Prague Wants to Develop a New and Unified Concept For the City’s Markets

Prague City Tourism is working on a new plan for the city’s markets, aiming to provide a clear strategy to meet the city’s market needs.

The initial phase will concentrate on locations in the historical center.

The document seeks to address various issues related to Prague’s markets. It will identify suitable locations based on urban planning principles, emphasize design and visual style, and consider the types of markets available.

This plan will be grounded in a thorough assessment of the current situation and research into market concepts from other cities like Vienna, Dresden, Krakow, and Bratislava.

Adam Zábranský, Prague’s councillor for property, legislation, and transparency, noted, “Prague has long lacked a comprehensive market concept. In the first phase, we intend to focus on markets at Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, Náměstí Republiky, and Havelské tržište. We will propose specific solutions for these areas based on the established principles, taking into account their unique characteristics. Additionally, we will create a general manual that can be applied to other locations.”

The plan will also explore cultural and related programs and potential business partnerships with operators, including the selection process.

Zábranský stated, “We want to address market organization in a systematic manner. The city’s current approach to organizing markets has various shortcomings. Market locations are determined by market regulations, and in some cases, the city restricts competition. In other instances, the city enters into temporary rental agreements with yearly applicants, often overlooking quality considerations.”

“Some markets are held without adherence to market regulations, as operators claim they are cultural events. Our goal is to establish transparent rules for market organization and enhance their quality without compromising the public spaces in Prague’s center,” Zábranský concludes.