Top quirky and unusual sculptures in Prague. Prague "Pissing Boys" and Franz Kafka - moving (travel notes) Pissing men in Prague

Prague is filled with various monuments, including unusual and strange ones. I’ll start with something pleasing to our eyes - mushrooms

This is an unusual “exhibition” by the young Czech artist Michal Trpak in the small Trade Union Square (odboru) in Prague. A composition with 6-meter-tall “Psilocybin” mushrooms is located in front of the hotel building (“House of Mosaic”).

The man sitting above the entrance to the building is called “The Thinker” (Czech: Myslitel, Thinker). And happy people - women and men - fly around on umbrellas.

This is a view from Trade Union Square to the short Trade Union Street leading to the New Town Hall.

The man is one of the flying people.

The entire installation is called “Waiting for Happiness” (2013). Apparently by eating "magic moshrum". They say that people floating in the air are intended to symbolize the financial crisis...

Internet review. M. Trpak has many exhibitions with “Thinkers” or floating people called “Slight Uncertainty”, as an allusion to the financial crisis. In addition, he has several sculptural compositions and monuments: “Tornado” (“Tornado”, 2005 - No. 5), a sculpture of unusual pink animals - “Tenderness” (Czech “Mazlici”, 2014 - No. 1) or a monument with holes heads, installed in the artist’s homeland in Budejovice - “Mental Insight” (“Mental Insight”, 2012 - No. 2), the monument “Humanoids” (“Humanoids”, 2009, one of the options was installed somewhere in our Siberia - No. 4) or the monument “Reminder” (“Memento”, 2014 - No. 3). One of the latest works is a philosophical sculpture with the painting “Escape into reality” - No. 6.

There are also flying people on Long Street (dlouha) in the northern part of the Old Town.

As you continue along Long (dlouha) Street you will inevitably run into a large woman. But the sight of her usually evokes mixed feelings among viewers. This is the work of a more famous avant-garde artist David Cerny than Trpak.

The 6.5-meter-tall composition is called “In the Womb” and is part of the gallery’s collection of contemporary art. The only beautiful thing is that stainless steel reflects light in different colors when the lighting changes.

One of the most famous compositions of the scandalous D. Cerny - “Piss-Gerget Brickworks” (2004) is installed in the courtyard of the Kafka Museum. Two bronze men write out (both meanings of this word finally come together) patterns and texts on the water surface of the fountain. The reservoir exactly follows the contours of the borders of the Czech Republic (see outline at the top left). Those. they simply flooded the country with their urine - amazing patriotism!

Tourists, of course, cannot resist touching the moving organ of the dudes, because the common people simply call the composition “Two Peeing Guys”.

This young man also did not escape the hands of tourists and shines in the most interesting place. It is installed in the courtyard of the information center in Visegrad (against the background of the remains of an ancient Gothic gate). Well, in the same courtyard there is a “house of Czech children”.

This is the monument to St. Wenceslas (author Josef Myslbek) on Wenceslas Square - long, similar to a wide boulevard. So, in the distance, at the other end of the square, D. Cerny installed the sculpture “Horse” (1999): Vaclav sits on the belly of his inverted dead horse. According to the author (?), this reflected either the political state of the Czech Republic, or a mockery of Vaclav himself.

Internet review. Currently, “Horse” (No. 2) is located in the “Lucerna” passage in Prague. One of the first actions of the young Cerny was to repaint pink the monument to the liberators of Prague - the Soviet tank (No. 1), now it is in the military museum of Lesany. The sculpture “Hanging Out” (No. 3) depicts the life-size figure of Sigmund Freud. Crawling Babies (2000 - No. 4) on the Zizkov TV tower in the east of the city. Performance purple “Fuck” (“Fuck the KSCM”, 2002 - No. 5) - an indecent gesture, as an attitude towards the Communist Party of the Czech Republic. In the courtyard of the FUTURA Contemporary Art Gallery there is an installation of two butts (2003 - No. 6). If you go up the stairs and look inside, you can see a vile video about politicians. Well, there are also indecent sculptures and designs by David, which I would not like to present here... This is such high art... By the way, in 2000 he received the Prize. Jindřich Chalupecký for young artists. And our Russian history has examples of similar awards.

Another group of naked men - Memorial to the Victims of Communism at the base of Petrín Hill (Czech: Pomnik obetem komunismu, 2002). I can’t say anything bad about this successful monument. It’s just a pity that there were no women among the victims... This is all the avant-garde in art, the aesthetics of which I apparently don’t understand.

Author - valniko77. This is a quote from this post

The main attractions in Prague - what to see?

The main attractions in Prague - what to see?

