The John Lennon Wall, a colorful wall full of street art, is considered a symbol of peace, love, and freedom. It is one of the popular sights of Prague.
In this complete guide to the John Lennon Wall, you will learn everything about the sights, history, as well as helpful information about how to get there, admission, and guided tours.
What Can I Do at the John Lennon Wall?
The John Lennon Wall is a real tourist magnet not far from Charles Bridge that attracts tourists from all over the world. However, visitors can, not only admire a colorful wall full of graffiti here, but also experience a living piece of contemporary history at the same time.
As a piece of Prague history, the wall has been adorned with countless messages and graffiti, since the death of Beatles musician, John Lennon, in 1980. Initially, these were mainly critical of the government and demanding freedom, but today they focus primarily on peace and love.
The graffiti and messages were constantly replaced by new ones over the course of time, as well as even today. The original portrait of John Lennon, with which the story of the Wall began, has long been covered under layers of paint. However, song lyrics of the Beatles and allusions to John Lennon can always be rediscovered.
Today, the John Lennon Wall is a kind of open-air gallery that preserves the memory of John Lennon as well as the symbolic history of the Wall.
Admission, Tickets, and Guided Tours
- Admission: The John Lennon Wall can be visited completely free of charge.
- Guided Tours: There are many city walks and sightseeing tours that take visitors to the John Lennon Wall and tell about its moving past.
How Do I Get to the John Lennon Wall?
The John Lennon Wall is located in Prague's Lesser Town, very close to the Charles Bridge. From Charles Bridge you can reach the Wall after only a 5-minute walk.
From the Old Town Square, you can reach the John Lennon Wall after a 15-minute walk or by bus line 194 by going to the Malostranské náměstí stop.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
The John Lennon Wall is located in the Lesser Town of Prague, very close to the Charles Bridge and the French Embassy. The wall is the outer wall of Maltese Garden. The exact address is: Velkopřevorské náměstí, 118 00 Praha 1- Malá Strana.
The John Lennon Wall became a place of mourning after John Lennon's death in 1980, but quickly evolved into a silent protest against the communist government and a call for greater freedom. Today, the John Lennon Wall is a symbol of peace, love, and freedom.
You can visit the John Lennon Wall free of charge.
The John Lennon Wall can be reached from Charles Bridge after only 5 minutes of walking. From the Old Town Square you can either walk for 15 minutes or take bus number 194 to the Malostranské náměstí stop.
History of the John Lennon Wall
The John Lennon Wall had already become a place of protest against the communist regime in the 1970s. At that time, the wall was known as the Wailing Wall and was occasionally scrawled with inscriptions.
After the murder of John Lennon in December 1980, unknown people painted the singer's portrait and quotes from his songs on the wall at night. Lennon was considered a hero of the Czech youth in Prague with his political protest songs with themes of freedom and, like Western music in general, was a thorn in the side of the communist regime.
What began as a place of mourning gradually evolved into a silent protest against the communist government and a call for more freedom. More and more song lyrics and pictures of the Beatles were immortalized on the wall.
In order to stop the government-critical and freedom-demanding thought, the communist regime had the wall completely painted over several times. But the wall was always covered again with new graffiti and inscriptions. In 1988, there were even clashes with security police and arrests when students wrote expressions of displeasure with the government on the wall.
Most recently, the John Lennon Wall was whitewashed by the government in 1998, as well as by a street art group in 2014. As before, the condition did not last long and numerous graffiti and messages adorned the wall again. Even today, new graffiti is constantly added to replace the old ones.
Meanwhile, the John Lennon Wall stands for ideals such as peace, love, and freedom. Especially among young people it is a popular selfie hotspot.
Contact
- Address: John Lennon Wall, Velkopřevorské náměstí, 118 00 Praha 1- Malá Strana
- Website: https://www.google.de/maps/place/John+Lennon+Wall/
- Public Transport: By bus 194 to the Malostranské náměstí stop.
- Opening Hours: The John Lennon Wall can be visited around the clock.