Technically part of the New Town district, Wenceslas Square stands out well on its own – as a busy shopping and cultural spot. Crowds of locals and tourists alike meet at the monumental equestrian statue of St. Wenceslas – the patron saint of Bohemia – and head off to explore the attractions, museums, boutiques, night clubs and restaurants which abound in this area.
Wenceslas Square
A lively boulevard of culture, shopping and history
HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit the National Museum – the oldest and largest one in the Czech Republic
- Have a unique dining experience inside St. Henry’s Tower
- Jerusalem Synagogue - the city’s most recent and featuring a colourful Oriental design
Back in the 14th century, when King Charles IV developed and expanded the city, this square housed a horse market and was known in Czech as Koňský trh. The New Town had unusually spacious streets - very modern for its time, and today’s Wenceslas square still looks more like a boulevard.
Being 750 m long and 60 m wide, throughout history it has often been chosen as a venue for major public gatherings. A number of important events happened here, including the proclamation of independence of Czechoslovakia in 1918 and the protests against Communist regime, which resulted in the Velvet Revolution of 1989.
The sloping surface of the square rises to the southeast end, where it is crowned by the grand neoclassical National Museum building and St. Wenceslas monument, the symbol of Czech nationhood. On the opposite side, you can walk straight into the Old Town, after crossing Na Příkopě street.
Commonly known as “Václavák”, the square is easily accessible by public transport, with 2 metro stations (Můstek and Muzeum) in the vicinity. This area is an excellent starting point for your acquaintance with Prague sights, otherwise you can visit it to simply admire the beautiful Art Nouveau architecture, hang out in popular retail stores and bars, or enjoy frequent performances of street musicians.