Malá Strana

Malá Strana, or Lesser Quarter/Side in English, is the historically German piece of Prague situated on the left bank of the Vltava River, or Moldau River in English. Founded in 1257, the neighborhood grew rapidly after the building of the Charles Bridge connecting Malá Strana and Staré Město, which allowed for quick and easy travel to the city center. Housing dates mostly from the 17th and 18th centuries, and is in the baroque style. Almost all buildings are medium density and mixed use walk-up apartment buildings. The neighborhood is mostly built on a hill which slopes down toward the commercial district at Malostranské Náměstí and Karlův Most. In the center of Malostranské Náměstí lies an impressive baroque church, Kostel Svatého Mikuláše. One thing which is a real problem in the neighborhood is the displacement of many locals due to rising rent prices as tourists move into the neighborhood. This needs to be fixed by instituting rent control for residents that still reside in the neighborhood, and have so since before 1990. One nice thing is the many various designs and colors on all the buildings, and the pleasant parks in the area, which range from forests to formal gardens. Businesses, however, are not very diverse, with few options to buy basic essentials and fresh produce, but lots of gift shops and restaurants. Many of the Czech government buildings, such as the senate building, are in Malá Strana as well. The neighborhood is not very bike friendly, but is quite transit friendly, with the 5, 6, 9, 12, 18, 20, and 22 trams all running through Malá Strana, the 192 bus running entirely in Malá Strana, and line A of the Praha Metro stopping at Malostranská. Biking in the area remains a challenge, however. To fix this, I would create designated "bike corridors"along less busy, narrow roads unsuitable for cars anyway.