Probably the best-known Prague statue, and also a very popular meeting place of Prague citizens is the St. Wenceslas Monument in the upper part of the Wenceslas Square. It represents the patron of the country, St. Wenceslas, the Duke of Bohemia in the 10 th century. This monument saw many important events of Czech history, including the establishment of the independent republic Czechoslovakia in 1918.
Statues of Czech patrons
St. Wenceslas Monument consists of the 5.5 metres high statue of St. Wenceslas and statues of other Czech patrons around him: St. Ludmila on the left, St. Agnes behind her, St. Procopius on the right and St. Adalbert behind him. The monument was made between 1887 and 1924 by Josef Vaclav Myslbek.
The inscription on the St. Wenceslas Monument reads: “St. Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia, our Prince, don´t let neither us, nor those in the future, die.”
The date in the pavement
You can see the date “28. X. 1918” written in the pavement in front of the monument. On that day, the statue of St. Wenceslas was a silent witness to the birth of Czechoslovakia. The writer Alois Jirasek read a document declaring the independent republic in front of the monument.
Prague citizens often gather in the Wenceslas Square near the monument during important or dramatic times. Demonstrations against Communist regime were held there, as well as numerous others. Also celebrations, such as celebrations of a victory in an ice-hockey championship, take place there usually.
