Wenceslas Square, Prague

On Jan 16, 1969 Jan Palach, a university student, set himself on fire to protest the Soviet invasion (of 1968). His funeral resulted in a giant protest against the occupation.

The cross was placed at the spot were Palach supposedly fell..after the end of the communist regime in 1989. It is a very small memorial directly in front of the statue of King Wenceslas.

I was surprised that there wasn't a larger memorial of this kind in Prague...did anyone else feel that way?

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This square is where the protests in their Velvet Revolution took place in the 80's and is still the center much activity. It was built in 1348 and named for their beloved king (and subject of a Christmas song). It includes the National Museum. It is quite beautiful on the inside and is a science museum.

Wenceslas square is more an avenue than a square. Lined with shops and hotels, it is the centre of nightlife (if you're male be prepared to meet "quick friends" in the square).

Behind king Wenceslas statue stands the monumental National Museum.

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This square is the center of both business and culture. It's where you'll find the National Museum at the end of the boulevard right after the monument of King Wenceslas.

They call this area the new town - I'm seeing a lot of old buildings though.

This large square is lined up and down with all your standard fast food and recognized shopping places. At the South end is the National Museum, which provides a great backdrop. This would be a place to visit if you wanted to spend an afternoon shopping, but not much more. I sensed a more scruffier crowd, but then again it was at around 7 AM when mostly scruffs are left standing.

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Equestrian sculpture of St Vaclav (St Wenceslas) and four Saints – St Adalbert of Prague, St Ludmila, St Prokop and St Agnes "Czech", is the most famous work of Josef Vaclav Myslbek, founder of the modern Czech sculpting style. Creating of this sculpture lasted for more than 20 years, and since it had been located in the center of Wenceslas Square it had become one of Prague's most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of Czech statehood. The inscription on the base of the sculpture, designed by architect Alois Dryak, says: "Svaty Vaclave, vevodo ceske zeme, knize nas, nedej zahynouti nam ni budoucim" ("Saint Wenceslas, duke of the Czech land, prince of ours, do not let perish us nor our descendants").

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My friend Kristi and her husband have left Prague today, destined for Austria. Without their dinner-planning expertise, I'm at a loss as to where to eat my last meal in Prague. I wander the streets aimlessly for a few hours, looking for a restaurant's address that I had jotted on a piece of paper before giving up on it and tossing the paper in a garbage can. It's 11:00 PM and most of the restaurants are finished serving food now anyway; but I'm still starving.
I find myself in Wenceslas Square and approach a sausage stand--I've been eyeballing these sausages for days and was dying to try one. I order a "sausage on a bun" and a Diet Pepsi and sit down at a nearby table. No sooner have I taken my seat than I'm approached by three very large, young, and tough looking hobos--one of which is actually wearing an eye patch. "Cripes! They look like pirates!," I think to myself, "This is going to be interesting."
The largest guy, who is obviously the gang leader, says to me, "Excuse me, sir--could you spare some change or a cigarette?"
For personal safety reasons, I decide that I'm not really in a position to decline them. But I then do something which surprises even me... I pull out my pack of cigarettes and say, "Here--take two each." I then produce a 200 koruna ($10 USD) note but before passing it to the three thugs I ask, "Would you guys do me a big favour?" They look baffled but nod in agreement. "Could you keep people away from me while I eat my dinner?" The largest one says, "Definitely, that will not be a problem." I pass them the note and they walk a hundred feet away--back to the shadowy spot where they were standing before I showed up on the scene.
Wenceslas Square is really just a slightly filthy shopping street with a few department stores, some restaurants and casinos, a small flower-bed, and a big, bronze statue of St. Wenceslas on horseback. It also has lots of aggressive panhandlers, homeless people, and a few prostitutes--especially after darkness falls. It's not somewhere I would normally choose to hang-out and eat because it's too busy. ...A bit like having a meal in New York's Times Square or on Toronto's Yonge Street. There are far more appropriate and quaint places to eat in this city.
Wenceslas Square does have an impressive history though. Founded in 1348 as a horse market as part of a plan by King Charles IV (Wenceslas), the square has been the site of many important events; including the mass demonstrations during the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989 which eventually led to the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia.
As I eat my sausage, which looked fantastic but in reality is dry and chewy, I watch with amusement as my band of hired pirates actually keep up their end of our bargain. They've been darting in and out of their hiding spot to intercept panhandlers from approaching me. One old woman, dressed in grey rags, is angrily yelling at then--she can't understand why they won't let her near me.
As I get up to leave, the three thugs give me a toothless grin and wave goodbye.
The next morning I wake up with the worst heartburn of my life! It's excruciatingly painful and lasts a full two days afterwards. Avoid street meat in Prague at all costs!

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I dont know exactly what to say about Vaclavak. It is just a wide street where are many shops, hotels, bars and casinos. Nothing special. On the other hand, everybody goes there, gather there and if you go to Prague, you wont miss it. Simply a very important place!
Wenceslas square is the place, where you should beware of pickpockets and so on. Personally, nothing ever happened to me here.