Náměstí Československých legií (Pardubice)

Náměstí Československých legií (Square of the Czechoslovak Legions) is the main square of Pardubice's New Town, a spacious open area with a fountain and greenery just a short walk from the historic Old Town. Unlike the intimate, Renaissance-era Pernštýn Square, this one was laid out as a representative centre for the 19th-century district, and it still works today as the city's living room — benches, a fountain in the middle, and room to pause between sightseeing stops.

Why does the square carry this name?

The square's name has shifted along with Czechoslovakia's turbulent 20th-century history, which makes it a small history lesson in itself. It was first planned as Rieger's Square, then briefly named after King Jiří of Poděbrady, and from 1913 it was known as Trnkovo náměstí. Only in 1918, right after independent Czechoslovakia was founded, did it receive its current name, honouring the Czechoslovak legionnaires who fought in World War I for their country's freedom. During the German occupation the name reverted to Trnkovo, after the war it became Náměstí čs. legií again, and in 1949, under communist rule, it was renamed Leninovo náměstí. The historic name only returned after the Velvet Revolution — the city council decided on 13 December 1989, and the change was formally confirmed on 21 March 1990.

How was the square built up?

The square was laid out in 1882 as the centrepiece of the New Town, designed from the start to be considerably larger than any existing square in Pardubice. The first major building to shape the area was the Industrial School, completed in 1899. The years 1923–1925 proved decisive for the square's current appearance: railway workers' housing was completed, the former Slavia restaurant was converted into the Hotel Imperial, and the surrounding park layout was finished. That mix of historicist and early-modernist architecture largely survives today.

What monument stands on the square?

The square holds a monument to Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia. The original statue was unveiled in 1928, but it did not survive the occupation — it was removed in 1940. A new monument, restoring Masaryk's presence in public space, was unveiled in 1998 and still stands on the square today.

What is there to see on the square now?

The square underwent a thorough renovation in 2009, which gave it its current, tidied-up look. A large circular fountain sits at its centre and becomes a natural gathering spot in summer. The surrounding park greenery and benches make the square a good stop during a walk through Pardubice, especially on the way between the Old Town and the train station or the Zelené Předměstí district.

Frequently asked questions

Is it a good place to sit down and rest? Yes — the square has a park-like character with greenery, benches, and a central fountain, making it a natural break point while sightseeing.

Where does the square's name come from? It honours the Czechoslovak legionnaires who fought in World War I; the name was first given in 1918, changed several times for political reasons over the following decades, and finally restored for good in 1990.

What monument is on the square? A monument to President T.G. Masaryk, unveiled in its current form in 1998 after the original 1928 statue was removed during the occupation.

Is the square close to the Old Town? Yes, it's only a few minutes' walk away, making it a handy landmark when exploring Pardubice's New Town.