While heading to my hotel, after an amazing day of trying some of the most scrumptious dishes in Czech cuisine in Prague 7, I watch with a grin on my face as a bunch of drunk Brits on a beer bike pass by.

However, what makes my heart skip a beat are super lean humans with blank expressions on their faces climbing down the stairs, in the background.

It’s almost dark and it takes me a few seconds to realise that it’s not humans but monuments (or statues) that are placed at the base of Petřín hill, Újezd street in the Malá Strana or the Lesser Town area.

A little shaken with the encounter, I decide to speak to the concierge at the hotel I’m staying at, ask for more info and return the next day to take a closer look at the monuments.

The concierge at the hotel tells me that Prague is rife with such quirky monuments.

They’re scattered all around the city, some in the more common spots, others located in areas not frequented by many. Each either tells a story or showcases a piece of art by a famous sculptor.

These silent statutes demonstrate a different side to Prague, one which also prioritises culture and history and makes sure it isn’t forgotten easily.

I started my journey to explore this side of Prague by first visiting The Memorial to the victims of Communism.

#2 The Lennon Wall

While the victims of Communism are easy to miss, the bright wall full of graffiti which is the legendary Lennon Wall is not.

The only place in Prague where graffiti is legal, it enters a state of disrepair numerous times however looks exemplary after some quick maintenance. It served as an area of protest in the 1960’s and was referred to as the Crying Wall. However as soon as the authorities covered the graffiti with paint, new ones were put out almost immediately.

Since John Lennon’s songs praised freedom, after his murder in 1980 he became a hero to the locals and his pictures were painted on the wall despite the order of the police and threat of prison. Today the wall not only acts as a memorial to John Lennon but also as a monument towards free speech and non-violence.

#3 Man Hanging Out

In the heart of the Old Quarter of Prague, no matter what time of day, you’re bound to pass a group of travellers straining their necks to look upwards, to catch a glimpse of the ‘hanging’ man.

Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, is the seven foot tall hanging man of bronze, contemplating whether to hold on or let go. It is widely believed that Sigmund Freud suffered from a number of phobias, one among which was his fear of death.

This is one of the many works by artist David Cerny and while there’s many conflicting reports on what might possibly be running through Freud’s mind at the given time, it surely depicts Freud’s internal struggles as the psychoanalyst suffered from anxiety as well.

The Czech capital has an array of sculptures of Sigmund Freud scattered all around the city but the man hanging out seems to be the most popular possibly due to it being very lifelike and its location; on a pole over Husova Street.

#4 Babies by David Cerny

Another of David Cerny’s masterpieces, these babies which may not seem cute to many, are located across the river in Kampa Park just outside the  Mala Strana Museum grounds.

Some babies are also installed on the Zizkov Television Tower in the eastern area of the city where people sometimes are shocked to see the little ones crawling up and down the pillars of the tower.

About ten babies are located on the tower and were supposed to be a temporary installation, however due to the response they garnered, they were replaced with more durable ones. The ones crawling on the ground were created much later as a means for viewers to see them from up close. However, doing so doesn’t make them any less creepy due to their blank garbled faces.

#5 The statues of Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge connects the Prague Castle area with the Old Town. It was erected in place of another existing bridge under the orders of King Charles IV, from where it gets its name and is a great place to take a walk (albeit a very crowded one).

The construction of Charles Bridge started in 1357 and ended almost fifty years later in 1407. It possibly took this long because of the number of Baroque statues which were made, numbering thirty in total, which line up either side of this historic bridge.

The bridge is the only place in the city with such a high density of statues and a must-do for someone who admires architecture and history. These statues ranging from slaves, dogs and numerous saints, clearly depict the effort put in by the artists.

One of the statues is of Saint John of Nepomuk. It is believed that touching the statue brings good luck and helps visitors return to Prague. However, I would advise against it as this causes erosion and may even cause a bacterial infection to the person touching it.

Three bridge towers are also located here which help you see a bird’s-eye view of Prague. You can climb to the top of one of these for a nominal price.

#7 The Embryo

The Embryo is one ‘statue’ you’d easily miss as it isn’t mounted/placed anywhere on the floor.

It is very easy to miss if you aren’t leisurely walking through the centre of Prague and paying close attention, as it is mounted on a drainpipe on the facade of the Divadlo Na Zábradlí theatre. It only looks like an embryo when it is lit up faintly at night. During the day it may seem like an abstract installation.

Installed to celebrate the theatre’s 50th anniversary, it is again, one of David Cerny’s works, however the purpose behind this piece is unclear.

#8 Proudy (The Piss Sculpture)

For many who aren’t aware of the details, it may seem like a monument to dismiss as how could two men urinating be worth visiting when visiting a place such as Prague, however, this is one of David Cerny’s more ‘advanced’ creations and is quite interesting.

This is because, while it may seem like its just two bronze men peeing inside the map of Czech Republic, they are actually spelling out Czech literary quotes with their ‘pee’.

Many may not be able to figure this out due to the pool of water inside the map, and it doesn’t end here! The messages are customisable and on sending a text to the contact number located near the plaque, these statues will spell out the message sent to it.

#9 Upside down King Wenceslas (Prague’s upside down horse)

Wenceslas Square is easily the most favourite meeting point in Prague and it reflects the turbulent history of violence and deception faced by Prague, which often remains unknown to visitors to this city. The area can be recognised by the famous statue of King Wenceslas here.

The upside-down horse, which is a reference to this monument, took me a couple of tries to find, as it was located inside the Art Nouveau Lucerna Palace in Prague. It depicts King Wenceslas sitting on an upside-down dead horse and is yet again, one of David Cerny’s works.

David Cerny refrained from putting out what his thoughts were behind the piece.

However, many who are aware of the history of this piece believe that it possibly mocks one of the Czech Republic’s former presidents and hence provokes outrage in some. This is again one of the many interpretations.

#10 The Brown Nosers

Erected in 2003, the Brown Nosers are gigantic sculptures with the top half of their body missing. The bottom half of these sculptures is bent over, exposing a gaping hole in their backsides.

There’s ladders propped here, leading one to the butts of this interactive exhibit.

A television screen placed inside these gaps, repeatedly plays a video of two Czech politicians spoon feeding each other to “We Are the Champions” by Queens.

These permanent sculptures being another of David Cerny’s works, are supposedly a metaphor to the state of the politics in the Czech Republic.

The Brown Nosers are a little difficult to locate as they’re hidden in the garden at the back of the Futura museum, away from the center of the city, but are worth a visit if you’re looking to take a look at most of David Cerny’s work in Prague.

It had been a tiring day but one filled with an immense understanding and appreciation of the history and culture of Prague.

There were quite a few other ones that dotted the city like the Parable with Skull, the London Booster and the In Utero sculpture that I decided to check on my next visit as clearly this city had a lot more going on and food and architecture were just the start.