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Ladronka is a homestead (usedlost) situated in a park in Břevnov, Prague 6, in the Czech Republic. Built by Charles IV in 1340, it was bought by an Italian count, then owned by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta before being broken into flats during the communist period. It was then squatted in 1993, becoming an internationally famous anarchist, self-managed social centre. The squatters organised gigs, exhibitions, readings and theatre, before being evicted in 2000 following the anti-globalization protests in Prague. After several years of renovation, Ladronka was re-opened as an activity centre in 2005, serving the surrounding park.
The squat was raided by police in February 1994 and the squatters mustered support with demonstrations and petitions. A year later in January 1995, police conducted a second raid in which they searched the entire building and arrested eight squatters. The squatters were not evicted but there were plans to turn the building into a hotel, so the squatters gathered support again. At a public meeting, local people voiced their opposition to the development plans. An eviction date had been set and on the day the squatters symbolically handed over a paper model of the building to the municipality and continued the occupation. (2025). 9783942885904, edition assemblage. ISBN 9783942885904
The social centre became internationally famous as a hub for counter-cultural activities and anarchist organisation. The squatters formed the Ladronka Foundation and successfully negotiated with the city of Prague to legalise the occupation. Hundreds of people attended concerts and events at Ladronka. By the late 1990s, the focus of the centre was shifting from politics to cultural activities, as part of a general downturn in anarchist activity in the Czech Republic.
By this time, the city had signed a contract with the Santé group, which planned to develop Ladronka into a luxury medical centre. The social centre was evicted on 9 November 2000 by private security and police as part of a moral panic following the anti-globalization protests in Prague. (2014). 9781604866834, PM Press. ISBN 9781604866834 The eviction was not mandated by any judicial decision. Social centre projects which followed in the tradition of Ladronka have included Squat Milada and Klinika.
At a cost of 80 million Czech koruna, financed by Prague 6 and the city of Prague, Ladronka was renovated. It now houses facilities for cycling, inline skating and other sports, including equipment hire, as well as a restaurant. Later, beach volleyball and football courts were added. The activity centre was opened in September 2005, marking the 85th anniversary of Prague 6. The following year, the centre was voted . Between 2009 and 2010, the facilities of the park were expanded to include a 4.2 kilometre skating course.
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