On the corner of Mikulandská and Národní, the research has concluded and construction is beginning

Prague - On the corner plot on National Avenue, in the last gap in the center of Prague's historic reserve, archaeologists have completed rescue excavations and construction is about to begin. In addition to the previously mentioned older, early medieval discoveries, the recently completed work also revealed finds from the high medieval period. On one of the most expensive plots in the center of Prague, the investor initially planned to build a hotel. However, plans have changed and they now want to construct a multifunctional building on the site.
    Following earlier finds that confirmed permanent settlement from the 11th and 12th centuries and provided numerous fragments of pottery, animal bones, and coins, the archaeologists discovered, for example, a late medieval sword. "Although finds of military artifacts in an urban environment are not completely unusual, this discovery should be considered exceptional," said Tomasz Cymbalak, the head of the research from the National Heritage Institute.
    The sword was retrieved from a pit, where it was found along with an iron hoe, but the cause for the deposition of the objects cannot currently be determined more closely, according to the archaeologists. Other unique finds include several dozen fragments of small late medieval ceramic figurines with religious themes (figures of the Christ Child or the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus). Among other finds of this type from Czech territory, this collection from New Town is considered one of the most numerous by archaeologists.
    The area of the excavation at the intersection of Mikulandská and National Street encompassed at least eight medieval plots. This corresponded to the large volume of uncovered contexts and recovered artifacts. Archaeologists found Gothic cellars, and due to the extensive area they covered, they could also observe the transformations of the original medieval parceling. During the six months of work, they also examined the middle and rear parts of the original plots. These included a large number of sunken structures of various functions, settlement layers, paved paths, kilns, forges, hearths, cesspools, and wells. All these contexts and finds attest to the diverse everyday life of the local inhabitants.
    The city sold the gap site at the corner of National and Mikulandská streets in the center of Prague in 2005 for what is presumably a record price of 234,700 crowns per m², totaling nearly 184 million crowns. The hotel, which was to be built according to a project by the studio Znamení čtyř from 2008, received approval from Prague's heritage protectors. However, it was criticized by the Club for Old Prague, which argued that the construction would require a "brutal intervention" in the neighboring Schönkirch house.
    The plot was purchased from the city by the Dittrich company, which, however, did not find an investor for the construction. The Baroque palace, along with the gap used as a parking lot, was mortgaged in favor of PPF Bank, and two years ago it went up for auction with a starting price of 227.5 million crowns. A new investor, Petr Němec, former founder of the pharmaceutical company PharmaSwiss, has recently joined the project.
    The new investor has reassessed the plan to build a hotel and wants to construct a multifunctional building with commercial spaces, offices, apartments, and parking, said the spokeswoman for Prague 1, Veronika Blažková, to ČTK. "The construction of the foundation has started according to the original building permit. During the construction, the company should apply for a change of land use decision and building permit for the rest," she added, stating that the city hall welcomes the plan because, in their view, there are already enough hotels in the center of Prague.