Statue of Venus and Mercury at Malostranská Metro Station

The Statue of Venus and Mercury is an unassuming yet surprising find in Prague's Malá Strana district — a Baroque sculpture copy standing in the entrance hall of Malostranská metro station, right next to the Wallenstein Garden and the Wallenstein Riding School (Valdštejnská jízdárna), close to Prague Castle. It's a spot where the modernist, socialist-era architecture of the metro meets a piece of Baroque sculpture more than two centuries old.

How did this statue end up in a metro station?

The sculpture group depicting Mercury and Venus is a copy of a work originally from Valeč Castle in the Czech Republic, created by Antonín Braun, a member of a renowned family of Baroque sculptors active in 18th-century Bohemia. The originals date from the late 18th century. The copy was installed in the entrance hall of Malostranská station as part of the artistic decoration meant to soften the austere, industrial character of the underground architecture and to acknowledge the historic surroundings — the neighboring Wallenstein palace and garden complex.

What does the sculpture depict?

The group combines two figures from Roman mythology: Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, and Mercury, the god of trade, travel, and messenger of the gods. Pairing mythological figures like this was typical of Baroque garden and palace sculpture, often meant to symbolize harmony between different spheres of life — here, beauty and movement or communication, which fits, in a loosely symbolic way, with the sculpture's location at a transport hub.

How does it fit into its surroundings?

Malostranská station, together with the adjoining garden courtyard (Zahradní nádvoří), forms a relaxing green space between the metro station itself and the Wallenstein Riding School at the foot of Prague Castle. Along the wall of the Riding School stand several more Baroque sculpture copies by the same artist: Venus, Bacchus, Faun, an allegory of Generosity, Apollo, and Youth. Together with the Venus and Mercury statue inside the station hall, this ensemble creates a coherent artistic composition linking underground transport infrastructure with the atmosphere of a Baroque garden.

Why is it worth a stop?

For most commuters, the statue is just a daily backdrop, passed without a second glance. For a visitor exploring Malá Strana and the area around Prague Castle, though, it's an easy, free stop along the way — simply get off at Malostranská station on metro line A and look around the entrance hall before continuing on toward the Wallenstein Garden or up to Hradčany. It's a good example of how Prague's metro, built in a spirit of modernist functionality, was deliberately enriched with art referencing the city's historical context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the statue located? In the entrance hall of Malostranská metro station (line A), next to the Wallenstein Garden, close to Prague Castle.

Who made the sculpture? It's a copy of a work by Antonín Braun, a Baroque sculptor; the original stood at Valeč Castle and dates from the late 18th century.

Is there an entrance fee? No — the statue is in the publicly accessible metro station hall; you only need a public transport ticket if you're actually using the metro.

What else is worth seeing nearby? Along the wall of the nearby Wallenstein Riding School stand other Baroque sculpture copies from the same series — Venus, Bacchus, Faun, Generosity, Apollo, and Youth — and the Wallenstein Garden is right next door.