Little known and used Prague promenade is Kosárkovo nábřeží, which is leading roughly between Mánes and Čech bridges. A calm place, named in the honour of significant Czech painter Adolf Kosárek (1830-1859), at the same time offers interesting views over the river to the Old Town and to large garden and monumental back elevation of building of Office of the Government of the Czech Republic. After coming to Prague in 1556 the Jesuits acquired the land. Later they built a chapel there, dedicated to founder of their order, st. Ignatius of Loyola and group of baroque houses. Everything belonged to them until 1773, when the Jesuit order was abolished temporarily. In 1893 all the objects, which were standing there, were destroyed and in the arisen large plot construction of apprentice training centre for poor aristocratic sons started by foundation of Jan Petr Straka of Nedabylice. The foundation was established in 1710 and it got numerous estates. Design of the Straka Academy in neo-baroque style, a monumental building, 160 m long, with cupola in the middle, was elaborated by arch. Václav Roštapil. Realization in 1893-1896 took builder Quido Bělský. Josef Maudr and Celda Klouček participated in plastic decoration. The new institution was ceremoniously opened on 18th November 1896. It had Czech and German departments. In World War I there was established a military hospital. After its end, students returned there again. During World War II the building was annexed by the Nazis, their notorious courts sat there as well. On 11th May 1945 a historical event took place there; so-called Košice Government had its first meeting in liberated country there. In the course of years the building of already previous Straka Academy, served for government of the Czech Republic, nowadays there is Office of the Government of the Czech Republic. Part of the object is well-kept garden and there are large garages under that.
