Attraction 11 / 31
Quick Info
Location
New Town (Nové Město)
Subway
Můstek (A,B), Muzeum (B,C)
Rating
3 votes 3 votes
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Wenceslas Square

Václavské Náměstí
Wenceslas square was laid out in 1348 by King Charles IV. The large square, measuring 750m (0,5mi) by 60m, originally functioned as a horse market but evolved into Prague's central boulevard lined with grand turn of the century buildings. The many hotels, shops and restaurants around Wenceslas Square attract throngs of tourists and locals alike.
Historical Events
Many of the important historical events in Prague's recent history took place here, such as the declaration of the First Republic in 1918, the protests against the Soviet occupation in 1969 and the protest march in 1989 which led to the Velvet Revolution and the end of the Communist era.

National Museum
The long, pedestrian friendly boulevard leads uphill to the National Museum, a monumental neo renaissance building constructed by Josef Schultz in 1890. The stately building soon became a symbol of national identity.

St. Wenceslas Statue
In front of the museum is a bronze equestrian statue of St. Wenceslas. Wenceslas, 'the good king' was a Bohemian Duke spreading Christianity. Murdered in 929 by his brother he was later declared a Saint and eventually became a national Czech symbol.
Not far from this monument Jan Palach set himself on fire to protest the Soviet occupation in 1969. A small
Grand Hotel Europa
Sculpture on the
Grand Hotel Europe
plaque commemorates Palach and other victims of the Soviet occupation.

Art Nouveau Architecture
The Wenceslas Square contains some nice examples of Art Nouveau architecture, a style very popular at the beginning of the 20th century, when the square was being redeveloped. The most famous of those buildings is the Grand Hotel Europa, constructed between 1903 and 1906. The renovated building has a beautiful facade topped with a gilded statue of nymphs.

Location
The Wenceslas Square is located in the Nové Město (New Town), a district just south of the historic Staré Město (Old Town).

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