Anděl (neighborhood)

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Anděl crossing and Zlatý Anděl building in the southwest corner

Anděl is a busy crossing and its immediate neigbourhood in Prague 5's central quarter of Smíchov. The name means angel in Czech language and originates from 19th century U zlatého anděla (Golden Angel) pub called originally after an angel statue in front of it. The pub's awning painting of an angel was preserved after its demolition and is now displayed nearby.

Anděl is an important traffic center. Line B of Prague Metro's station Anděl (line B) is beneath it and tramway lines in north-south and east-west direction cross there (lines 12, 20, 14, 9, 7 and more). Otherwise, it has been turned to a pedestrian zone.

After a redevelopment in late 1990es, when French architect Jean Nouvel designed an office building called Zlatý Anděl (Golden Angel) above the Metro station with a picture of an angel and quotes from Rilke on its facade, Anděl became one of the busiest parts of the city, with many offices of national and international companies. Across it (in the northwest quadrant), there's one of Prague's biggest shopping malls called Nový (New) Smíchov with the biggest underground garage of the city that was built for the shopping mall and multiplex (cinema); another is nearby. Anděl is a gathering place for young Czechs, but also for a lot of homeless people that beg for money of the people walking there.