Jan Palach Square

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Rudolfinum with statue of Antonín Dvořák. Notice the concrete structure belonging to the underground parking in front of it.

Jan Palach Square (Czech: Náměstí Jana Palacha) is a town square in the Old Town of Prague It is located on right bank of the Vltava River next to former Jewish Quarter. Unlike other squares in old Town, Jan Palach Square was created in the end of 19th century making it one of the newest ones.^{[citation needed]}

1 Buildings and structures
2 Name of the square
3 Transport
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Buildings and structures

The western side of the square is adjacent to the Vltava River. The Mánes Bridge (1911-1916) connects Jan Palach Square to Malá Strana on the opposite bank. This side of the square also offers a good view of Prague Castle, Petřín Hill and Charles Bridge. In the north there is a Neo-Renaissance Rudolfinum Concert Hall (1876-1884). The building in the eastern side (1924-1930) houses Faculty of Arts (Czech: Filozofická fakulta) of Charles University and the building in the southern side (1885) belongs to Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design (Czech: Vysoká škola umělecko-průmyslová).

There is a large underground parking garage under the square with surface structures of this facility slightly disturbing the overall impression of the square.^{[citation needed]} Monuments to two personalities of Czech culture are situated here - a statue of composer Antonín Dvořák in front of Rudolfinum and a statue of painter Josef Mánes closer to the river.

[edit] Name of the square

The previous name of the square used through the communist era was Square of Red Army Soldiers (Náměstí Krasnoarmějců) commemorating Soviet soldiers killed during their liberation of Prague in May 1945. The current name introduced shortly in 1969-1970 and again on 20 December 1989 after Velvet Revolution also has an association with Soviet Army. It commemorates Jan Palach, a student who immolated himself on 16 January 1969 to protest against the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia.

[edit] Transport

Jan Palach Square is accessible by trams No. 17 and 18 or by A Line of Prague Metro. The exit of Staroměstská metro station is located next to the southeast corner of the square and across the near bridge is Malostranská metro station.