Prague 10, well outside the usual tourist route — the people who seek it out tend to be public-transport enthusiasts and local residents rather than casual sightseers.

How long did trolleybuses run in Prague?

Prague's trolleybus era began on 28 August 1936, with regular service starting the next day, 29 August, on a route running from the Střešovice depot through Bořislavka to Svatý Matěj — the city's first line of this kind. The network expanded over the following decades but eventually came to an end after 36 years: the last trolleybus left the Orionka loop at midnight on 15 October 1972, closing the chapter on this form of transport in Prague for good.

Why was there a loop at Orionka in the first place?

The loop itself dates to 1949, built as part of a new trolleybus route running from Karlovo náměstí via Žitná street and náměstí Míru to Orionka and a nearby health institute — the line operated under the number 54. Beyond carrying passengers, the loop also served a support role for the adjacent Vinohrady tram depot, handling vehicle manoeuvres. In 1955 a new, more modern trolleybus depot opened elsewhere and the old Vinohrady depot was shut down; from that point the Orionka loop's importance declined, though it kept being used for manoeuvring until trolleybus operations in Prague ended altogether in 1972. After that, the site spent years functioning as an ordinary, unremarkable parking area.

When and how did the memorial come about?

The turning point came in 2007, when preparatory works on the former loop site uncovered the original road surface, still intact after decades. That discovery triggered a revitalization of the area, which culminated in the memorial's official opening on 8 October 2010, held as part of the city's Prague Days (Dny Prahy) celebrations.

What is actually on display here?

The memorial is compact but tangible. The original historic paving and curbs have been preserved in place — the most authentic element of the whole site. Above them stand four metal poles supporting a reconstructed section of overhead trolleybus wire, roughly 20 metres long across two spans. Among these poles is one standard post-war pole, originally used for the tram network and later adapted for trolleybus wiring, alongside three restored poles dating from 1939. Those three originally stood on Peroutkova street, where they had been in service between 1939 and 1969, before being relocated to Orionka as part of the memorial. A commemorative plaque and a stop marker bearing the number of the last line to run here complete the display.

Frequently asked questions

How many years did trolleybuses operate in Prague? From 28 August 1936 until 15 October 1972 — a total of 36 years.

When was the Orionka memorial unveiled? On 8 October 2010, as part of the Prague Days (Dny Prahy) festivities.

Is the road surface at the site original? Yes — the original paving and curbs from the loop's operating years survived underground and were uncovered during preparatory works in 2007.

Where do the overhead poles at the memorial come from? Three are restored 1939 poles relocated from Peroutkova street, where they stood until 1969; the fourth is a standard post-war pole that had also carried trolleybus wiring.

Is it worth a special visit? This is a niche site aimed at public-transport history enthusiasts rather than a mainstream sightseeing stop — but for anyone interested, it offers a rare chance to see genuine physical remnants of Prague's trolleybus network gathered in one spot.