Club for Old Prague

Klub Za starou Prahu (Club for Old Prague) is a Czech non-governmental association founded on 28 January 1900, devoted to the protection of monuments and heritage sites in Prague. It is headquartered at the entrance of Charles Bridge on the Malá Strana side. The club intervenes when buildings or real-estate projects threaten the architectural and historical context of Prague, drawing on the expertise of its members and external experts. It publishes a bulletin, Za Starou Prahu, twice a year and annually awards the Cena za novou stavbu v historickém prostředí (Prize for a New Building in a Historical Environment). Its board is composed mainly of art historians, architects, and urban planners. The club has survived major political upheavals, including World War II and the communist era, maintaining its independence. Since 1989, it has focused on heritage protection in the face of urban and promotional development projects. It remains active, engaging in public advocacy, educational programs, and open letters to politicians regarding heritage legislation.

Klub Za starou Prahu was founded on 28 January 1900, at a time when many plots in Prague's historic center were threatened by redevelopment driven by the city's sanitation clearance (pražská asanace) decreed by Joseph II in 1882. From 1910, the club published its own magazine. Its missions and actions inspired the creation of similar associations in other Czech cities. The club survived World War II and defended its independence during the communist period. Since 1989, it has focused primarily on monument protection ahead of urban and promotional projects. In 2002, a book titled 'Klub Za starou Prahu, cent et 2 ans' by Kateřina Bečková and Richard Biegel was published, translated into French by Barbora Lištíková. The club continues to be active in heritage advocacy, education, and publishing.

• 2002

  Publication of the book 'Klub Za starou Prahu, cent et 2 ans' by Kateřina Bečková and Richard Biegel.

• 1910

  Began publishing its own magazine.

• 1900

  Founded on 28 January in Prague.

Independent heritage protection association advocating for Prague's architectural and historical preservation.

1. 1Klub Za starou Prahu official websitezastarouprahu.cz
2. 2Wikidata entry for Klub Za starou Prahuwikidata.org
3. 3French Wikipedia article 'Club pour le vieux Prague'fr.wikipedia.org