Náměstí T. G. Masaryka (Chomutov)

Náměstí T. G. Masaryka is the central square of Chomutov, named after Czechoslovakia's first president since 22 December 1989. This small but historically dense corner of town changed its name almost every time political power over Chomutov changed hands — and that string of renamings makes it a useful starting point for understanding the town's twentieth-century story.

Why did the square change names so often?

Few squares in the Czech Republic can claim six different names within a single century. From 1916 to 1922 it was called Mackensenplatz, then Siemensplatz until 1934, followed by Masarykplatz between 1934 and 1938 — the first time it carried Masaryk's name. The occupation years brought the name Konrad Henlein Platz (1938–1945), the postwar period saw it renamed Dvořákovo náměstí (1945–1948), and under communist rule, from 1948 to 1989, it was known as Gottwaldovo náměstí, after Czechoslovakia's first communist president. Only after the Velvet Revolution, in December 1989, was the name of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk restored — this time for good.

What still recalls the square's turbulent past?

The clearest reminder of that history is the fate of the monument that once stood here. A memorial to Franz Gerstner stood on the square until it was badly damaged in May and June 1945, when it was treated as a symbol of the town's German past — Chomutov was still a largely German-speaking town known as Komotau at the time. The ruins remained on the square until the mid-1950s, when they were finally removed with explosives and a mobile crane. In October 1998, to mark the seventieth anniversary of independent Czechoslovakia's founding, a bust of T. G. Masaryk was unveiled on the very same spot — a symbolic gesture that restored the square's namesake after decades of upheaval.

What can visitors find on the square today?

Náměstí T. G. Masaryka is not just a place of memory but also a living part of the town. At number 1626 stands the Základní umělecká škola, a basic art school whose predecessor — a municipal music school — was founded on 3 November 1945, shortly after the war ended. Nearly eight decades of continuous educational presence give the square a character tied to culture and learning rather than a purely ceremonial civic role.

Where exactly is the square located?

The square sits within postal code 430 01, in the historic core of Chomutov. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 50.4567°N, 13.4149°E, placing it right in the heart of the town's old built-up center.

Is it worth a visit?

On its own, the square is not a major national attraction, but for anyone trying to understand how turbulently the twentieth century treated the Czech borderlands — and towns like Chomutov in particular, where changes of power also meant changes of street and square names — this place speaks louder than most information boards. The bust of Masaryk, standing today where the ruined Gerstner monument once stood, is a tangible trace of that history.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the square's current name come from? It has carried the name of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk since 22 December 1989, following the Velvet Revolution — it had also briefly been called Masarykplatz between 1934 and 1938.

How many times has the square been renamed? At least six times over the twentieth century: Mackensenplatz, Siemensplatz, Masarykplatz, Konrad Henlein Platz, Dvořákovo náměstí, and Gottwaldovo náměstí, before the Masaryk name was finally restored.

What stood on the square before the Masaryk bust? A monument to Franz Gerstner, which was damaged in 1945 and finally removed in the mid-1950s.

When was the current bust of T. G. Masaryk unveiled? In October 1998, to mark the seventieth anniversary of the founding of independent Czechoslovakia.

What is worth seeing near the square? The building of the Základní umělecká škola (basic art school) at number 1626, whose tradition traces back to a municipal music school founded in 1945.