This is one of the main city squares and the centre of the business and cultural communities in the New Town of Prague, Czech Republic. Many historical events occurred there, and it is a traditional setting for demonstrations, celebrations, and other public gatherings. The square is named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia.
Wenceslas Square however is seedy, if you are booking a hotel and it is on the Square think again. It is not a pleasant area at night. The top of the Square nearest the museum is not very nice or safe the bottom of the Sqaure is okay. The Square looks like it has been taken over by money traders and down-market shops – it really is a great area old area that has been allowed to fall by the wayside – – not on my list of top ten of Prague.
Wenceslas Square is one of two important squares in the Czech capital. The other is Old Town Square, just a short walk away.
Wenceslas Square has something Old Town Square doesn’t – a statue of St. Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia who we have all sung about at Christmas time. Remember the traditional Christmas carol about good King Wenceslas who went out on that snowy night? But how many know that Wenceslas, considered a national hero by the Czechs, was murdered by his brother. Near his statue are plaques that honor modern-day heroes, including student Jan Palach, who set himself on fire when the Soviets invaded the country in the late 1960s.
Wenceslas Square may be the center of Prague’s nightlife and entertainment venues, but it’s not a square in the sense of, say, Tiananmen Square in Beijing or Red Square in Moscow. Like those squares, it is a place the hundreds of thousands of Czechs gather on important occasions, such as when Czechoslovakia declared its independence in 1918. The name is a misnomer, however, as Wenceslas Square is actually a boulevard that is almost 2,500 feet long by almost 200 feet wide.
Wenceslas Square started out as Prague’s horse market back in the 14th century. The square is located in the district known as New Town, which seems odd today as the area had its beginnings back in 1348 when it was founded by King Charles IV of Bohemia. Old buildings flank the tree-lined street, buildings which have been repurposed for today’s needs.
Wenceslas Square enjoys a central location which makes it ideal for visitors to stay there as they explore the city. First, though, visitors will find much to see and do on Wenceslas Square. The National Museum with the country’s treasures is at one end of the square. Some of the buildings were destroyed during World War II, and were replaced by department stores that maintained the street’s architectural ambiance.
Accommodations come in all price ranges and some are even tourist attractions in themselves. For example, the interior of the Hotel Europa features in Tom Cruise’s “Mission Impossible” movie while its grand restaurant stars in scenes from the movie, “Titanic.”
Just as Prague is an unforgettable city in Europe, Wenceslas Square is an unforgettable part of this historic city. The square is vibrant and teems with activities from dining at classic restaurants to fast-food joints and bars, and from art galleries and historic shoe stores.
With this much going on, visitors will find it hard to leave Wenceslas Square, but those who do can be whisked to other areas of the city by Metro. The two subway stations are testament to the square’s popularity. They’re the busiest in the city.
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