Fantova budova, Art Nouveau station building at Prague Main Railway Station, Czech Republic
Fantova budova is an Art Nouveau railway station building at Prague Main Railway Station in the Czech Republic. The structure features curved lines and ornamental patterns on its exterior, while its entrance hall is decorated with elaborate details throughout.
Josef Fanta designed this railway building, which opened in 1909 and drew inspiration from Paris Gare du Nord's design. Between 1972 and 1979, a communist-era addition partially hid the original structure until it was restored in later years.
The station honors its architect Josef Fanta through its name, and inscriptions inside speak to Prague's importance as a crossroads in Central Europe. Daily, travelers from different directions move through these spaces, making it a meeting point that shapes how people experience the city.
The building houses a café beneath its central dome where travelers and visitors can grab refreshments. The best time to explore the architecture is early morning or late afternoon, when fewer trains pass through the station.
The inscribed ceiling beneath the dome reads 'Praga Mater Urbium' - Latin text honoring Prague as a mother city of Europe. This hidden detail often goes unnoticed by hurried travelers who rarely look upward while passing through.
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