Prague, My Love: Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square)

Showing posts with label Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square). Show all posts

Sunday, July 8, 2012

A Stroll Through Praha...Part I

Any day is a good day for a stroll through Prague, but a Friday that happens to be a holiday means the city empties out, which in turn makes for a perfect day to walk around.

Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square)

Hotel Ambassador Zlata Husa (Wenceslas Square) was built in 1920

As the name suggests, the hotel consists of two parts - the history of the first is quite straightforward in comparison to the history of the second, which is a bit funny...

The owner of the hotel was a rich widow, who had a young yet extremely unattractive and silly daughter. The daughter was already of marrying age, but despite her assets she remained single. She never married and for that she was known in Prague by the nickname "Golden Goose" (Zlata Husa).

In 1964 both hotels were joined together and their modern history begins...

The National Museum ...founded on April 15, 1818

View of Wenceslas Square from in front of the National Museum

One of the many stops I had to make was to this charming shop, located through a pasáž (passage) off Wenceslas Square

Can it be any cuter? I think not!

Surround me with fountains and I'll be a very happy girl

Ovocný trh - an outdoor market selling everything from fruits & vegetables to souvenirs, artwork, and leather goods. I discovered my new favorite handbag maker. Made by hand, no less. Um, yes, of course I made a purchase, and I'm ~~contemplating~~ deciding on another one.

My new Kubat. Love.

I also couldn't resist a new one of these:

Gorgeous flowers caught my eye

Never even knew there was a tearoom in this courtyard...

That's another thing I love about Prague - all the nooks and crannies waiting to be discovered

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Czech Public Holiday Today - Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day

Today is a public holiday in the Czech Republic - Den boje za svobodu a demokracii (Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day) commemorating the student demonstration against Nazi occupation in 1939, and the demonstration in 1989 that started the Velvet Revolution.

On November 17, 1989, a Friday, riot police suppressed a peaceful student demonstration in Prague. That event sparked a series of popular demonstrations from November 19th through late December. By November 20th, the number of peaceful protesters assembled in Prague had risen from 200,000 the previous day to an estimated 500,000.

Twenty-two years ago today, it started off as a peaceful officially-sanctioned march in Prague to commemorate Czech student Jan Opletal, who died at the hands of the country's Nazi occupiers in 1939. Students, however, soon started to chant slogans against the communist regime.

Jan Opletal (Jan. 1, 1915 - Nov. 11, 1939)

Home of Jan Opletal

It is said that about 15,000 students had joined the demonstration. They walked to the grave of Jan Opletal and - after the official end - continued from the Czech National Cemetery at Vyšehrad to Wenceslas Square calling for democratic reforms. However, they never made it there. At about 7:30 pm, when they were halfway through their march at Národní Street, the students were stopped by a cordon of police. The students offered flowers to the police while singing songs and shouting "we have bare hands", but the police suddenly began to beat the young demonstrators with night sticks.

Prior to this, the police managed to block all escape routes. Nearly 200 people were injured. One student was reportedly beaten to death. Although this was later proved false, it served well for mass student support amongst the general public.

There is a memorial dedicated to November 17th at Wenceslas Square, and each year people place flowers and candles there to remember this day's events. The President of the Czech Republic always places flowers atop the memorial, as well.

Memorial to Jan Opletal

Along Národní třída, inside the arcade near No. 16, is a bronze plaque with a cluster of hands forming the peace sign and the date "17.11.1989" in memory of students clubbed in the street by police on that date.

Student Memorial on Národní třída

Monday, December 6, 2010

'Tis the Season ...for a festive stroll through the Prague Christmas Markets

Oh, how I adore this time of year! Strolling through the Christmas markets (Vánoční trhy) in Prague with the sweet smell of hot Trdelník in the air, sipping on Svařák to stay warm, taking in all of the sights and sounds of the holiday...this is what I look forward to every year!

Svařák (hot mulled wine)

Be sure to visit the Christmas market during the day as well as at night when thousands of lights are twinkling...

The Christmas markets are now up throughout the city, but the most famous one is in Old Town Square. So grab a Svařák (mulled wine) or Medovina (honey wine or Mead) and take a leisurely stroll around Old Town Square. If your're lucky, it may begin to snow...adding to the Christmassy feel.

Be sure to admire the 27-meter tall tree that was gifted to Prague by the town of Vrchlabí, which is in the Czech Republic in the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše).

Old Town Square at Christmastime

Christmas just wouldn't be right without a nativity scene, but a live one!? This is one you won't want to miss! There's also a petting zoo, performances of Christmas music and dance, and many, many stalls selling everything from Czech food, beer and treats, to glass, candles, and traditional Czech toys and marionettes. It's a great place to pick up a little something to put under the tree or in a stocking.

Other Prague Christmas markets are in Wenceslas Square, with smaller markets at Havelske Trziste and Náměstí Republiky, and all are within a 10-minute walk. Another Christmas market is situated in Náměstí Míru, which is a bit outside of the city center but very easily reached by metro or tram. You'll find more locals than tourists here.