History of Masné Krámy Restaurant (meaning the Meat Shops)
Masné Krámy Restaurant (meaning the Meat Shops) were formerly among the wooden stands originally located on today’s Přemysl Otakar II Square.
They were most likely constructed at the end of the 13th Century, but at latest in the early 14th Century. The first written mention of the meat shops dates back to 1336 (24 June), when the city was flooded by water reaching right up to the Meat Shops.
In 1364 (13 February), Charles IV ordered the demolition of the Meat Shops standing on the Ring, because of hygiene and the foul smell. A new location was sought, and soon found on the site of today’s Meat Shops in Krajinská Street. The location of the new Meat Shops was logical. At the time, many master butchers lived in Krajinská. However, the new building was wooden as well.
The brick building dates back to the year 1554, but some authors mention the year 1560 or 1564. It is a building with a basilica-style layout. The central high hall was designated for the town’s inhabitants – meaning the public, while the two lower lateral halls housed the individual butcher shops, accessible to shoppers from the inside through arcades. Outside, there were separate entrances for supply, both from the courtyard and the street.
The rear façade has been preserved in Renaissance style with battlements and embrasures on the attic gable, while the actual gable is formed of swallow tails.The eastern façade was rebuilt some time in the early 1830s, apparently in 1831.The doubled stone Renaissance portal is original. The shops underwent changes in the course of the 19th Century, with several construction modifications.
Butchery operation including the slaughtering of calves in the courtyard of the meat shops was conducted until the year 1899. Then it was moved outside of the city to the Pražské suburb, where the new city slaughterhouse was established. The individual shops were sold and served to store various goods. After 1945, the demolition of the building was seriously considered, because it was in devastated condition. Finally, the Meat Shops were rebuilt into a restaurant based on a project by J. Fidra in 1953.
Since then, the Meat Shops have been profiled as a Budvar restaurant and have gained renown as a result. At present, the restaurant offers 180 seats.
Welcome to The Masné Krámy restaurants, where legends come alive…
