Discovering Můstek, named after the medieval bridge unearthed by builders
In this episode of our Prague metro series, we take you on a tour of Můstek metro station accompanied by Prague City Tourism guide Martin Karlík. The journey includes unexpected archaeological discoveries, a former underground passagway, deliberately chosen colours, a murdered duke, and a renamed horse market!
Můstek is one of the most iconic stations on the Prague metro system. Inaugurated on A Line on 12 August 1978, it became a transfer station in 1985 when Line B was introduced. Today, Můstek is the busiest station on the Prague metro network, and it is here that our guide awaits us.
Our tour begins in the vestibule beneath Jungmann Square (‘Jungmannovo náměstí’), in front of a monumental ceramic bas-relief depicting the silhouettes of the National Museum, Charles Bridge, and the National Theatre. Why did you ask to meet in front of this artwork?
"In the days of communist Czechoslovakia, any major new construction was required to incorporate an artistic element—whether it was a highway, bridge, housing development, or a metro station. This work in this hallway was built to meet that requirement. Its purpose was to symbolise Prague as the capital of Czechoslovakia. Created by Czech artist Lubomír Šilar, known for his extensive work with ceramics, it is part of his broader portfolio that includes bas-reliefs at the Košice Polyclinic in Slovakia and at the cultural centre in Neratovice, Central Bohemia. Šilar was also involved in designing the ‘Prajskaia’ (Prague) metro station in Moscow, while Soviet artists designed the Moskevská (Moscow) station in Prague, today named ‘Anděl’."
With its three vestibules and twenty-one entrances, Můstek metro station is a real labyrinth and nightmare for anyone trying to navigate it. Yet, perhaps Lubomír Šilar’s artworks make it worth it, it's well worth wandering and getting lost, with each vestibule hiding its share of curiosities…
"Yes, Můstek indeed has three vestibules. We are currently in the smallest and most recent one, located under Jungmann Square, which connects Line A and Line B since 1985. The largest vestibule is situated in the centre of Wenceslas Square. It was originally designed in the 1960s as an underground passage, since the above area was once bustling with traffic. Trams used to run through the major junction, and it was here that the first automatically controlled traffic light in Prague was installed during the First Republic. To ease the heavy traffic and pedestrian congestion, an underpass was constructed—the first in Czechoslovakia. This tunnel wasn’t just a passage; it was intended as a shopping arcade. The underpass soon became a popular shopping destination for locals. Later, when construction of the metro began, it was finally decided that the underground passage would serve as the metro station's vestibule. Interestingly, the Trnavské mýto tunnel in Bratislava would have been used for the same purpose had a metro been built in the Slovak capital."
The long-forgotten bridge
We leave the Jungmann Square vestibule and move on to the Na Můstku vestibule, the last one to discuss. Why is the station named Můstek, which translates to ‘little bridge’?
"A stone’s throw from here, above ground, is Na Příkopě street. The street’s name, which translates to ‘on the ditch’ was once a moat along the fortifications of the Old Town. Crossing the moat to reach the city gates required a bridge. The bridge we see here, in the Na Můstku vestibule, served this purpose. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is the origin of the district's name. When Charles IV expanded the city by constructing the New Town, he extended the fortifications up to the level of what is now the National Museum. It is interesting to note that as the city continued to be built up, the moat was filled up and the bridge buried, effectively joining the Old and New Towns. Over time, the people of Prague forgot about the bridge, even though the district is called 'Můstek.' It was during the construction of the metro that archaeological excavations uncovered this 'little bridge."
Můstek station, like others on the first segment of Line A, features convex and concave anodized aluminum panels. However, it is distinguished by its gold and yellow colour scheme. Is this choice of colour significant?
"The colour choice is deliberate. Each station on the first section of Line A has its own distinctive colour. As I mentioned earlier, the architects who designed the metro had a specific concept for each station. For Můstek, gold was chosen because the area is also known as 'Zlatý kříž' or 'Golden Cross.' This name dates back to the time when trade routes crossed here, and it was a centre for commerce. In the 1990s, the name 'Zlatý kříž' took on a negative connotation, as the area became known for illicit activities, including the sale of drugs. Despite this, the district has remained historically associated with commerce and meeting places, which is why the golden colour was selected."
Part of Můstek station lies beneath Wenceslas Square, named after the Bohemian duke whose equestrian statue stares over the square. Could you tell us about St Wenceslas and his importance in Czech history?
"Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of the Czech people, was from the Přemyslid dynasty. He is known for his role in spreading Christianity in the Czech lands, an influence from his grandmother, Saint Ludmila, who raised him in the Christian faith. Wenceslas was assassinated by his brother Boleslav in Stará Boleslav, not far from Prague, on 28th September 929 AD or 935 AD (depending on the source). Boleslav, who was not a religious man, realised the value of Christianity after his brother's death, but it was too late. Saint Wenceslas remains a significant figure for the Czech people, and it is fitting that his statue now stands proudly at the top of the square named in his honour. Today, it is still common for lovers to agree to meet ‘pod ocasem na Václaváku’ (under the tail on Wenceslas Square) for a romantic rendezvous."
Wenceslas Square, or Václavák as the locals affectionately call it, has long been a symbolic place in Prague. How would you describe the connection Czechs have with this square?
"The square originally served as a marketplace and was known as Koňský trh (the Horse Market). In 1848, during the Czech National Revival, journalist Karel Havlíček Borovský advocated for the square to be renamed Svatováclavské náměstí, or Saint Wenceslas Square. However, under the Communist regime, everything to do with religion was banned, so the ‘saint’ part of the name was dropped.
The square is a central gathering point for major historical events. One of the most significant events was undoubtedly the Velvet Revolution in 1989, when it was a focal point for peaceful demonstrations. Wenceslas Square was packed at the time. Whenever people want to protest, whatever their cause, they usually gather on Wenceslas Square."
Did You Know?
In November 2023, a new and unusual installation appeared at the Na Můstku station entrance. Near the 'little bridge,' a plant-filled shop window now graces the station corridors. Known as Metrorost, this installation is a collaboration between the University Centre for Energy Efficient Buildings (Czech Technical University) and the Prague Public Transit Company. The installation incorporates a set of intelligent sensors that provide plants with an environment conducive to their development, despite the absence of natural light. In this way, the project is helping to make urban environments greener, and at the same time enabling metro users to enjoy the recognised mood and mental health benefits of having vegetation in everyday spaces.
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