Prague Metronome

What is the Prague Metronome?

The Prague Metronome is an installation on the Letná hill east of Prague Castle. It was built in 1991, on a place where a monument to Stalin used to stand. The monument was destroyed back in 1962, but the pedestal remained, and for good reason: it is such a massive structure in itself that it would have taken some energy to tear it down. And deprived of its figures perched atop it, the pedestal no longer had any explosive effect politically. However, it stood empty for a long time until the artist Vratislav Karel Novák filled the empty space again.

The metronome is only colloquially called that, the real name of the installation is "Time Machine". With the pendulum it is 25 meters high. The pendulum is powered by electricity and slowly makes its 60-degree circular arcs. Funny are the pairs of shoes hanging over the wire that powers the metronome. They seem equally intentional and accidentally hung there. At first glance, the metronome isn't very eye-catching, but it's definitely worth a visit.

Why is the metronome so special?

While the Prague Metronome is not directly on the city's tourist routes, those who want to see it don't actually have to go very far. It's about a kilometer walk from the castle. The other way to get there is from the Old Town. The way leads over a bridge over the Vltava river, then over some stairs and walking paths up the hill to the base of the former Stalin monument. Already there, with a look down, it becomes visible why the metronome is a special sight. But it goes up a bit further, stairs lead up to the pedestal on the right and left sides. Arrived.

Now, a wonderful view over the city spreads out in front of the viewers. You can see the beautifully covered roofs of the old town in all its details, but also the river and the castle. Behind the metronome is a spacious square that belongs to the park on the hill. Tourists and locals alike like to stay there or walk around the grounds. It is a place that makes visitors see Prague from a completely different perspective.