Prague is comfortably located on banks of the Vltava river, which divides the city into two parts. The city's territory is divided into 15 administrative districts, the most interesting of which are the central "Prague 1" and "Prague 2". There are more than 10 bridges across the river, the most famous of which is

Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge- one of the main attractions of the city. The Gothic-style pedestrian bridge is decorated with ancient sculptures; its image is one of the symbols of Prague.

The most soulful attraction of Prague, 520 meters long - Charles Bridge

It connects the two banks of the Vltava River and leads from the Old Town to Mala Strana. For several centuries this bridge served as the only communication. At the beginning of the last century, a tram service was launched across the Charles Bridge for some time, but due to the heavy load on the structure and the significance of this structure, the tram tracks had to be dismantled. ">

Charles Bridge Guard

Knight of Brunswick. This is the only statue that stands not on the bridge, but behind the fence, on the support of the Charles Bridge; in place of the statue.

One of the legends is associated with the knight Brunswick, who also bears the name of Roland.

One day, as a young man, Roland went on a journey, and everywhere along the way he fought injustice, defended the weak and disadvantaged. In one of the kingdoms, an evil dragon kidnapped the king's daughter and ruined the kingdom. Fearless Roland fought the dragon and freed the king's daughter. As a reward for this, the king invited the knight Brunswick to take the young princess as his wife. The knight refused, since his beloved girl was waiting for him at home. Roland's refusal angered the king, and he ordered Roland to be thrown into prison. But the knight Roland did not have to languish in prison for long; a magic sword helped him free himself. Subsequently, this sword was placed at the base of the Charles Bridge, and will lie there as long as nothing threatens Prague. And only in the face of serious danger will the sword emerge from the base of the bridge and slay the enemies with its tip.

It was about the knight Roland standing on the Charles Bridge that Marina Tsvetaeva wrote: “I have a friend in Prague, a stone knight, very similar in face to me. He stands on the bridge and guards the river: oaths, rings, waves, bodies. He is about five hundred years old and very young: a stone boy.” She dedicated her poem The Knight of Prague to him:

Charles Bridge- This is a kind of Broadway in Prague and one of the most famous attractions of the Czech Republic. Hundreds of thousands of tourists daily overcome the treasured 520 meters from one bank of the Vltava to the other. And everyone finds something interesting and unforgettable here. Today only pedestrians walk here: tourists and locals.

White swans on the banks of the Vltava

Once a year, in two places of this Prague landmark, you can and should make wishes that will definitely come true.

Come to the Charles Bridge in Prague, put your hand on the statue, kiss your loved one, dream, be charged with the most positive energy of this fantastic city. It is not for nothing that the great Dalai Lama, during his visit to the Czech Republic in 1990, while walking along the Charles Bridge, called this place the center of the universe. As the great Buddhist spiritual leader said, there is no negative energy on the bridge.

From a height of several meters, native Prague residents and tourists, including you, have been tirelessly watched for several centuries 30 beautiful statues of saints.

Each of them has its own story. The most interesting one is at the statue of St. John of Nepomuk, who was the vicar general of the Prague archbishopric and who, by order of King Wenceslas IV, was thrown from the Charles Bridge. Legend has it that in the very place where he drowned, glows from five stars appeared.

Statue of St. John of Nepomuk on Charles Bridge.

Officially, the church recognized this phenomenon as a miracle and that is why in all sculptures and photographs John of Nepomuk is depicted with five stars above his head.

Old Town Square

She's a beauty Old Town Square, where is the city town hall, on which world-famous people have been beating time for several centuries Astronomical clock. Every hour from 9 am to 9 pm, hundreds of people gather to see the most interesting show.

Monument to Jan Hus in Prague

Interesting to know! There is an inscription on the monument to Jan Hus, which, by the way, depicts not him alone, but a whole group of people - his supporters.

It says: “Love people.” This was the life philosophy of the great Czech.

Jan Hus - 14th century Czech philosopher, educator, priest-preacher. He became known for daring to go against centuries-old established church rules, trying to “humanize” the church, make it more fair and loyal to parishioners and honest with them. Jan Hus also made a significant contribution to the development of Czech philology, as he preached exclusively in Czech, promoted his native language in every possible way and carried out spelling reforms. After this, literacy became more accessible to ordinary people.

Church of the Virgin Mary before Tyn (Tyn Cathedral)

New Town Hall

Astronomical clock in Prague or Prague Orloj

Modern experts still cannot understand how in the Middle Ages it was possible to create such a mechanism, which is now called a model of the universe. Recently, the clock celebrated its 600th anniversary; for the holiday, a laser show was created in 3D format, which reflects the most significant historical events of Prague.

