The John Lennon Wall is one of the unusual sights to see in the Czech capital. It is located in the heart of the beautiful and very authentic Malá Strana district, which is easy to reach after visiting Charles Bridge or Prague Castle. Unlike the Berlin Wall, this wall fortunately did not fall during the 1989 revolution. And John Lennon never came to Prague! It’s purely symbolic. On the contrary, Václav Havel‘s closest friends were the Rolling Stones (the first post-communist president had them come sing in 1990 at Strahov, in the largest football stadium in the world, and they supposedly helped fund the electrification of the Castle after the Revolution…
A John Lennon Wall covered in graffiti for 40 years
The graffiti on the John Lennon Wall is a beautiful symbol of peace and freedom. Sometimes, the wall disappoints visitors who expect to discover a work of art when it is actually a wall of political expression. At the end of a pleasant stroll, the surprising mural will move you. It is also customary to take a souvenir photo in front of the wall. See for yourself what it looks like on Instagram. And if you want to stay right next door, I’ve heard great things about the apartments for rent at Old Royal Post!
And if you’re interested in history and the communist period, I highly recommend a visit to Communist Prague and the Museum of Communism!
The historical significance of the John Lennon Wall
During communism, the John Lennon Wall represented a space for fighting for freedom of expression and a small piece of hope. Today, this spirit is preserved and you too can leave a message on this historic wall. A few years ago, the embassy of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the owner of the wall, complained about the increase in acts of vandalism and obscene or political graffiti that had nothing to do with John Lennon’s ideals. Since then, spray painting has been theoretically prohibited. Portraits of Lennon or Václav Havel became rarer or were systematically covered as soon as they appeared, and the residents were also disturbed by the noise… In October 2019, the wall became a memorial protected by cameras, and only a few professional artists are allowed to express themselves there. The general public can still express themselves with chalk, pencil, or marker.
A walk to take after visiting Charles Bridge or the Castle
You can also find a small ‘John Lennon’ souvenir in the beautiful garden (also owned by the Order of Malta) behind the wall with the Artisème design shop. Not far from the wall, you will also find the very pleasant Kampa Island, which is a great place to stroll around. You can therefore combine it with your visit to the wall.
The John Lennon Wall is right opposite the pretty Buquoy Palace
The wall is located opposite the French Embassy and therefore belongs to the Knights of Malta (Velkopřevorské náměstí, Malá Strana). Here on the map of Prague.
The first portrait of Lennon covered by many others
The portrait of the former Beatle, a fervent opponent of the Vietnam War and a worthy representative of “peace and love,” is still present on the wall. Or rather, hundreds of portraits have succeeded one another there since 1980.
On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was murdered in Manhattan
For Czech students, suffocating under the heavy hand of communism after the normalization of 1968, it was a symbol of peace and freedom that had disappeared.
A tribute from Czech youth to the champion of anti-militarism
To pay tribute to him, even though he had never set foot in Prague, a first drawing appeared shortly after his death on a small fountain and in a place where, since the 1970s, people had been in the habit of expressing themselves by writing on the walls.
Very quickly, Prague students took over this wall
The wall ran for twenty meters along the garden of the Knights of the Order of Malta. Until 1989, the people of Prague used it to express their frustrations, but also their desire for peace and their opposition to war. The communist authorities regularly had dissident inscriptions erased by covering them with gray or green paint.
A communist regime that did not tolerate free expression
In 1988, there were even clashes between students and the police on the nearby Charles Bridge. Regardless, “Lennonism,” as it was then called, was stronger, and those whom the regime labeled as alcoholics, sociopaths, or traitors began writing on the wall again the very next day. The John Lennon Wall is therefore a unique example of freedom of expression and the hope that young people everywhere carry within them. The wall is part of Czech heritage but has evolved over time. Covered with tags and graffiti, it is a moving and living example because it is constantly changing. Today, words of love and peace are the most common.
On November 17, 2014, however, there was shock on Grand Prior Square!
The entire wall had been repainted white during the previousnight , leaving only the words “Wall is over.” Who was responsible for this act?
Graffiti regularly covered with paint
The culprits were young art students involved in street art. The Sovereign Order of Malta initially filed a complaint for vandalism… Before talking to the students, who wanted, in their own way, to celebrate both the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and pay tribute to John Lennon. “War is over,” as famously displayed on a sign by John Lennon and his partner Yoko Ono at the time.
The John Lennon Wall in Prague is constantly evolving
The young artists had erased everything without the slightest remorse. For the students involved, the wall should not be limited to a simple tourist attraction but should remain a vehicle for a universal message (another John Lennon wall was created in 2014 in Hong Kong during the pro-democracy protests).
Don’t forget to take a nice photo or a selfie! In 2022, during the Czech Presidency of the European Union, European artists painted the wall, which had been completely repainted, and a photo was taken. This photo was used to create a life-size inflatable wall that was displayed for a few days in Paris and Strasbourg. As soon as the artists left, the Prague wall was attacked by markers! Do the same and leave a nice little trace of your visit.
Take a photo of yourself in front of this historic wall in Prague!
And if that’s not enough, you can even go for a beer at the John Lennon Pub 50 meters away (Hroznová 6), on the left after the small bridge over the Čertovka, a branch of the Vltava River.
The address of the John Lennon Wall in Prague
John Lennon Wall
Velkopřevorské náměstí
Hellichova tram stop (trams 2,5,12,15,20, and 22)