After years of discussions and protests, Prague has decided to say goodbye to horse-drawn carriages in Old Town Square, one of the most iconic and visited places in the Czech capital. The decision, approved by the city council, marks the end of a centuries-old tradition that had resisted even the changes of mass tourism.
The move was motivated by animal protection and public safety reasons. According to experts, the horses’ work amidst traffic, smog and high temperatures put their health at risk. In the summer months, the temperatures of the Prague road surface on which the animals are forced to work for hours can reach up to 55 degrees. In recent years there have been episodes of collapses and accidents, which have fueled the debate on the opportunity to maintain this practice in the heart of the city.
From 1994 to 2025: the end of a historic contract
With the revocation of the contract concluded in 1994 with the Coachmen’s Guild of Bohemia and Moravia, the administration officially closed this activity. As councilor Adam Zábranský explained, the concession was already outside the new rules on urban trade from 2023 and the coachmen had continued to operate “without authorization”. The provision thus puts an end to a long phase of tolerance and repeated sanctions.
Deputy Mayor Jiří Pospíšil called the decision “a necessary step for a modern European metropolis, capable of combining history and respect for animal lifeThe choice was welcomed positively by animal rights associations, who had collected over 16,000 signatures in the “A Horse Is Not a Machine” campaign, calling for an end to carriages in the city.
However, there is no shortage of critical voices. Some members of the opposition and the Coachmen’s Guild speak of a “break with tradition” and a loss for tourism. But the Municipality responds that the measure is part of a broader redevelopment plan for the historic centre, which in recent years has already seen a ban on Segways, beer bikes and giant costumes. Prague, in short, is changing pace: less folklore, more respect.
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