Using the astrological dial, you can determine the current time, Central European, Old Bohemian, the position of the stars, sunset and rise of the sun and moon, and even the Sediric zodiac. On the sides are located 4 figures: Vanity looking in the mirror; Greed is a Jew holding a bag of gold; Death with a scythe in the form of a skeleton ringing a bell and a Turk shaking his head. Later, in 1490, a lower calendar dial was added.

St. Vitus Cathedral

Cathedral of St. Vitus located in the center Prague Castle. It is the largest and most significant cathedral in the Czech Republic; its spiritual and national-historical shrine.

St. Vitus Cathedral is the second largest after the Roman Cathedral of Peter and Paul.

Strahov Monastery

Strahov Monastery (Czech: Strahovský klášter) is a monastery in Prague, an architectural monument of the Czech Republic. Located in Hradcany, Prague 1. The monastery is one of the oldest monasteries of the Order of Premonstratensian monks.

It was founded in 1140-1143 by Vladislav II on the initiative of the Olomouc bishop Jindrich Zdik. The name of the monastery has roots from the word “guard”, since it was in this place that the outpost was located, guarding the approaches to Prague Castle.

Philosopher's Hall

Theological Hall

Zlata Street

Miniature houses, where, according to legend, alchemists lived, whom Charles IV gathered from all over the world to search for the philosopher's stone, decorate a tiny street in the labyrinths of Prague Castle and its name is Zlata Ulochka.

Prague Castle

Prague Castle the residence of the Czech kings, now the president, which is located near the palace. Prague Castle- the largest fortress in the Czech Republic, stretching along the top of the hill on the left bank of the Vltava. This is a major historical, political and cultural center of the country, founded in the 9th century.

The front gate leads inside the Castle from Hradcany Square, where a guard of honor is posted, with which tourists love to take pictures. Every day at noon there is an honorary changing of the guard.

The Teresian Palace is located in the first courtyard of the City from the gate (the “Honorable”). Further, to the second courtyard, they lead

Baroque Matthias Gate.

Here you will find the Chapel of the Holy Cross, two fountains and a well with a Renaissance wrought-iron dome.

In the third courtyard - the oldest part of the Castle - is the famous Cathedral of St. Vitus (Witt). This stunning Gothic structure is considered the “hallmark” of the city, and its oldest part, the Chapel of St. Wenceslas, in which the “Czech national saint” was buried in 932, is a major center of pilgrimage.

Queen Anne's Summer Palace and Royal Gardens

Basilica of St. George

Wenceslas Square

The Czech people love Wenceslas Square like no other street, monument or church in Prague.

If Prague is the capital, then it is, first of all, on Wenceslas Square.

The heart of the New Town is Wenceslas Square, which was the Horse Market until 1848. Vaclavak, as the Czechs call the square, is today the center of city life. Shops, company offices, casinos, hotels, and restaurants are concentrated on it.

The National Museum of Prague and the Wenceslas Monument are located on Wenceslas Square.

National Museum of Prague

Monument to Saint Wenceslas.

The inscription on the pedestal of the monument reads:

“Saint Wenceslas, Duke of the Czech Land, our prince, do not let us or our children perish.”

Image of St. Wenceslas on the wall of the Building

Dancing House

Dancing House or, as the Czechs themselves call it, the drunken house, is the only building in the historical part of Prague built in the twentieth century.

The Dancing House is a symbolic building depicting a man and woman dancing.

The house is also called "Ginger and Fred" in honor of the duo of the great Hollywood dancers Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.

"Ginger and Fred", "drunken house", "glass", "dancing house"- such different and sometimes funny names are given by the residents of Prague to the non-standard building. Today, the Dancing House in Prague is an unusual office building in Prague, where several international companies are located, and on the top floor there is a fashionable French restaurant “Pearl of Prague”. Its windows offer a wonderful view of the city.

Sculpture-fountain “Pissing Men” in Prague

In Prague, near the Herget brick factory, there is an electromechanical statue of two men peeing in a pond whose outline resembles a map of the Czech Republic. Bronze figures do not just pour water, but under computer control “write out” famous quotes from famous residents of Prague. Visitors can also ask the statue to write their own text via SMS.

A statue of two men peeing in a pond whose outline resembles a map of the Czech Republic. Bronze figures do not just pour water, but under computer control “write out” famous quotes from famous residents of Prague. Visitors can also ask the statue to write their text via SMS to the number (+420 724 370 770) indicated next to the unusual fountain. The author of the composition is David Cherny, 2004

Monument to Franz Kafka

John Lennon Wall

in Mala Strana there is a wall dedicated to John Lennon. The wall has an interesting location, because right opposite the wall is the French embassy. Rumor has it that inscriptions on the memorial wall began to appear immediately after the death of the famous John Lennon. They also believe that a true Lennon fan will find Lennon’s autograph among the thousands of inscriptions.

