Podskalí Customs House at Výtoň

The Podskalí Customs House at Výtoň is a Gothic timbered and plastered building from the 16th century. You will see here an exhibition commemorating the appearance of and life in Podskalí, an area that once existed where today's Rašínovo embankment in Prague is located.

Besides the Church of Saint Cosmas and Damian, the Podskalí Customs House at Výtoň is the only preserved building of the old-time fisherman settlement called Podskalí that existed in this area from the 12th century. Inhabitants of the settlement gradually acquired a monopoly on trade with wood that was brought to Prague on the Vltava River via floats. Initially, the institution collecting toll had a form of an enclosure for wood and a simple building used for the purposes of the office of collectors. In the 16th century the contemporary building was built that served at the same time as an inn and hostel for wood farers. Podskalí ceased to exist between 1905 and 1914 when the existing houses and enclosures with wood were torn down and the Vyšehrad tunnel and embankment were built. Nowadays, the Podskalí Customs House at Výtoň is a part of the Museum of the Capital City of Prague and offers its visitors the possibility to learn about the history of the extinct Podskalí. On display is a model depicting Podskalí around 1870, historical photographs, a cash box from the Výtoň customs house, models, drawings and photographs documenting the construction of wooden cargo ships and more.