Nábřeží Ludvíka Svobody
The embankment was named after Czechoslovak president Ludvík Svoboda, who was the head of our state from 1968 to 1975. Its original name, Petrské nábřeží, was derived from the district this street belonged to at the time. It is located not far from Petrské náměstí (Petrské Square).
A pleasant open space in Nové Město
The deluxe embankment, and particularly the top floors of the houses located there, offer a very beautiful views of the Vltava River and Letná on the opposite side. The place is also becoming a sports and entertainment centre. You can find the recently renovated Lannova park with a children’s playground and benches here. The residents of Nové Město have somewhere to go, to get away from the busy streets, such as nearby Revoluční Street.
In the morning on the pedestrian and cycle path you can meet sports enthusiasts setting out for regular training sessions on their bike or running, children play here and people sit on the benches in the afternoon. The fairly large volume of traffic is the only thing that may disturb the overall peaceful atmosphere. But you are in Prague, so you cannot expect a peaceful village.
History and important buildings
The embankment was established between 1910 and 1919 as part of the project for Prague flood protection. Although this is a fairly small part of Prague, it is the location of important Czech ministries. You can find the building housing the Ministry of Transport at the address: náměstí Ludvíka Svobody 12, and the seat of the Ministry of Agriculture is only a building farther along. The deluxe postal museum and the Novomlýnská water tower are also nearby. You can quickly reach Florence and náměstí Republiky from here.
A few words about Ludvík Svoboda
Ludvík Svoboda was a Czech politician and general who commanded the 1st Czechoslovak Armed Forces on the eastern front during the Second World War. Beaten 1945 and 1950 he was the Minister of National Defence and he was elected president in 1968. People trusted him and for many he was a hero. However he disappointed the Czech people when he acceded to the Moscow Protocol, stating that Czechoslovakia would reconcile with the Soviet Intervention.
He was elected president twice, but he was already suffering from medical issues before his second election – heart attack and strokes. His second term of office was prematurely terminated and Gustav Husák became president in his place.
