The Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square – Horse Market where history happens

Wenceslas Square (“Václavské náměstí” or familiarly “Václavák” in Czech) is a circa 700 metres long and 60 metres wide boulevard in the Prague´s New Town (“Nové Město”) quarter. Formerly it was called “Horse Market” (“Koňský trh”), because of its original purpose. The modern name refers to the probably most significant Czech patron saint Wenceslaus (“Svatý Václav”).
Nowadays, the Wenceslas Square is Prague´s cultural and business centre and during the history of Bohemia it witnessed many significant historical events, since it is a traditional venue of demonstrations, celebrations and other mass gatherings.

History and Facts
The Wenceslas Square was set as part of the project of the New

The processes of opposition to the lack of freedom culminated in November, when there were over hundred thousand of people taking part in the demonstrations. When, as the result of the “Velvet revolution”, the Communism was finally toppled in Czechoslovakia, the Wenceslas Square was one of the venues of celebrations.

National Museum
The above already mentioned main building of the National Museum, located at the top of the Wenceslas Square, is probably the most important house on the Wenceslas Square. The Neo-Renaissance building is currently closed for a long-planned reconstruction. The re-opening of the historical building is supposed to happen in 2018, when the National Museum will celebrate 200 years of its existence. The National Museum is the most significant Czech museum instituion (Odkaz na článek o Národním muzeu)

Shopping
The Wenceslas Square is not only the place where Czech history happens and cultural centre, but also one of the most popular shopping venues of Prague. In addition to numerous occasional and regular markets, such as Easter markets or Christmas fairs, taking place at the Square, there is also a great number of shops of many kinds there. One can buy pretty much anything, from souvenirs to groceries, at the Wenceslas

There are many clubs at the Square or in the streets around it. Prague in general is among other things considered to be a “night-life metropolis” and many young tourists come to the Czech Republic´s Capital to party. The variety of bars, clubs, restaurants with late night opening hours etc. is great, so that everyone can easily find a place to drink, eat, dance and have fun according to their taste.

Visiting Wenceslas Square
The Wenceslas Square is located between the Prague's “magistrála” (the main rout going through the city) and the “Na Příkopě” street. From the lower part of the Square, one can easily walk to the Old Town.
Since the Square is a significant Prague centre, there are two transition stations connecting different metro lines. In the upper part of the Wenceslas Square, there is the “Museum” metro station, connecting lines A and C, and at the other end of the boulevard, there is the “Můstek” metro station, where metro lines A and B meet. In the middle of the Square, there are also tram