Obelisk, War memorial obelisk in Prague Castle, Czech Republic
The Obelisk is a war memorial made of granite stone that rises in the Third Castle Courtyard at Prague Castle to a height of about 16 meters. This structure marks the center of the castle with its substantial stone form.
The monument was built in 1928 to mark the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic. President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk commissioned it to honor the newly established state.
The monument was designed by architect Jože Plečnik to honor Czech and Slovak soldiers who died in World War I. It connects remembrance with artistic expression and invites visitors to reflect on loss and sacrifice.
The obelisk is located in the Third Castle Courtyard and is accessible during Prague Castle's opening hours. The monument sits centrally, making it easy to find while exploring the castle grounds.
The original granite stone broke into two pieces during its 1928 transport, which is why the monument stands about half as tall as originally planned. This accident shaped the final appearance of the memorial and reveals an unexpected part of its creation story.
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