Prague does not exactly fall into pre-fabricated models of the
Socialist city that most Eastern European cities fall into. Because
Prague was not destroyed by bombing during the world wars, it was not left
with open space on which a socialist planning scheme could be implemented.
Therefore, a tourist today might feel confused as to what mark communism
has left on the physical layout of the city. Prague remains marked by incredibly
old architecture, back from hundreds of years ago. Block housing, socialist-style,
can be found in the surrounding areas and was built between the Prague Spring
and the Velvet Revolution (1968-89) when the Soviets undertook a plan to
build 150,000 flats in order to improve the deteriorating quality of life
and try to appease the residents enough to keep another Prague Spring from
occurring. Though Prague's architecture may not conform to that of other
socialist cities, its physical landforms do match up. The old town area,
green spaces, the river, the ring road and public squares are all features
of this model which Prague possesses.
Return to Prague's Physical Landscape