České Budějovice, Mariánské kasárny

The Marian Barracks, standing on the square of the same name, is one of the most famous in České Budějovice. It was built in 1843/44 and the classicist barracks building has two floors and a ground floor, the building was built by Josef Sandler. The creator of the design is not known, but it was probably the engineer Antonín Krátký who was a regional engineer. Originally there were two yards on the site, they were bought in 1842, the following year in February the state approved a budget of 61,997 gold. For them, a barracks were to be built for one battalion of six companies, each with about 100 soldiers, as well as for a band and officers. This succeeded until 1844. The building has an L-shape and inside is a courtyard serving as a training ground. Today's appearance is slightly changed by the fact that a piece in Haškov Street was added to the original building, where toilets and a similar extension were placed, as well as at the other end, where the extension is towards the courtyard. The one in Hašková Street is followed by a wall enclosing the courtyard of the building together with the gate. These annexes were built in 1874. For some reason, the cellars were reconstructed in 1890 and subsequently in 1906 the garrison prison located in the barracks building. If we compare postcards from the early 20th century with today, there are very few differences, there used to be more chimneys (the barracks had central heating under the Czechoslovak Army from the 1950s, so the chimneys were probably demolished) and the roof was smooth today, both on the square and Hus streets of a small bay window, which evokes the idea that the land was used perhaps as a warehouse or accommodation. In the 1950s, a freight elevator was set up in the building. The development of the name is also interesting, after the name Mariánská kasarna, which according to the square where it stands, was called Colonel Švec's barracks during the First Republic, after the Second World War the square and with it the barracks were renamed "Jan Šverma", it is interesting that the names were not adopted and all the while in the city (both the square and the barracks) they were called "Marian".
This barracks was the seat of the 91st Infantry Regiment, in whose ranks Fráňa Šrámek served and also during WWI J. Hašek (from February to May 1915), part of the famous novel takes place in their walls (no film, it was shot at the town hall). The barracks served the army even after WWI and the army left them only in 1990. Unfortunately, after a short time when they rented rooms for various companies doing business, the city that closed them today is the owner, so the building is now empty, minimally maintained and only in the courtyard there is a parking lot, which gives an opportunity to look inside. The original plan of use as a shopping center may have been thwarted by the fact that the building was declared a cultural monument in 2005 and subsequently returned to the city. He was offered for sale several times and finally sold in December 2010, his future is not yet clear.

Source: own notes from various local events, and experience from staying in these barracks in 1989
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Fota v předchozím i tomto příspěvku jsou má vlastní a pochází z roku 2010