Letna Park
Encyclopedia
Letná Park is a large park built on a plateau above steep embankments along the Vltava River in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...

, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

 called Letná
Letná
Letná is an informal quarter of Prague, the Czech Republic. It belongs to Holešovice and Bubeneč quarters.The main part of Letná is Letná Plain , a large empty plain, and Letná Park . The football stadium of AC Sparta Prague, Generali Arena, is located here....

. Letná's elevation and location afford commanding views of the Prague Old Town
Old Town, Prague
Old Town is a medieval settlement of Prague, Czech Republic. It was separated from the outside by a semi-circular moat and wall, connected to the Vltava at both of its ends. The moat is now covered up by the streets Revolučni, na Příkopě, and Národni—which remain the official boundary of the...

 (Staré Město).

History

In 1955, a large monument
Stalin's Monument (Prague)
Stalin's Monument was a massive granite statue honoring Joseph Stalin that was unveiled in 1955 after more than 5½ years of work in Prague, Czech Republic. It was the world's largest representation of Stalin, and was destroyed in 1962....

 to Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...

 was erected at the edge of Letná Park. This statue was destroyed in 1962.

During the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...

, a plain next to the Letná Park (Letenská pláň) was the site of some important demonstrations against the Communist government. On the 25th and 26 November 1989 approximately 750,000 people protested in here. These protests were followed by a general nationwide strike on 27 November 1989.

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...

 kicked off his HIStory World Tour
HIStory World Tour
The HIStory World Tour was the third and final worldwide solo concert tour by American megasuperstar Michael Jackson, covering Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and North America. The tour included a total of 82 concerts and was attended by approximately 4.5 million fans, beating his previous Bad Tour...

 at the park on September 7, 1996, approximately 127,000 people attended the concert.

Buildings, monuments and attractions

  • Hanavský Pavilion is a cast-iron structure built in 1891 in Neo-Baroque style for the Jubilee World Fair
    General Land Centennial Exhibition (1891)
    The General Land Centennial Exhibition was a World's fair held in 1891 in Prague, then in the Austria–Hungarian Empire.Many buildings were erected for this exposition, including the Průmyslový palace .-Summary:...

     (General Land Centennial Exhibition). Coordinates: 50°05′37.45"N 14°24′45.12"E
  • The oldest functioning carousel
    Carousel
    A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...

     in Europe is located in the Letná Park. Coordinates: 50°05′47.75"N 14°25′30.00"E
  • A large marble pedestal which used to be the base of a large statue of Stalin
    Joseph Stalin
    Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...

    , and is still referred to as Stalin's Monument
    Stalin's Monument (Prague)
    Stalin's Monument was a massive granite statue honoring Joseph Stalin that was unveiled in 1955 after more than 5½ years of work in Prague, Czech Republic. It was the world's largest representation of Stalin, and was destroyed in 1962....

    . Coordinates: 50°05′41.38"N 14°24′57.97"E
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