WENCESLAS SQUARE

Description

Essentials about Wenceslas Sqaure in brief

Besides the Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square (cz. “Václavské náměstí”) is one of the two famous squares in Prague. Named in 1848 after St. Wenceslas of Bohemia, the square forms the center of Prague’s New Town. With a length of 750 meters and a width of about 60 meters, Wenceslas Square has almost the dimensions of a grand boulevard rather than a square. In any case, its dimensions make it one of the largest urban squares in Europe. With its beautiful architecture and its many cafes, bars, restaurants and stores, Wenceslas Square is one of the most popular shopping and nightlife destinations in Prague.

The history of Wenceslas Square

The Horse Market as forerunner of Wenceslas Square from the 14th century onwards

The predecessor of today’s Wenceslas Square historically dates back to the foundation of Prague’s New Town in 1348 by King Charles IV. At that time, a new marketplace was created where horse trading was carried out (hence the name “Horse Market”). About 680 meters long and 60 meters wide, the market stretched in a northwest-southeast direction from the gate of the old town to the gate of the New Town. Next to the gate, a small stream was also led to the market, the water of which was used for watering horses. The extraordinary length of the market is related to its function, because it allowed the demonstration of horses in any gait during the weekly horse market. Later, grain was traded in the upper part of the market and cloth and weapons in the lower part.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the first structural extensions were made to the horse market. Among other things, a stone statue was erected in honor of the square’s namesake in its center. However, this first monument to Wenceslas was moved to Vyšehrad Castle at the end of the 19th century.

The enlargement of Wenceslas Square in the 19th century

In the 19th century, with the demolition of the two city walls and the filling of the ditches at its upper and lower ends, the market experienced an extension to the current 750 meters. In addition, the square was transformed into today’s boulevard by planting linden trees. In place of the St. Prokop’s Gate, demolished in 1875, at the end of the 19th century the city administration had the National Museum built in the neo-Renaissance style, which today is the imposing structural end on the south side of the square.

The development of Wenceslas Square in the 19th and 20th centuries

Between 1890 and 1930, the square received essentially its current development. Numerous burgher palaces such as the Palac Koruna (number 1), the Diamond House (number 3), the Lindt House (number 4), the Ambassador Hotel (number 5), the Shoe House (number 6), the House of the Golden Goose (number 7), the Peterka House (number 12), the Tatran Hotel (number 22), the Hotel Europa (number 25), the Hotel Adria (number 26), the Bohemian Bank (number 32), the Wiehl House (number 34), the Melantrich House (number 36), the Palac Letka (number 41), the Bohemian Savings Bank House (number 42) and the Palac Fénix (number 56) were built during this period. Between the commercial buildings, in a closed street front, diversely designed residential houses were inserted.

Wenceslas Square as the scene of political events in the 20th century

Wenceslas Square has also been the scene of significant events for Czech history throughout history. On January 16, 1969, Czechoslovak student Jan Palach self-immolated and ran in flames from the National Museum to Wenceslas Square. He was protesting the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops and the resulting suppression of the Prague Spring. The following month, student Jan Zajíc repeated this public protest in Wenceslas Square. Today, a monument in front of the National Museum commemorates the two freedom-loving students.

In 1989, Wenceslas Square was once again the site of a politically enormously significant event. At a mass meeting, the two heads of the Civic Forum, Václav Havel and Alexander Dubček, called for the political transformation of communist Czechoslovakia.

The Wenceslas Monument

The main eye-catcher in the center of Wenceslas Square is the Monument to St. Wenceslas, created in 1912 by Czech artist Josef Myslbek. It depicts St. Wenceslas as the country’s patron saint in armor with armor and lance and at his feet the four patron saints Ludmilla, Prokop, Anežka (Agnes) and Vojtěch (Adalbert).

Wenceslas Square as a magnet for visitors

Wenceslas Square is not only very interesting from a historical and architectural point of view, but also one of the most popular meeting places for Prague residents and tourists alike. The many cafes, bars, restaurants, department stores and stores invite you to spend a few hours eating, drinking and shopping on Wenceslas Square.