Lennon Wall

A wall in Malá Strana that has been covered in graffiti, lyrics and messages of peace since 1980, and a small monument to freedom of expression.

After John Lennon was murdered in December 1980, an image of him and lines from Beatles songs appeared on this wall on a quiet square by the French Embassy. Under the communist regime, Western pop music was viewed with suspicion, and the wall became a place of quiet protest. The authorities repeatedly whitewashed it; overnight, new messages appeared.

The wall belongs to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, whose Grand Priory stands on the same square. Since 1989 it has kept changing: layer upon layer of paint, portraits, slogans and names. In recent years the owners have tried to protect it from vandalism while keeping it open to new art, so what you see depends on the day you visit.

It is free and always accessible, a few steps from Kampa Island and the Čertovka stream. Go early in the morning for photographs without crowds, and combine it with Charles Bridge and the gardens of Malá Strana.