Vršovický skanzen

Vršovický skanzen is a small cluster of three historic cottages in Prague, tucked into the Botič stream valley on the site of the former village of Vršovice, now part of Prague 10. It is one of the last visible traces of the rural settlements that once surrounded the city before urban development absorbed them.

How to get there?

The cottages stand on the short street Pod stupni, right in the heart of old Vršovice, close to the city centre. The area is well served by trams, with the nearest stops just a few minutes' walk away, and the ride from central Prague takes only about fifteen minutes. It's worth pairing the visit with a walk along the Botič valley, which still has a green, almost rural feel here, standing in sharp contrast to the dense housing of the surrounding neighbourhoods.

What will you see?

The group consists of three buildings numbered 144/6, 11/8 and 59/10, remnants of what was once the centre of the Vršovice village. Their current form dates back to the early 19th century and the Classicist period, although farm buildings had stood in this part of the Botič valley for a good while before that.

House number 6 is a former farmstead with a facade later remodelled in a neo-Gothic style, giving it a more decorative look than its neighbours. Number 8 is a cottage with a gabled roof covered in wooden shingles, a roofing material rarely seen today. The third building, number 10, is a modest, single-storey house, smaller than the other two but equally important to the overall ensemble.

All three buildings are individually listed as cultural monuments: house no. 144 since 23 November 1990, house no. 11 since 26 March 1991, and house no. 59 since 6 April 1992. The whole group also lies within Prague's heritage conservation zone covering Vinohrady, Žižkov and Vršovice, established on 28 September 1993.

Can you go inside?

This is important to know before visiting: the cottages were restored and fenced off in 1994, and have not been open to the public since. You can view them only from the outside — as a stop along a walk through the old lanes of Vršovice rather than as a museum with an indoor exhibition. Even so, the architecture and atmosphere of the spot are worth the detour, especially set against the green backdrop of the Botič valley.

When to visit?

Since the skanzen is a site you view from the street, spring and summer are the best times — the valley is at its greenest and the longer days make for a pleasant walk around the area. Autumn offers a quieter, more intimate atmosphere, good for visitors who prefer to avoid crowds. It's a good idea to combine a visit here with exploring the rest of Vršovice and neighbouring Vinohrady, stringing together several historic spots on one route.

Frequently asked questions

What is Vršovický skanzen? It's a group of three historic rural cottages on Pod stupni street in Prague, the last remaining trace of the old centre of the village of Vršovice before it was absorbed into the city.

Can you go inside the cottages? No — the buildings were fenced off in 1994 and are not open to visitors on the inside. They can only be viewed from the outside.

How old are the buildings? Their present form dates from the early 19th century and the Classicist period, though farm buildings had already stood on the site earlier.

Is the site legally protected? Yes, all three houses are individually listed as cultural monuments (since 1990, 1991 and 1992 respectively), and the whole area lies within a Prague heritage conservation zone established in 1993.