Chateau, Cemetery and Hospital in one District, that is the Prague Quarter of Motol
Transformation of life
Life is a gift that we must appreciate and at some point also give up. Motol as such has its roots in the Middle Ages, when a village was established in this area. In 1922 it was adjoined to Great Prague as its suburb. It is located in the valley of the Motol stream in the western part of the city.
Where life is born, saved
The district of Motol in Prague 5 is dominated by two major structures. One of them is the Motol University Hospital, the largest medical centre in the Czech Republic. Its beginnings go back to the 1930s. That was when young architects, G. Paul and F. Čermák drew up the hospital plans. It gradually expanded by the addition of further pavilions. The general condition of the building remained unchanged until the beginning of the 21st century, when the facilities started to be unsatisfactory and complete refurbishment was initiated. This took place in 2006 and 2007.
The place where we say our goodbyes
The second monumental building is the crematorium in the meadow under a wooded hill. The quiet and pleasant place of relaxation and a dignified place for farewell to the loved ones. The winning project of the luxury architect Josef Karel Říha got the green light in 1951 and the construction was initiated. The urn grove was conceived in an untraditional manner as as forest cemetery around a luxurious pond. The place is dominated by grief, which is however very elegant.
Place to have a luxurious rest
In addition to the already mentioned buildings Motol boasts of a unique natural monument - Calvary in Motol. This is a split rock territory over the Plzeň street. One was turned into a forest park, the second is more of an outlying forest. For tourists this locality is attractive because it offers beautiful views of the surroundings and under the rock with a cross there is even a mill, but it is not easily accessible. There are no signposted tourist trails. Unfortunately the beauty of the local luxury château cannot be admired. The château is not open to public. It houses the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture and Prague Inspectorate of State Agriculture and Food Inspection.
