Prague Castle with bronze statue Tomas Garrigue Masaryk - Prague, Czech Republic
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ToRo61
N 50° 05.367 E 014° 23.872
33U E 456926 N 5548749
The statue of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk in front of Prague Castle
Waymark Code: WM1875F
Location: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia
Date Posted: 06/12/2023
Views: 2
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (abbreviated as TGM) was the first president of an independent Czechoslovak state, which was established after the end of World War I when Czechia and Slovakia were separated from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and created the common state of Czechoslovakia on October 28, 1918. The existence of Czechoslovakia lasted until 1993 when, by mutual agreement, the Czech and Slovak nations decided to end their common coexistence and create the present-day states of Czechia and Slovakia.
TGM played a significant role in the establishment of Czechoslovakia and was particularly popular in the Czech lands. He is often referred to as the President Liberator and also earned the affectionate nickname "Tatícek Masaryk" (Father Masaryk). Before the formation of Czechoslovakia, he spent a part of his life in exile (Switzerland, France, USA), where he established numerous contacts, including with then-President of the USA, Woodrow Wilson.
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk's contribution to the formation of Czechoslovakia and his leadership as its first president have left a lasting impact on the history and identity of both Czechia and Slovakia.
The statue is larger than life-size, measuring 3 meters in height and weighing 555 kilograms. It is placed on a circular granite pedestal with a bronze inscription "TGM" and a small tricolor. The statue was created by academic sculptors Josef Vajce and Jan Bartoš based on a design by Otakar Španiel from 1931. The original Španiel's statue (with only half the size of the monument at Prague Castle) is kept in the Pantheon of the National Museum.
The statue was ceremoniously unveiled on Hradcanské námestí (Hradcany Square) at the corner of Salmovský Palace on March 7, 2000, on the occasion of Masaryk's 150th birthday. Václav Havel (
visit link) and Madeleine Albright (
visit link) attended the event.
An interesting fact about this statue is that its copies can be found in the capital city of Mexico (the statue was placed in the roundabout at the intersection of Av. Presidente Masaryk and Arquímedes) and in Washington D.C., Masaryk Plaza.