The city authorities tried their best to stop the high art of fans, but nothing was done. After each painting, new notes appeared on the wall. After reading the forum of Beatles fans, I found a very interesting quote explaining why the John Lennon Wall in Prague still “lives” - “They say that the French ambassador solved the problem by urgently asking to stop such outrages in order to avoid manifestations of indignant Prague Beatlemaniacs: )" This wall, like Viktor Tsoi’s wall, is constantly changing, so it’s always interesting to look at the wall.

Petrin Hill

Petřín Hill- a hill worthy of the attention of every tourist. It is located on the left bank of the Vltava River, the highest point reaches 327 meters. The hill has been known since ancient times, because it was here that the pagans worshiped the thunder god Perun. With the construction of the Hunger Wall under Charles IV, the hill acquired strategic importance for the city.

At the top of the hill there is an observation tower that is visually reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Here you can also visit the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, the mirror labyrinth and the Petrin Gardens.

Visegrad

The southern hill of the central part of modern Prague is crowned An ancient fortress, once the residence of Czech kings - Vysehrad.

Within the walls of Vysehrad there are such attractions as the Neo-Gothic Church of Saints Peter and Paul, the remains of the oldest Romanesque basilica, and the Romanesque rotunda of St. Martin. Visegrad Cemetery is the burial place of famous Czech figures.

Křižikov Fountains (Singing Fountains)

The most important attraction of the Vystaviste Park complex, the highlight that attracts hundreds and thousands of tourists and residents of Prague, is, of course, Singing fountains (Křižíkova fontána).

Singing fountains today it is a huge pool with several fountains and a stage for a colorful show in the middle. Water jets, illuminated and shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow to the beat of classical or modern music, change height, pressure, stun and amaze.

Immortal “Swan Lake” by P.I. Tchaikovsky performed by the Czech ballet, famous arias, three thousand fountains that merge with light and music, create an unforgettable mystery, enchant and delight both adults and the youngest spectators. Since 2000, the Singing Fountains have become even more spectacular and impressive thanks to the fact that colorful images are projected onto the water screen.

Prague Zoo

Prague Zoo (Czech: Zoologická zahrada hl. m. Prahy)- the largest zoo in the Czech Republic and one of the largest in Europe, located in the Troy Basin (Troy district) of Prague.

Perhaps every tourist knows about the famous sculpture “The Manneken Pis”, installed near the Grand Palace Square in Brussels. Did you know that its “competitor” is located in the Czech capital? More precisely, even two. We are talking about a monument to pissing men, installed in the courtyard of the Franz Kafka Museum, which is located in Mala Strana, on the left side of the Charles Bridge (the distance between them is no more than 50 meters). The author of the original work is a popular artist and sculptor in his homeland and abroad.

A sculptural composition in the form of a fountain is installed directly opposite, where, by the way, the writer’s personal diary, letters, photographs and his books are kept. It looks like this: two men cast in bronze stand opposite each other and relieve themselves. They do this, of course, not on the road surface, but in a shallow reservoir. If you thought that it was ordinary, like other fountains, then you were mistaken: the shape of the reservoir resembles... the outlines of the territory of the Czech Republic. Guests of the city on the Vltava, who saw the composition for the first time, exclaim enthusiastically: “It was necessary to think of such a thing!” And here there is something to be surprised and admire, because you will not see such monuments everywhere in Prague, but only in some places.

The monument to Charles IV is erected on Křizovnice Square, near Charles Bridge, in Prague. It was erected in honor of the quincentenary of Charles University in 1848. This four-meter bronze monument is made in the neo-Gothic style. It is decorated with allegories of four university faculties: Arnošt Pardubicki, Jan Oczek Vlasimski, Benes Kolowratski and Mathieu Arras - famous associates of the king.

Charles IV is depicted holding a sword - a symbol of his military victories and the statute of the university. It is worth noting that Charles University, which is the main university in the country, the oldest in Central Europe, and also one of the oldest in the world, was founded by the emperor in 1348.

Coordinates: 50.08636300,14.41389100

TGM Monument

On Prague's Hradcany Square there is a bronze monument to the first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk.

The three-meter tall figure of Tomas Masaryk rises on a granite pedestal in the very center of Prague’s historic Hradcany district.

The monument was made by sculptors Josef Weitz and Jan Bartosz, based on the model of the master Otakar Spaniel, enlarging the original model three times. The prototype of the sculpture was created in 1931 and is now housed in the Prague Pantheon of the National Museum. The architect Jiří Ratouski gave the original model a modern look.

After the installation of the monument in Hradcany Square, a copy of the statue was also made, which was then taken and placed in Mexico City on the main avenue named after Masaryk. He is so well known in his country that the authors limited themselves to the laconic inscription “TGM” on the monument, without deciphering the full name of the first president.

