The history of Wenceslas Square (Václavské námestí) dates back to 1348 when King Charles founded the New Town (Nove Mesto) and had the square designed to serve as the city’s horse market. Since then it gradually evolved to become the city’s main shopping boulevard lined with restaurants, cafes, bars etc that is popular with both locals and tourists.
Though called a Square, it is in fact a 750m long rectangle that is about 60m wide. The Square begins at the boundary of the Old Town and slopes uphill towards the neoclassical Czech National Museum that sits at the top.
It has been called Wenceslas Square since 1848, named after the 10th century good King Wenceslas who spread Christianity.
A large bronze equestrian statue of St Wenceslas by artist Josef Myslbek, erected in 1912, looks down the length of the Square. Locals use the statue as a meeting point, and arrange to meet friends at “the tail of the horse.”
Many historical events of the last 100 years took place here: The Czech Republic was proclaimed here in 1918; The Prague uprising against the Nazi occupation erupted here in 1945; protests were held here against the Soviet invasion in 1968; The Velvet Revolution, which led to the collapse of Communism in the country, began in the square with protests in 1989 against police brutality.
A reminder of those troubled days is the shrine dedicated to Jan Palach, the young man who became a national hero when he set fire to himself at this spot on 19 Jan 1969 to protest the Russian occupation. Locals still leave flowers here, especially on the anniversary of his death.
Wenceslas Square has some fine examples of Art Nouveau – the most famous of which is Cafe Europa. Another important example, but less well known, is the Lucerna Passage shopping centre, which also contains David Cerny’s bewildering upside down statue of St Wenceslas on a horse that hangs from the ceiling. Art-Nouveau lovers should check out the cocktail bar on the first floor.
How to get There
Metro: Metro A, C - Muzeum
Metro: Metro A, B - Mustek
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