A New Exhibition on Prague’s Funicular Railways (Portal of Prague)

A new permanent exhibition on Prague’s funicular railways can be seen free of charge in the upper station on Petřín hill. Among other things it marks the 120th anniversary of the start of the funicular railways at Petřín and Letná.

The exhibition documents the history of the Petřín funicular, which began operation 120 years ago, but lasted only until the First World War. It was put back into service in the 1930s. In the 1960s structural problems due to subsidence necessitated extensive reconstruction. The current model has been in operation since 1985.

Unknown documentaries

The exhibition also features previously unpublicised documentaries, which are on loan to Prague Public Transport Company (PPTC) from the National Archive. The exhibits are also supplemented by documentaries from the rich archive of PPTC.

Memories of Letná

A significant feature is a reminder of the funicular on Letná which formed part of Prague residents’ journey to the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891. The terminus of the funicular, leading approximately from what is now the Letná tunnel to Letná Chateau, was just a few steps from the first stop of Prague’s electric tramway, which ran along Ovenecká street as far as Stromovka. The Letná funicular was taken out of service in 1916 and was replaced with the first form of escalator in Prague.