Moving between villas and Karlštejn: The discoverer of blood groups also lived in Černošice, and it's not named after black people.
The Berounka River is significant not only for the Czech landscape, but also because our ancestors settled on its banks from ancient times. It is the Berounka River that defines the character of the town of Černošice on the border of Prague and the Bohemian Karst. Besides the beautiful nature within reach of the capital, the town is also characterized by an exceptional concentration of historical and modern villas.
It's no coincidence that near Černošice there's a rock named Kazín after the legendary daughter of Prince Krok. Although these figures, along with the forefather Čech, Přemysl the Ploughman, or Princess Libuše, are likely entirely fictional characters recorded in history by the chronicler Cosmas, archaeological findings prove that the valley around the Berounka was one of the oldest settlements in Bohemia.
Black people? Definitely not...
The existence of Černošice also reaches deep into history. Originally, it consisted of three villages: Horní and Dolní Černošice, and the larger Mokropsy. Although the name Černošice might suggest it was a village of black people, it was most probably named after its founder Černěš. We do not know exactly when the village was established, and it is possible that its roots really go back to the earliest Czech history in the 10th century. On the other hand, Mokropsy is most likely named after wet dogs, which referred to the fishermen settled on the banks of the Berounka.
However, the river is not the only transportation artery of the municipality. Historically, there was an important route known as the Prague-Bechyně road. Additionally, the route from Prague Castle to Karlštejn passed through here. There is even a legend that the famous King Charles IV had his tree in the municipality, under which he rested on every journey.
There are numerous opportunities for active relaxation around Černošice. It is located on the border of the Český Kras Protected Landscape Area, and besides walks on the Babka hill in the immediate vicinity, which falls within the protected area, there are many other routes available. For this purpose, the city's representatives also wish to enhance the surroundings of Černošice.
"More connections. New pedestrian connections, especially along the tracks, next to the existing cycle path, and 'across' the area. A vision of a new 'long-distance cycle path' along the main road, so that the existing cycle path along the Berounka serves slower cyclists, and a cycle path bypass behind the settlement Na Vírku. More greenery and nature. New groves between fields and more greenery along the Berounka to enhance ecological stability and landscape permeability, a new avenue along the main road to Radotín. New biotopes along the Berounka, including the restoration of a backwater in the path of the former branch of the Berounka before the settlement Na Vírku."
In the pages of the Černošice information bulletin, city councilor Šimon Hradilek presented an architectural study of the Černošice area project between Černošice and Radotín.
Similar to other municipalities in close proximity to Prague, transportation, especially towards the capital city, plays a crucial role in their existence. For Černošice, this is doubly true. Thanks to its location on the double-track corridor to Prague and the operation of the suburban train system, known as Eska, locals can reach Smíchov from Černošice in about 15 minutes, which is a shorter journey than traveling from one metro line end to the other.
Villas at Every Turn
Since the history of the local railway line dates back to 1852, when the original single-track line to Plzeň was opened, the location of the town on a modern transportation artery has also left its mark on the face of Černošice. It became the first villa satellite of Prague even before World War I, and it was no different during the interwar period.
Here, we find a diverse array of villas from the First Republic era and older. A beautiful example of period functionalism is Hořejš's villa, designed by architect Miloš Hořejš for his father. The villa survived the times of communist nationalization, though the architecturally valuable park belonging to the villa did not and was turned into five building plots, which are now built upon. The building still belongs to the family of the original owners, who maintain it in its authentic form. This includes not only the outdoor pool, which is almost the only part that survived the garden's destruction, but also, for example, the tilt windows or the elevator.
Similar stories can be found behind dozens of villas in Černošice. The family of the world-famous discoverer of blood groups, Jan Janský, also had a villa here, and he died here. The wild era of the 1990s is then reminded by the luxurious villa of the controversial entrepreneur Radovan Krejčíř. Those who are fascinated by these stories can follow in their footsteps directly in the city, or even "move in" here one day, perhaps into a villa with a pool.