Coordinates: 50.08952700,14.39648800

Monument to Sigmund Freud "Hanging Man"

The Hanging Man monument to Sigmund Freud is located on the protruding part of the roof of one of the houses in Prague. The figure of the famous scientist “hangs”, clinging to a beam with one hand. The author of such an unusual creation is the notorious Prague sculptor David Černý. The monument was created in 1996 and was a stunning success, and therefore the sculpture was hung in Prague, Chicago, and London.

They say that from a distance at dusk, the suspended figure of Freud resembles a hanged man or a person in trouble and often frightens passers-by. Some even see similarities with Vladimir Lenin and political implications in the sculpture. But according to the author’s plan, the monument should personify the isolation of the intelligentsia from the people.

Coordinates: 50.08723700,14.41734000

Monument to Berjikh Smetana

The monument to Bedřich Smetana is erected in front of the entrance to the composer's museum. The site where the monument is installed offers a beautiful view of the Vltava River, Charles Bridge and Prague Castle.

Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) was a famous Czech composer, chief conductor of the Czech National Opera and pianist. His name is associated with the national school of composition. In his works he used Czech subjects and folk motifs. He owns the work “The Brandenburgers in the Czech Republic,” which became the first opera in history in the Czech language. His symphonic poem “Vltava” is considered the unofficial Czech anthem. Smetana was buried at the Visegrad cemetery.

Coordinates: 50.08566100,14.41294300

Monument to Jan Hus

The monument to Jan Hus is located in the northern part of the square and with all its grandeur demonstrates a symbol of national unity. The philosopher, preacher and reformer who fought for the freedom of the Czechs was recognized as a heretic in 1414, and a year later he was sentenced by the Catholic Church to execution by burning.

Monument to Wenceslas on an inverted horse

The monument to Wenceslas on an inverted horse is an ironic version of the famous classical monument to Saint Wenceslas. This unusual monument was made by the very scandalous sculptor David Cherny.

This version is in no way inferior to the original in popularity: a horse, tied by its legs, hangs upside down with its tongue hanging out, and the Czech King Wenceslas sits on its belly.

At first, it was decided to erect the monument, although close to the original, but on the other side of the square. However, the residents of the city did not like this creation of the sculpture and caused a whole storm of discontent. Therefore, it was decided to move the monument to another place.

Today it can be seen in the atrium of the Lucerne Passage. There, the monument is suspended from the ceiling on iron cables, and there are always a lot of tourists around it.

Coordinates: 50.08093000,14.42632600

Monument to the city tramp

The City Tramp Monument is a modern, original monument to the Czech homeless man, located in the heart of the capital of the Czech Republic. It represents a seated statue of a man on a blue bench - a barefoot, middle-aged man in a hat and loose cloak.

The monument to the tramp is located on a small street in the historical center of the Czech Republic, between Wenceslas and Old Town Squares. This is a small human-sized statue, around which tourists enjoy relaxing and taking pictures. The monument is cast from bronze. Vacationers in Prague love to shake his hand, rub his nose or the edge of his coat for good luck.

Coordinates: 50.08469700,14.42238600

Monument to Antonin Dvorak

The monument to Antonin Dvořák was erected on Jan Palach Square in front of the famous Rudolfinium, the palace of music and arts.

Antonin Dvořák is a world-famous Czech composer whose works have brought glory to his native country. His work reflected the musical traditions of Bohemia and Moravia, folk music and the melodies of his native land. In the last years of his life, Dvořák was director of the Prague Conservatory, which at that time was located in the Rudolfinium, a palace in the heart of the city.

After World War II, a bronze monument to Antonin Dvorak was erected on the square in front of the residence of the Czech Symphony Orchestra.

Coordinates: 50.08923000,14.41524300

Monument on Biloya Gora

The monument on Bilya Gora is a stone mound with a memorial plaque. It was erected in memory of those killed during a short battle that took place on Bila Gora on November 8, 1620 as part of the Thirty Years' War. On this day, the Habsburg Catholic army defeated the Czech Protestants, which sealed the fate of the Czech state for the next three centuries.

Bila Gora, 381 meters high, is one of the districts of Prague and is located on its western outskirts. The monument to the fallen Czech Protestants is located in the middle of a field on a hill where the meeting of the troops of 1620 took place.

Coordinates: 50.07861100,14.31944400

Monument to firefighters

The Firefighters Monument is a monument dedicated to the 343 New York City firefighters who died responding to rescue efforts in New York City on September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack. This monument was unveiled on the island of Kampa. in Prague. The monument is a granite monument that depicts a fireman's helmet with the number 114.

