John Lennon Wall

The John Lennon Wall is among the two or three sites that are worth checking out before leaving Mala Strana (don’t let anyone tell you that there’s not much to see in the Lesser Quarter just because of its name). Even if it’s just because of its proximity to the  Kostel Pražského Jezulátka (Church of the Infant Jesus) you should pay your respects to a symbol of freedom & expression against the communist regime, the beloved to Praguers and visitors alike, John Lennon Wall.

It is located two blocks east of the Church, following a perpendicular line towards the river, in Velkoprevorské námestí (GRAND PRIORY SQUARE). This plain & dull wall until the year of John Lennon’s death in 1980, became a writing board dedicated to the values advocated by the great musician in songs like “Imagine” after his demise.

The wall-shrine to John Lennon and his values was repeatedly whitewashed by the authorities, guarded by the communist police, surveilled by the secret service but to no avail. The wall continued to be covered by poems praising freedom, symbols of peace and graffiti of flowers and John Lennon figure. Although it is painted many times over since then it still remains a symbol of the fight against oppression and freedom of speech for the city.