The Lennon Wall in Prague: John Lennon, Communism and a Wall of Messages
If you grew up with the Beatles, you will find a piece of your youth in a quiet square in Prague’s Malá Strana: a long garden wall covered from end to end in John Lennon’s face, peace signs, song titles and messages in every language. John Lennon never set foot in Prague. Yet for a generation of young Czechs living under communism, this wall became his memorial, their noticeboard and a small act of defiance. Here is the story, and how to see the wall today.
The Lennon Wall on Velkopřevorské náměstí in Malá Strana.
Weather in Prague
Updated 3 Oct, 12:45
Exchange rate
| 1 EUR (Euro) | 24.47 CZK |
| 1 USD (US dollar) | 21.80 CZK |
| 1 GBP (British pound) | 28.77 CZK |
ČNB rate, 2 Oct 2026
Route from Prague Airport to the Lennon Wall
Who was John Lennon?
John Lennon was born in Liverpool on 9 October 1940 and founded the band that became the Beatles. Together with Paul McCartney he wrote many of the songs that defined the 1960s. After the Beatles broke up in 1970 he made records with his wife Yoko Ono and campaigned for peace: «Give Peace a Chance» in 1969 and «Imagine» in 1971 became anthems of a generation. On 8 December 1980 he was shot dead outside his home in New York. He was 40.
Why a Lennon wall in Prague?
In 1968 Soviet tanks ended the Prague Spring, and the «normalisation» that followed put Czechoslovakia back under a hard-line regime. Western rock music was viewed with suspicion: in 1976 members of the Czech underground band the Plastic People of the Universe were put on trial, which helped lead to the Charter 77 human-rights movement. For young Czechs, Lennon’s songs about peace, love and imagining a different world carried a meaning they could not easily say out loud. When the news of his death reached Prague, they needed a place to grieve.
What happened at the wall
- December 1980 In the middle of December someone chalked «Za Johna Lennona» (For John Lennon) and a cross on the wall of the garden of the Order of Malta, opposite the French Embassy. People began bringing candles, flowers, photographs and drawings.
- April 1981 The communist secret police painted over the tribute. The very next day the wall was covered again, now with political messages as well as Lennon’s lyrics.
- The 1980s The wall became a meeting place for young people. Police dismantled the tributes again and again, and cameras and night-time guards were posted, but the messages always came back. Gatherings at the wall grew into small anti-regime protests, which the police regularly broke up.
- 1988 The authorities spoke contemptuously of «Lennonism». Messages on the wall reportedly led to a clash between hundreds of students and the police on nearby Charles Bridge, a year before the Velvet Revolution brought communism down in November 1989.
- After 1989 The wall stayed a place to write freely. Layer upon layer of paint covered the original portrait of Lennon long ago.
- 17 November 2014 On the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, a group of art students painted the whole wall white, leaving one line of black text: «Wall is over». It was soon covered with messages again.
- 7 November 2019 For the 30th anniversary, the Order of Malta and the Prague 1 district renewed the wall with more than 30 Czech and foreign artists, led by the designer Pavel Šťastný. A reflective metal panel with the outline of Lennon’s face became its centrepiece, and the wall was officially declared a memorial site for the first time.
The peace sign, still the wall’s favourite motif.
Visiting the Lennon Wall today
- Where: Velkopřevorské náměstí (Grand Priory Square) in Malá Strana, opposite the French Embassy. It is a five-minute walk from the Malá Strana end of Charles Bridge, next to Kampa Island and the little bridge over the Čertovka millstream.
- When: the wall stands on a public square, so it is open day and night and free of charge. Early morning is the quietest time; by midday it is busy with tour groups.
- Leaving your own message: since 2019 you may write only in the designated white areas, and only with pens, markers or chalk. Spray paint is banned, and there are police and cameras.
- Nearby: Kampa Park by the river, Charles Bridge and the Lesser Town Bridge Tower are all within a few minutes. See our guide to what to see in Prague this autumn.
A visitor’s tribute: Lennon and «Imagine». Photo: Jon’s pics / CC BY 2.0
Seeing Prague at your own pace? The streets of Malá Strana are steep and cobbled. We can drive you to the foot of the wall and on to Prague Castle, or take you around the city’s sights with a private car and driver.
Frequently asked questions
Did John Lennon ever visit Prague?
No. John Lennon never came to Prague. The wall became his memorial after his death in December 1980, when young Czechs began leaving tributes there.
Where is the Lennon Wall in Prague?
On Velkopřevorské náměstí (Grand Priory Square) in Malá Strana, opposite the French Embassy, about five minutes on foot from Charles Bridge.
Is the Lennon Wall free to visit?
Yes. It stands on a public square, so you can visit it at any time of day or night without a ticket.
Can I write on the Lennon Wall?
Yes, but since 2019 only in the designated white areas and only with pens, markers or chalk. Spray paint is not allowed.
Who owns the Lennon Wall?
The wall belongs to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta: it is the wall of the garden of the Order’s Grand Priory.
Why is the Lennon Wall important?
Under communism it was one of the few places where young Czechs could express themselves freely. The secret police painted it over again and again, and the messages always came back, which made it a symbol of peaceful resistance.
.jpg){kind=link}