The words on the pedestal read: “A firefighter is a person who lives in the world twice: for himself and for others. And that is why the life of a firefighter serves as a true example of a true understanding of human life.”

The opening of the monument was attended by the mayor of the capital, Bohuslav Svoboda, and representatives of the US Embassy. After the national anthem ended, members of the Prague Volunteer Firefighters Corps laid wreaths on the granite monument.

Coordinates: 50.08389200,14.40787400

Monument to Palakh and Zaits

On January 16, 1969, Jan Palach self-immolated on Wenceslas Square, protesting against the occupation of the Czechoslovak Republic by Soviet troops. Jan Palach was a twenty-year-old student who, seeing around him the passivity in the actions of his compatriots in front of the troops that occupied Czechoslovakia, out of despair, fearing that the country might forever remain a totalitarian state, committed an act of self-immolation. Jan Zaitz followed suit.

Monument to the Victims of Communism

The Monument to the Victims of Communism is a multi-sculptural allegorical composition located at the foot of Petřín Hill in Prague's Lesser Castle. This memorial was erected in honor of victims of the totalitarian regime of 1948-1988. The monument was opened in 2002, its authors are sculptor Olbram Zubek and architects Zdenek Holzel and Jan Kerel.

The sculptural composition consists of 7 bronze figures, which are depicted going down the stairs. Each subsequent statue is more “destroyed” than the previous one: first, limbs are “lost,” then fractures appear in the bodies, and in the end it seems that the person has gradually dissolved. According to the authors, the monument symbolizes the suffering of political prisoners during the period of communist rule. In the center there is an inscription indicating how many people were arrested, deported, died in prison, killed while escaping, or executed during those years. And on the bronze plaque placed nearby it is explained to whom this monument is dedicated.

Coordinates: 50.08336200,14.40311900

Monument to John of Nepomuk

Monument to John of Nepomuk - a statue depicting the famous Czech saint and martyr, installed on the Charles Bridge in Prague. It is believed that touching the statue brings good luck and happiness.

The first monument to John of Nepomuk was erected on the Charles Bridge at the beginning of the 17th century, and the modern bronze sculpture appeared in 1863. Its author was the famous sculptor Wolfgang Gerolt, and the pedestal was made by Jean Baptiste Matei. The monument turned out to be very beautiful and majestic, and it quickly became a model for many other sculptures depicting John of Nepomuk.

And even today this statue is considered the most beautiful decoration of the Charles Bridge and one of the most famous attractions of Prague.

Coordinates: 50.08649900,14.41131900

Monument to Franz Kafka

Between the Spanish Synagogue and the Church of the Holy Spirit in the Old Town there is an unusual monument - a monument to the famous Austro-Hungarian writer Franz Kafka.

The bronze sculpture, designed by Jaroslav Rona, appeared in Prague in 2003. The Kafka monument is 3.75 meters high and weighs 700 kilograms. The monument depicts the writer on the shoulders of a gigantic suit, in which the one who should wear it is missing. The monument refers to one of Kafka’s works, “The Story of a Struggle.” This is the story of a man who rides on the shoulders of another man through the streets of Prague.

Coordinates: 50.09053500,14.42077900

Monument "Přemysl and Libuše"

The legend about the founding of Prague says that after the death of Cech, who led the Czech people to the Czech Republic, his son, Voivode Krok, founded the city on a rock above the Vltava and named it Vysehrad due to its high location. When Krok died, the Czechs chose his youngest daughter, Libuše, as princess. Deciding to move the capital, she sent servants to look for a place on the left bank of the Vltava. The servants met woodcutters who were cutting down a tree. "What are you doing?" - asked the servants of Libuse. “We’re cutting the threshold,” the woodcutters answered. When the servants returned, they reported everything to the princess. “On this threshold the new city will be called Prague, and the glory of its stars will reach!” - commanded the impressionable Libushe.

It is believed that the monument in Visegrad was erected on the spot where Libuše said these words.

Monument to Jan Hus

In the Czech Republic, Jan Hus is a national hero, a great thinker and ideologist of the Czech Reformation. He spoke out against corruption, hypocrisy and extortions of the Catholic Church.

A complex multi-figure composition on a huge stone pedestal is inscribed into the ensemble of the square in such a way that the tall figure of the courageous preacher-reformer Jan Hus appears in the geometric center of the square.

There is an inscription on the monument that expresses the basic philosophy of the great Czech reformer: “Love people.”

The sculptural groups surrounding it personify the dramatic fate of the Czech Republic: the Hussite wars go into exile, a mother and child symbolize the hope for national revival.

The monument is undoubtedly one of the most significant works of the early 20th century Czech sculptor Ladislav Šaloun.

