The Gate of Infinty

The Gate of Infinity (Czech: Brána nenávratna, literally "the gate of no return") is a monumental sculpture by Aleš Veselý standing on the right bank of the Vltava in Prague's Holešovice district, right above the former Praha-Bubny railway station and a short walk from Vltavská metro station. It is one of the most striking Holocaust memorials in Prague, marking a site from which wartime deportation transports departed.

What does the monument look like?

The structure rises about 20 metres into the air and takes the shape of a section of railway track lifted skyward. The rails are joined by 36 sleepers and held up by 12 steel struts. The form is deliberate: it echoes the biblical image of Jacob's Ladder, on which angels were said to ascend to and descend from heaven. Veselý inverts that image into a symbol of a journey with no way back.

Who created it?

The sculpture is the work of Aleš Veselý (1935–2015), one of the best-known Czech contemporary sculptors, recognised above all for large-scale welded steel works, many of them set directly into open landscapes. The Prague piece dates from the final stage of his career — it was unveiled on 9 March 2015, the year the artist died.

Why was it placed here?

The site by the former Bubny station was chosen deliberately. During the Second World War, deportation transports left from this spot carrying around 50,000 Jewish citizens of Czechoslovakia — first to the Łódź ghetto, and later to the Terezín (Theresienstadt) camp. The memorial stands where the deportees crossed the tracks for the last time before boarding the wagons. It forms part of a broader, long-running effort to establish a permanent memorial site connected to the history of Bubny station.

Why visit?

The Gate of Infinity works differently from a conventional monument with plaques and figures — its impact comes from form and location alone. Standing beneath the rails lifted toward the sky, it is immediately clear where the tracks led and that there was no way back. It is a meaningful stop for anyone interested in the history of Jewish Prague, and equally worthwhile for visitors looking for a quieter, more reflective point on a walk through Holešovice, alongside the former station grounds and the Vltava riverbank nearby.

How to get there?

The easiest way is to take metro line C to Vltavská station and walk a few hundred metres toward the railway embankment, past the former Praha-Bubny station building. The site sits close to the city centre, making it easy to combine with a walk around Holešovice.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is the Gate of Infinity? The structure stands about 20 metres high.

Who created the sculpture? Aleš Veselý, a Czech contemporary sculptor known for numerous monumental steel works.

When was the monument unveiled? On 9 March 2015.

What does the shape of the sculpture represent? The rails lifted toward the sky reference the biblical Jacob's Ladder, reinterpreted here as a symbol of a one-way journey — marking the spot from which Holocaust-era deportation transports departed.

Is there an entrance fee? No — it is an outdoor monument, freely accessible at any time.

What is the easiest way to get there? Take metro line C to Vltavská and walk a few minutes toward the railway embankment near the former Praha-Bubny station.