Near Wenceslas Square.
Starting point of this walk is the National Museum on Wenceslas Square; right at the foot of the magnificent steps is the first site along the way.
A memorial to Jan Palach and a sad part of contemporary Czech history; it was here that the student chose self-immolation in protest against Soviet counterinsurgency of the Prague Spring.
Cross the heavy-trafficked Mezibranska Street onto the next sight which is the equestrian statue of Saint Wenceslas, old Bohemian duke and undoubtedly name giver of the square.
Below is a modest memorial for those who lost their life in resistance of communism.
Further down the square, on the left is the Melantrich Building of the balcony of which the end of communism on Czech ground was asserted by Alexander Dubcek and Vaclav Havel in 1989. Today it houses a Marks&Spencer store.
Now turn left into the shopping arcade Pasaz Rokoko leading to the atrium of the Lucerna Palace. The upside down horse statue you’ll come across is artist’s David Cerny’s tongue-in-cheek response to the original Saint Wenceslas statue – but this one is made of foam.
Onto greener realms, next destination is the Franciscan garden – also listed in the Parks. section – leave Lucerna Palace and enter the Svetozar arcade. At its far end of the arcade turn left and enjoy the green oasis that will reveal itself to you. Diagonally in the opposite from where you have entered, use the exit to Jungmannovo Square.
The next stop will be the Church of Our Lady of the Snows that is entered through the Austrian Cultural Institute. Make your way to the only Cubist lamppost in the world on Jungmannovo náměstí. Seen the remarkably chunky thing? Then conclude your tour at the Koruna Palace. Koruna means Crown and indeed a crown shaped adornment shines on top of this shopping center’s tower. It’s on Václavské náměstí 1 and still very close to Wenceslas Square with its numerous cafés.