Old Town Square is a pedestrian zone; there are always a lot of Prague residents and tourists walking here.

Coordinates: 50.08773500,14.42113800

Monument to Saint Wenceslas

In 1912, one of the landmarks of Prague, a monument to St. Wenceslas by Joseph Vaclav Myslbek, was erected in front of the building of the National Museum.

Ghost Monument

Prague residents truly respect their ghosts. And even a monument was erected to one of them! This is Iron Man, whose statue you will find on the corner of the New Town Hall building.

The spirit of Jachim Berka is justly paying for his sins. Returning home from the war, he believed the gossip and rejected his bride. Only after marrying a neighbor's girl did he find out what a mistake he had made. Not only did the rejected girl and her father take their own lives, but his wife also turned into a lazy drunkard.

He made a man's decision: he strangled his wife and hanged himself in the basement. But even then he did not find peace. His spirit wanders along Platnerzhskaya Street, hoping for deliverance. Once every hundred years he can talk to a pure girl. However, today the cat made such people cry, and chatting with life-worn girls will not help Yahim.

Fountain-monument to pissing men

A fountain-monument to men pissing is installed in the courtyard in front of the house-museum of Franz Kafka. The museum is located in Lesser Town, about 50 meters from Charles Bridge. The museum houses the writer's published books, his diary, letters, photographs, sketches and many other things related to his life.

In front of the museum there is an extraordinary sculpture, which is a fountain composition made by David Cherny. Two bronze men stand opposite each other, relieving themselves in a shallow tank, shaped to recreate the borders of the Czech Republic. The author-creator was inspired for this sculptural work by the statue of a boy peeing, located in Brussels.

Coordinates: 50.08835800,14.41009000

Monument to Bozhena Nemtsova

The monument to Bozena Nemcova is located on Slovan Island, which is located in the center of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The monument has become one of the symbols of the park in which it is located. The monument in Prague was created in collaboration between the People's Artist of the Czech Republic, sculptor Karel Pokorny, and the architect Jaroslav Fragner, who designed the superb pedestal.

Bozena Nemcova occupies a special place in Czech literature. She is often called the founder of modern Czech prose. Having practically no means of subsistence at the end of her life, the writer received due recognition and national fame only after her death. The bronze sculpture is filled with emotion and true human drama. The monument to Bozena Nemcova in Prague is considered one of the best monuments to this outstanding Czech writer.

Coordinates: 50.07978300,14.41238000

Monument to Rabindranath Tagore

The Rabindranath Tagore monument is located in the historical district of Prague 6, near the Dejvicka metro station, in the capital of the Czech Republic. This is a monument in honor of the outstanding Indian writer and poet, composer and performer, political figure, who also had a positive influence on individual cultural figures of the Czech Republic. The Tagore monument is made in the form of a bust of the writer on a high pedestal and is located in the middle of a small square.

Coordinates: 50.07553800,14.43780000

Monument to Jaroslav Hasek

The monument to Jaroslav Hasek, located in Prague, is made in the Art Nouveau style. The monument is a kind of hybrid of a horse with a bar counter. In the center of it there is a small pedestal with a bust of the writer himself. The horse is made of bronze, the stele and bust of the writer are made of stone. There is a huge hole made inside the horse. According to the original idea, a beer barrel should have been located in this place.

The author of the monument was the famous Czech sculptor Neprash Karel. However, the author himself did not live three years before its discovery. The monument to Jaroslav Hasek was opened in 2005. Its opening was like a national holiday. During this event, the best Czech choreographic groups performed. On the same day, soldiers fired their weapons and sang the national anthem.

By the way, the monument cost the Czech treasury one hundred and forty thousand dollars.

Coordinates: 50.08534400,14.44084200

Prague metronome

The Prague metronome above the Vltava is a unique monument in its own way. On the one hand, it is absurd and, as they say, closes the peculiar emptiness that formed in this place during the course of historical events. On the other hand, impartially counting hours, minutes, moments, the metronome is an impeccable and powerful symbol of independent, passing time. Rising above the center of beautiful Prague, this awkward structure breaks stereotypes and often leads to existential experiences.

The monument was built in 1991 on the site of the former monument to Stalin. History decreed that the huge monument to the leader of the peoples was erected at the wrong time, in 1955. Several years later it was dismantled, and the resulting hole was eventually “plugged” with a metronome, a kind of example of modern art. At first, the monument temporarily placed here took root and has been steadily and steadily swinging its pendulum for the third decade. And it seems that this process will never stop.

Coordinates: 50.09496700,14.41603300

Monument "Pieta" on Charles Bridge

The Pieta monument is located on the Charles Bridge in Prague. This sculptural group was created in 1859 by sculptor Emanuel Max, who captured the scene of the mourning of Jesus Christ. Translated from Italian, “Pieta” means mercy and piety.

