Havlíčkovo náměstí

“Whose words echo in this very square?” a passerby might ask, gesturing towards the bronze figure dominating Havlíčkovo náměstí. Here, in the heart of Žižkov, Prague 3, stands a testament to a man whose words resonated through Czech history. Havlíčkovo náměstí, named after the renowned poet, journalist, and politician Karel Havlíček Borovský, has served as Žižkov’s central square since its inception in 1875. Originally called Basilejské náměstí, it was renamed in 1927 to honor Havlíček. The square even briefly bore the name Husovo náměstí during the Nazi occupation from 1940-1945, but reverted back to Havlíčkovo after liberation. The square itself is a roughly 70×70 meter square, oriented to the cardinal directions. A gentle slope leads down from the highest point in the south corner to the lowest in the north. Dominating the southwest corner is the Žižkov Town Hall, a neo-Renaissance masterpiece built between 1889 and 1891. Designed by Jan Šimáček, a member of the Žižkov town council, the town hall features a striking cylindrical tower topped with a clock and dome. Interestingly, Václav Havel was married twice in this very building. West of the town hall sits another imposing structure, a school built in 1883. Designed by architect Sponnar, the school’s western wing curves into Štítného street. In 1895, a third floor was added to the building. On the northeast side of Havlíčkovo náměstí stands the “House of Mercury,” another prominent building designed by Eduard Žáčárský, a former Žižkov mayor. At the center of the square stands the bronze statue of Karel Havlíček Borovský. This larger-than-life monument, cast in 1911, is a replica of Josef Strachovský’s original sandstone sculpture. The original, crafted in 1883, resides in Kutná Hora. The statue on Havlíčkovo náměstí has had its own tumultuous journey, removed by the Nazis in 1943, recast, and returned in 1946. It was again removed in 1977 for construction and finally returned to its rightful place in 1985. The pedestal, with its five steps, bears Havlíček’s powerful motto: “Promise me, threaten me, I will not be a mirror.” The square underwent revitalization in 2015, including architectural renovations to the park. Now, plaques bearing quotes from Havlíček’s epigrams are embedded in the pavement around the monument, ensuring his words continue to resonate within Havlíčkovo náměstí.