Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

PRAGUE 257

Decorative Elements

Lavish stucco decoration covers all sides of

the Municipal House; including floral motifs

typical of the Art Nouveau style.

The wing
facing U
Obecního
Domu ulice
includes four
dining rooms
with original
panelling,
mirrors
and clocks.

Decorative
Detail
The Mayor’s
Salon has
this delight-
ful detail in
one of its
columns.
Side Portal
Here, caryatids and cherubs
demonstrate the Art Nouveau
era's love of classical motifs.

Magnificent

glass dome

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

Náměstí Republiky 5.

Map F3. Tel 222 002 101. v 5,

8, 14. X Náměstí Republiky.

Gallery # only during exhibi-

tions: 10am– 7pm daily. 8 by

arrangement. 7 0 -

Figures seen on all

sides of the building

are by Czech artists

who combined historic

and Classical symbols

with modern motifs.

Wenceslas

Square x

Václavské náměstí

v 3, 9, 14, 24. Map E4.

X Můstek, Muzeum.

Originally a horse market,

today Wenceslas Square

remains an important commer-

cial centre. The square has

witnessed many key events. It

was here that the student Jan

Palach burnt himself to death

in 1969 in protest against the

Soviet-led invasion of 1968,

and in November 1989, a pro-

test rally against police

brutality led to the Velvet

Revolution and the overthrow

of Communism (see p228).

At one end of the square is

the National Museum, which

was completed in 1890. In

front of the museum is a huge

equestrian statue of St

Wenceslas by the late sculptor

Josef Myslbek, erected in

1912. At the foot of the
      pedestal there are statues of
      Czech patron saints. A memo-
      rial near the statue commem-
      orates the victims of the
      former regime.
      Walking down the square
      from the monument, there are
      several buildings of interest.
      To the left, down a passage,
      is Lucerna Palace, built in the
      early 20th century by Václav
      Havel, father of the former
      Czech president. It is now a
      shopping and entertainment
      complex. On the opposite
      side of the square is the Art
      Nouveau Grand Hotel Europa.

Bronze statue of St Wenceslas,

Wenceslas Square