Some time ago me and my friend took a trip into Milovice. On first sight it seems like perfectly normal small town, kids going to school, women chick chatting at the marketplace, men drinking beer in pub... The adventure begins in a nearby district called "Milovice Mlada". What's so special about it?
In august 1968 was Czechoslovakia occupied by Soviet union plus it's political satellites in order to stop liberalization and reformation of socialism AKA Prague Spring. And Milovice were chosen to serve as a military and social basement for Soviet soldiers. In Milovice took a place HQ for Central Group of Forces. In the same location as a military base were built blocks of flats for families of soldiers. But not only blocks of flats, but also mall, cinema, hospital, cafeteria,...so Milovice Mlada was self-sufficent district with it's own life. After Velvet revolution in 1989 and breakdown of whole soviet block was time for soviet forces to go back home. Most of them left Czechoslovakia till the end of 1991. Milovice district was abandoned and started to fell into the ruins. When you are walking through the areal, it feels like walking through city of ghosts. Sometimes you can meet guys playing paintball in the ruins. Everyhere is a lot of trash, even old soviet newspaper can be found. Some blocks of flats have undergone through complete reconstruction and serve as affordable living especially for young families. The rest is still sadly waiting for its destiny...
Here are some pictures I took there: (full photoset in my webalbum)
Block of flats. This used to be a (temporary) home for families of soviet soldiers.
Entering military base. Sign says "guard gatekeeper".
No windows, no door, trash everywhere.
Time to do some shopping in the local mall.
And the cinema. What's on today?
Inside of the cinema.
Seems like seats are gone forever.
Kindergarten. Where do the children play?
On a trip to Prague last year to visit NetBeans, a globalization colleague took me there. Very interesting. I'm impressed with the renovation of the buildings for affordable housing. However, despite the influx of new families, it still feels very ghost-like.
Posted by Janice Campbell on březen 21, 2008 at 06:39 odp. CET #
Yes, i have to admit that this city remined me a liitle bit Pripyat (completly abandoned Ukraine city because of Chenrnobyl disaster).
Posted by TM on březen 24, 2008 at 09:12 odp. CET #
Pretty interesting place, I go there every now and then to take some photos i different year periods...
Highly depressive, highly recomendable for a trip.
Posted by Ondrej on říjen 30, 2008 at 01:34 odp. CET #
Was there a few months ago, place has potential
Posted by so so on červen 10, 2009 at 03:49 odp. CEST #
I went here around 2000-01 for a party during spring. Pretty interesting stories I heard from a few people who lived in the area. I would love to go back and see some of the development that is going on around the area.
Posted by PD on září 30, 2009 at 07:43 odp. CEST #