Masaryk Railway Station (Masarykovo nádraží)

Masaryk Railway Station is the oldest railway station in Prague and the only terminus station in the city. At the time it was built, it was one of the largest in Europe.

The location of the station and tracks was designed in 1842 by Czech architect and builder of railway tracks Jan Perner. Ing. Jan Nevole created the architectural design of the station buildings in an incredible few months, and architect Antonín Jüngling led the construction of the later connecting extension. The station was ceremonially opened on August 20, 1845. Initially, the line was designed as a connection with Olomouc, but after only a few years, it was clear that the project would develop further. From the 1950s, Praguers were able to travel by train to Dresden from here. The station was situated close to the city walls, into which six openings had to be bored through which individual tracks led. Gates at each opening were locked for security reasons at night and were not demolished until 1874.
The two-story arrivals building designed by Jüngling faces Havlíčkova Street. The original arcade wing connecting the arrivals building with the restaurant ground floor pavilion that occupied the corner of both streets was demolished during the construction of an addition several decades later. The restaurant pavilion was raised by two floors and connected by a corridor to the departures building. At the same time, a high glazed hall was inserted between the existing buildings on slender cast-iron columns covering part of the trackage.
The architect Jan Nevole situated the departures building on Hybernská Street. The two-story building with two quadrangular turrets and drum clocks was originally conceived as the main entrance through which passengers proceeded directly into the cash desk area.
The building also has a preserved original monument: the Masaryk (originally Imperial) Lounge with a Neo-Renaissance beamed ceiling and a richly carved fireplace on which stands a bust of Jan Perner. On the opposite side is a statue of T.G. Masaryk by Jan Štursa. The lounge has a separate entrance to Platform 1, from where the president of the newly-formed republic traveled in his saloon coach.