This year marks half a century since people in Prague were first able to ride the underground railway, i.e. the metro.

ine stations were initially put into operation on a 6.6 km long stretch. The number of stations was increased over time, and the metro became an indispensable organism for the operation of Prague. It created a new underground dimension to the metropolis which, in addition to its primary transport function, can also provide its inhabitants with safe shelter in an emergency.

Like other living organisms, the metro is constantly growing. It has responded to the needs of residents travelling from its densely populated parts, as well as developing areas previously more difficult to access, making them more lucrative and attractive. The construction of the metro has reflected the latest construction methods and technologies available in every period. Engineers have also often been forced to come up with novel and innovative techniques never used before. The fact that the first metro stations were built in the very centre of the centuries-old city led to such technical solutions, as did the morphology of the local terrain, which required, for example, bridging the deep Nusle valley and installing tunnels on the riverbed. 

We see the 50th anniversary of the opening of Prague’s metro system as an opportunity to look back. For Metrostav, which has completed hundreds of varied projects in its history, the construction of Prague's metro system is still of fundamental importance. It was the reason for its creation and is indelibly imprinted in the company’s name. Since the company was founded, we have built 49 stations on all three lines, of which 33 were cut-and-cover and 16 bored, which is why we were all the more pleased that Prague's metro system was awarded the title Construction of the 20th Century in 2000.

This calendar is precisely a retrospective that captures the history of the construction of Prague's metro system in all its variety and diversity. A dozen black-and-white and colour photographs recall important construction technologies or concepts used in the past for Prague's metro system. In addition, links and QR codes will take you to a website dedicated to the construction of Prague's metro system, expanding the 12 photographs and providing more information about the various construction methods.

We hope you will find this year’s calendar with stories from the construction of Prague's metro system interesting, and that you remember some of them when you journey underground.