Monday, 21 July 2025
Prague’s historic Bubny railway station has officially entered a new chapter as the Railway Administration launched its reconstruction and transformation into the Center of Memory and Dialogue of Bubny (CPDB). The construction, which began on July 14, 2025, is scheduled for completion in March 2027.
The opening ceremony was marked by a symbolic foundation stone laying, attended by several dignitaries, including Minister of Culture Martin Baxa, Minister of Transport Martin Kupka, Israeli Ambassador Anna Azari, and CPDB Director Pavlína Šulcová. A prayer was led by Jewish cantor Rafael Rod to honor the site’s historical significance.
The redevelopment will both preserve original architectural elements of the station and introduce new features, creating a visual dialogue between the past and present. The redesigned site will house exhibition spaces, a multifunctional hall, a café, and revitalized public areas. The project, with a construction budget of nearly CZK 187 million (excluding VAT), is being delivered by Metrostav DIZ.
The CPDB aims to serve as an educational institution dedicated to Holocaust remembrance. Director Pavlína Šulcová emphasized that the project seeks to preserve and pass on the memory of victims and the broader historical context. Minister Baxa noted that the Holocaust followed years of rising hatred and democratic decay, underlining the importance of reflection and learning. Transport Minister Kupka added that the station’s location will become even more significant following the opening of a new railway terminal on August 1.
Designed by ARN Studio, led by Jiří and Michal Krejčík, the redevelopment was based on a winning architectural proposal originally commissioned by the Memorial of Silence, which has since evolved into CPDB under the Ministry of Culture. The Railway Administration oversees the design and construction aspects, while funding is provided by the Ministry of Culture.
The existing monument by sculptor Aleš Veselý, known as The Gate of Infinity, will remain at the site. It features a railway track rising skyward, symbolizing the deportations and suffering of Holocaust victims. Installed in 2015, the monument remains a powerful visual anchor for the site’s memory mission.
Train operations at Bubny ceased in late 2022 as part of the modernization of the rail line to Kladno. The station, first opened in 1868, has a building dating back to 1923, through which many were transported during the Holocaust.
Historically, the area also hosted extensive Austro-Hungarian railway infrastructure, including workshops and locomotive facilities. Much of it was demolished in recent decades, but a listed waterworks building remains. The city of Prague is reportedly considering acquiring adjacent land, currently owned by developer CPI.
A newly constructed and significantly larger Prague-Bubny railway station—located near the Negrelli Viaduct—is set to open on August 1, providing modern rail services while the original site takes on its new role as a place of remembrance.
Source: CTK
Photo: Wikimedia
