Wenceslaus Square

Wenceslaus Square

Night view of the square, taken from the National Museum
Wenceslaus Square (Czech: Václavské náměstí) is a square in the center of the Czech capital Prague. Since the year 1848, the square has been named after Saint Wenceslaus. The square was originally set up as a horse market. With a length of 750 meters, Wenceslaus Square is among the largest in Europe. The Velvet Revolution took place in this square in 1989, marking the end of the communist era.

With dimensions of 750 by 60 meters, Wenceslaus Square is more of a boulevard than a square. The square slopes gently from the northeast to the southwest. The National Museum is located on the southeast side. In front of the museum stands a statue of Saint Wenceslaus on horseback. On the other side of the square stands the Church of Our Lady of Snow.

Line A of the Prague metro runs beneath Wenceslaus Square. The two busiest metro stations in the city, Muzeum and Můstek, are located at the square. The square also features a plaque in memory of Jan Palach, the student who set himself on fire in 1969 in protest against the lack of democracy in then-communist Czechoslovakia.

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