Park in Prague, Czech Republic
Letná Park () is a large park on Letná hill, built on a plateau above steep embankments along the Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic. Letná's elevation and location afford commanding views of the Prague Old Town ("Staré Město").
"Leten", originally called "summer camp" or "place to sunbathe" gained its importance in the Middle Ages, when the first military camps were located there due to their strategic location. The areas were mainly vineyards and gardens. It was not until the end of the 19th century that it began to be systematically colonized. Over time, the plains of this area of the city became a place of meeting, entertainment and recreation.
In 1955, a large monument to Joseph Stalin was erected at the edge of Letná Park. This statue was destroyed in 1962 and the Prague Metronome now occupies the site.
In the 'Normalisation' period after the Warsaw Pact troops invastion of 1968, the park was the location for the founding event of the Český automobilový klub žen [Czech Women’s Automobile Club]. In January 1969 a group of women driving instructors and motoring journalists put on a public skills test for women drivers, which led to the formation of the club. The club is still active.
During the Velvet Revolution, 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.
Singer Michael Jackson kicked off his HIStory World Tour at the park on September 7, 1996, approximately 130,000 people attended the concert.
On June 23, 2019, more than 250,000 people gathered on the Letná plain, calling on Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to resign amid allegations of conflict of interest and criminal fraud.
Nowadays the Letná Park is conceived more as an area of recreation, leisure and outdoor sports practice. The area around the metronome is a popular skateboarding location.
References.
 ;templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" / ;