Description from Prague TV
No matter the hour, Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) overflows with people.

Rectangular in shape, this 750-meter-long boulevard is the heart of the city, and a popular shopping destination for international visitors.

On either side of the street lie numerous clothing stores, bars and restaurants, offering anything from discount shoes to overpriced steak. At night, the square's lively nightlife draws visitors to its clubs and casinos.

Originally a horse market dating back to the 15th century, the square was renamed in 1848 in honor of Wenceslas I (Václav I), and his statue, riding a horse mid-gallop, stands at the higher, southeastern end of the square.

Wenceslas, a Duke of Bohemia in the 1st century, was murdered by his brother but lives on in the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas, and as the Czech patron saint.

Down the years, Wenceslas Square has been home to many political and cultural happenings, from celebrations to protests.

A commemorative plaque recognizes Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc, two students who burned themselves to death in 1969 in protest at the previous year's Soviet invasion.

At the end of the square, behind the Wenceslas statue, stands the National Museum (Národní muzeum), a Neoclassical building erected in the late 19th century.

Ashley N. Knierim