Have you ever heard of Strahov Stadium (Strahovský stadion)? Located in the heart of the Czech Republic’s capital, this mythical stadium has long been the largest arena in the world! A work of art bearing the Communist seal, it has hosted numerous meetings, matches and other festivities throughout the years it has been in use.
Now used as a training center by Sparta Praha soccer club, the Strahov stadium continues to fascinate and intrigue. Would you like to find out more? Join us on a journey to this Czech cultural landmark and find out all there is to know about it.
What is the Strahov stadium?
The huge Strahov Stadium is located in Prague’s 6ᵉ district, at Vaníčkova 100/6, 169 00. If it’s so well known, however, it’s not for its location, but rather for its imposing stance. One of the emblems of the former Czechoslovakia.
In fact, at its maximum configuration, the stadium could, and still can, hold 250,000 people! It is, however, the second-largest stadium in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway having a capacity of 400,000.
A mythical stadium, built as early as 1926, it was notably used as a venue for massive gymnastics training sessions. An idea later taken up by the Communist regime in power, which organized the famous “Spartakiades” there.
These were sporting events organized between students to determine which athlete, which school in the country, was the strongest physically. Since then, it has been used by the Sparta soccer team.
How long was the Strahov stadium used?
The Strahov stadium (Strahovský stadion) has been in use since it was built in 1926. It remained in use until the early 1990s. In fact, the last three matches it hosted were those of the Czech national soccer team.
Since then, it has served as a concert venue for many big bands and stars, including the Rolling Stones. Today, it is used by the Sparta Prague team as a training center. Strahov Stadium, one of the proudest landmarks of Prague and the Czech Republic.
Why is the Strahov stadium so famous?
Now somewhat derelict – at least as far as the stands are concerned – Strahov Stadium was for a long time one of the most powerful symbols of communism in the Czech Republic. But why was it so well known?
Good to know
This stadium, now relegated to the status of “neighborhood stadium”, is no longer really in use. However, spectators who attended some of the events will have fond memories of it, as will the athletes who were lucky enough to compete there. It is therefore essential to preserve the memory of this historic site.
Spartakiades
If the stadium is so famous, it’s because of its size, but also, and above all, because of the incredible Spartakiades that were held there. Every 5 years between 1955 and 1985, the Strahov hosted hundreds of thousands of young gymnastic, sports and wrestling specialists, as well as tens of thousands of spectators.
It was an opportunity for Communist schools to get involved in the wrestling, to see who was the strongest. Interestingly, every 5 years, there was an improbable spike in the birth rate, due to extramarital affairs between sportsmen and women, but also between spectators.
The few images that still exist of these encounters give a precise idea of what was going on and how this five-yearly event unfolded. There are numerous videos of gymnastics from the era available on the Internet.
Discover Prague and its remnants of communism
Would you like to discover Strahov Stadium, a relic of Communism? All you need to do is visit Prague. Discover our flight comparator, which will offer you the best fares according to the dates you have selected. We also offer a hotel comparator, enabling you to choose the rooms best suited to your budget.
On site, you can book a guided tour of the building, which is sure to surprise you. We also recommend a visit to the Museum of Communism. A place that will intrigue you and take you back to the days of the former USSR.