In addition to the usual Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene in this iconographic plot, the Apostle John the Theologian also mourns the Savior on the Charles Bridge.

This is not the first Pieta erected on this site. Previously, there was a Pietà hand carved from stone in 1695 by the sculptor Jan Brokoff, which was later moved to the garden of the Monastery of the Merciful Sisters. And in an earlier time, namely in the 15th century, on the site of modern Pieta there was an image of the Crucifixion, demolished by a powerful flood in 1496.

In addition to the Pieta, today there are 29 more sculptural groups on the Charles Bridge, dedicated to Catholic saints and having their own unique history.

Coordinates: 50.08648000,14.41146000

Monument to Josef Manes

The monument to Josef Manes stands on the Prague embankment at the base of the bridge, named after the outstanding Czech artist of the 19th century.

Josef Manes is a leading Czech painter of the 19th century. His works in the style of romanticism were a vivid continuation of the European artistic tradition.

The monument to the artist was erected at the end of the 19th century on the embankment, near the Rudolfinum hall, where the Prague National Orchestra is located.

The figure of Manes, who holds an easel in his hands, complements the architectural ensemble of the square, echoing the monument to another great Czech - Antonin Dvorak, whose sculpture is installed opposite.

Coordinates: 50.08954400,14.41451800

Monument to Jan Zizka

Monument to Jan Žižka is an equestrian statue of Jan Žižka, erected on Vitkov Hill in 1950. It symbolizes the memory of the national hero of the Czech Republic - Jan Žižka, who at this place in 1420 with four thousand people defended Prague from a large army of crusaders.

The National Monument to Jan Žižka is located in the center of Vitkov Park, on top of the hill of the same name, almost in the center of Prague. The magnificent statue of the national hero of the Czech Republic is nine meters high without a pedestal and weighs almost 17 tons. It consists of 120 bronze parts and five thousand bolts. The statue of Jan Zizka is the world's largest bronze equestrian monument. It was designed by the Czech sculptor Bohumil Kafka, influenced by the works of Auguste Rodin, but the master himself did not see his own creation, since he died in the Second World War.

Coordinates: 50.08855400,14.45003100

The monument to Soviet soldiers was erected at the Olsany military burial ground in Prague in the Zizkov district. Next to the monument to the soldiers who fell during the liberation of Prague from the German occupiers, there are identical tombstones in the form of a stone pillar with a five-pointed star. In total, 426 people are buried here. Architect Karel Benes and sculptor Jaroslav Brugi worked on the design of the monument. The monument is a tall gray slab, in front of which stands a bronze soldier with a rifle in his hands. A five-pointed star with Soviet symbols: a hammer and sickle rises above the slab. The monument is accompanied by a memorial plaque.

Coordinates: 50.08055600,14.47055600

Sights of Prague

Čůrající postavy

The fountain is located near the building of the Franz Kafka Museum, which is not exactly a museum in the traditional sense. Rather, it is a traveling exhibition that remains in the city for a fairly long period (about 10 years). Its exposition is located on the territory of the former Gergeta brick factory. Here next to him stands an interesting, simply amazing, sculptural composition.

What is a sculpture

The installation is made in a completely absurd style, in principle, like the works of a brilliant writer. She represents a fountain formed by two men peeing standing opposite each other. Interestingly, the middle part of the sculptures can rotate from side to side. Thanks to this movement, fountains draw various shapes on the water.

The principle of operation of a hi-tech creation

The author of this monument is the sculptor and artist David Cherny. He really created a rather unusual “monument” to men who relieve themselves on the map of the Czech Republic and at the same time “draw” sayings of famous Prague residents around themselves.

The operating principle of this hi-tech creation is very simple. The body parts of the bronze men, whose height is 2 meters 10 centimeters, are moved by electric motors installed inside the men, and they are controlled by a computer. As a result of the operation of the motors, the stream of water also moves, thus creating the outlines of various symbols at the foot of the statues.

The usual “work” of these men, who quote celebrities in such an unusual way, can be suspended. To do this, you need to send a short SMS message from your mobile phone to the number (+420 724 370 770) indicated next to the unusual fountain. A few minutes after receiving the message, men will try to reproduce its contents. It is interesting that the movements of the statues look very natural. This feature of the sculpture attracts everyone's attention. There are always a lot of tourists here.

David Cherny is quite a scandalous person. However, thanks to this unusual and provocative combination of the shameful and the funny, people pay attention to the nearby Kafka Museum. The sculptural composition “Pissing Men,” like many of his works, also caused sharp criticism from the public, but, nevertheless, received the same wide recognition and became another striking landmark of Prague.

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