Karlín, Prague

Karlín is the Prague 8 district spread across the Vltava floodplain between Libeň and New Town. Its streets follow a planned grid, with Karlín Square as the civic focus and Sokolovská Street running through the neighbourhood. The district began in 1817 as an official suburb on the former hospital fields, and its name honours Empress Caroline Augusta, wife of Francis I.

Cheap land after the city walls came down drew factories and housing at a rapid pace. Karlín held city status from 1903 until 1921, then joined Greater Prague on the first day of 1922. The great flood of 2002 devastated the district, even bringing down several houses; flood defences for Karlín and Libeň were completed during the spring of 2006. Former industrial buildings now mingle with new construction along the river.