Tucked away into a nondescript street away from the touristy hustle and bustle that usually pervades Prague, the Lennon Wall takes your breath away. Every inch of the wall has been filled with Lennon-inspired graffiti and Beatles song lyrics. It is a quiet, almost respectful space as visitors walk down the length of the beautifully painted wall. 

An image of John Lennon was first painted on the wall (opposite the French Embassy) after his murder in December 1980. Soon, it became a prime site for political and Beatles-inspired graffiti and a sounding board for disgruntled youth. Several attempts were made by the police to whitewash the wall, but in vain. Artists continued to paint on the wall, refusing to be pinned down.

The wall is the property of the Knights of Malta, and after repeated attempts to keep the wall clean, they finally gave in and the wall now stands in all its graffitied glory. Visitors may even see someone working on the wall whilst you’re there. Often it is students keeping the tradition that began 40 years ago alive.

Update as of October 2019: The wall has been covered by tarps and is undergoing renovations. The site plans to reopen as a gallery for professional artists.