The demolition of the Těšnov train station sparked a storm of discontent 30 years ago

Prague - The demolition of the railway station at Těšnov in Prague has become a sort of lament and symbol of the insensitive approach of the authorities towards monuments. The Neo-Renaissance building, which was among the most beautiful stations in Central Europe, permanently disappeared in clouds of dust 30 years ago, on March 16, 1985. Along with 400 kilograms of explosives, it was also due to a political decision, despite protests from both experts and the public. The place where Těšnov station once stood is now crossed by the north-south main road.
    In the memory of many Prague residents, the building that rose on the border of New Town and Karlin between 1872 and 1875 is well known by the affectionate name "Deniska". The birth of the station was the work of the Austrian Northwest Railway (ÖNWB) - a company that began building a new long-distance connection from Vienna to Berlin in the early 1870s. However, the new line missed Prague by about 30 kilometers to the north. To somewhat alleviate local discontent over the omission of the capital, ÖNWB decided to build a branch line into the city.
    When the station was ceremoniously put into operation on October 15, 1875, it was clear that the railway company had not skimped on its final appearance. ÖNWB commissioned the project from its court architect, Karel Schlimp, a native of Velenice near Žatec. Schlimp was no ordinary figure in the world of architecture - at the time of the construction of the Prague station, he was a professor at the Technical University in Vienna. He realized his ideas in a truly grand manner, designing a complex of buildings that was far more than often mediocre railway architecture.
    Schlimp gave the building a Neo-Renaissance character. He left the side wings without external decorations, but he adorned the central building much more lavishly: a monumentally imposing Roman triumphal arch with Corinthian columns, crowned by an allegorical sculpture of Austria - the protector of agriculture and industry. The spacious departure hall was decorated with the coats of arms of the cities through which the railway passed. The side extensions were meant for the operational needs of the railway, part of which Schlimp also included representative spaces, salons, waiting rooms, and a restaurant.
    For more than 40 years, the station bore its original name Northwest, after the company that built it. After 1919, it was named after the then-still-living Ernest Denis, a French historian and Slavophile. However, his name was unacceptable to the Nazis, who in 1940 assigned a new name: Moldau Bahnhof or Vltavské nádraží. The post-war period briefly returned to Denis, but the 1950s were not favorable to such traditions, and the station was called Těšnov. However, it did not hold this name for long, as the onset of the 1960s began to obstruct the then urban planners.
    The last day when the station still belonged to trains and passengers was July 1, 1972. After that, the building was closed and fell into decline. The northern wing was demolished, and there was a long search for a use for the remnants of Schlimp's neo-Renaissance. There were plans for a storage building for the Museum of the Capital City. It was also considered that the object, which was entered into the State Register of Cultural Monuments in 1978, should become a university cafeteria or shopping center. However, none of the variants were realized. The idea of an expressway running through the city was stronger.
    The fate of Těšnov was sealed when, on March 15, 1985, newspapers reported a brief announcement that "on Saturday, March 16 at eight o'clock, the building of the former Těšnov station in Prague will be destroyed by blasting. To ensure operational safety, a closure in Prague 1 and Prague 8 was authorized. Transportation will be suspended for about 10 to 20 minutes...". Such was the official obituary of building number 562 in Prague 8 - Karlin.