In Prague's Vysočany, a car museum will be established by Cigler

Prague - A new automotive museum will be established in the former Pragovka factory in Prague's Vysočany, showcasing cars from the collection of Emil Příhoda. This was announced today by Mayor Adriana Krnáčová (ANO) at the celebrations marking the 110th anniversary of the Praga car factory. Příhoda is the founder of the Automuseum Praga in Zbuzany near Prague.

The museum in the former Hall No. 20 of the Pragovka complex is expected to become part of Prague's ArtDistrict Pragovka, where cultural and social events will be held. The collection will feature vehicles including trucks, passenger cars, vans, buses, tractors, ambulances, and military specials. Among them will be models used by the Czechoslovak government during the presidencies of T. G. Masaryk and Edvard Beneš, as well as various Czech celebrities, including actress Lída Baarová and the family of post-revolution President Václav Havel.

At today's event, Krnáčová also announced that another building in the complex will serve the National Gallery as a museum of modern art. "Areas like Pragovka are key for the further development of the city, and I am very pleased that we have found common ground not only with Prague 9 but also with the owners of the former engineering works. Housing, a school, and an emphasis on culture will be created here. I believe we can transform Hall 19 into a Center for Contemporary Art because the city lacks such spaces, and that building is absolutely ideal for such purposes," said Krnáčová.

Among the exhibited cars at today's celebration was the Praga V Landaulet, which was primarily used as a taxi, and the Praga Piccolo, which was produced for nearly 20 years. From the utility vehicles, models such as Praga LN and the motor plow Praga X, of which only 200 units were made, were displayed. Visitors could also view the modern road car Praga R1R, based on racing specials.

Emil Příhoda's collection is the third largest collection of cars from a single brand in the world. It represents dozens of Praga vehicles from 1908 to 1985, including not only passenger cars, including presidential ones, but also trucks, buses, tractors, and plows.

The new Pragovka project aims to become a new center for Vysočany. The design is by the architectural studio Jakub Cigler Architekti.