Prague’s Metronome – and Communist Past

The view from the Metronome - Prague, Czechia

Prague’s Metronome – and Communist Past

With a hand that is around 75 feet long (22.8 metres), the metronome that waves above Prague is impressive enough as it is. Its location is no random choice and reminds people of the Soviet influence of the past.

The authorities built the metronome in 1991 right after the Iron Curtain fell1. You can walk right up to it in Letna Park (which I recommend for great views of the city and a lovely beer garden). If you do, you will notice that the area around the metronome is unused and almost derelict.

The Metronome - Prague, Czechia
The Metronome – Prague, Czechia

The site used to contain a huge statue of Soviet leader Stalin which was unveiled on 1 May 1955 and took almost 6 years to build2. It loomed over Prague for seven years1 and must have been what people would think of when they suspected someone was watching them.

A photo of the statue of Stalin - Prague, Czechoslovakia
A photo of the statue of Stalin – Prague, Czechoslovakia (Photo courtesy of a ‘Photography under Communism’ exhibition, 2021)

Weighing 17,000 tons, this was the largest statue of Stalin in the world1. Stalin never saw the statue himself as he died two years before it was finished3.

The view from the Metronome - Prague, Czechia
The view from the Metronome – Prague, Czechia

When Khrushchev took over from Stalin, he started to de-stalinise the Soviet Union. This caused the local Communist party embarrassment at having such a tribute to Stalin in their city. Khrushchev ordered Prague demolish this statue, which it was in October 19622. It took 800 kg of explosives to bring the massive statue down2.

If you like the view of the bridges of Prague from here, try the view from the bridges themselves.

A photo of the demolition of the statue of Stalin
The explosion that shook the city – Prague, Czechia

The metronome was designed as a constant reminder of the time spent under communist control1.  In the 1990s, the plinth was used for an 11-metre high statue of Michael Jackson to promote his HIStory world tour. Ideas to redevelop the area include using it for an aquarium 4  or linking it to a National Library project. Until then, skateboarders while away afternoons in what used to be Stalin’s shadow.

References

  1. Atlas Obscura, Prague Metronome, (Retrieved 2017) [↩][↩][↩][↩]
  2. World’s biggest Stalin monument would have turned 50 on May day; Dita Asiedu; Radio Praha; 2005-05-03[↩][↩][↩]
  3. Pop Matters, The Red Metronome: Prague’s Communist Past, 2015-02-12[↩]
  4. An exercise in futility; Len Edney; Prague Post; 2007-12-19[↩]
Remember: links were correct at time of publication.