Metronome

Of course, why wouldn't there be a giant metronome on a hill across the river from the center of Prague.

This is a very iconic place for many Czechs. The site of today's Metronome was occupied by a huge statue of Stalin in the 1950s. The maker of the statue committed suicide just before its unveiling and the whole thing (50 feet high and 72 feet long) was blown up after Stalin's death. After the Velvet revolution a metronome was erected there that's symbolically measuring the time of Czech freedom (ironically it often stops). It's a popular skating and fire show place. It's in the Letná park, the whole park is full of people enjoying their free time and doing cool stuff. There's also a really nice view of the center from there. It often houses various open space festivals so make sure to check what's going on in Letná when you're in Prague.

An eerie, somewhat hair-raising symbol of oppression - the Czech people erected this in the spot where a giant statue of Stalin formerly stood. The ticker now sweeps silently back and forth over the town, reminding onlookers of the time wasted by Communist reign.

It's a mind-bogglingly giant metronome with an equally giant counterweight. It works. How many other pieces of public art can be said to work? Also, once you've walked through the old town, you can appreciate the great view of it from here.What's more, the Communist-era plaza surrounding the metronome, which used to support a Stalin monument instead, has now been completely taken over by skateboarders. There's something symbolic and entertaining about that transformation.

look back to the castle