OFFICIAL: Butterfly Sculptures to Adorn Prague’s Máj Department Store

The renovation of Prague’s Máj department store on Národní třída Street is nearing its June completion date. 

Visitors will now have access to nine out of 11 floors, a significant increase from the previous six. This translates to a more spacious retail area of 17,000 square meters.

The revamped basement level will house a Tesco supermarket, while the first and second floors will be dedicated to restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, and shops offering flowers, accessories, clothing, and more.

Foodies will rejoice at the new food hall, boasting a whopping 750 seats and a diverse selection of quick bites and classic dishes from popular brands like Popeyes, Burger King, Banh-mi, Prima bašta, Misushi, Amerikanos, and others.

The upper floors will cater to entertainment with an amusement park and dedicated spaces for cultural and educational events.

Crowning the building will be a restaurant with a breathtaking panoramic view of Prague, accessible through the glass roof.

The entire project cost the investor a staggering CZK 4 billion.

Beyond the interior, the building’s facade will undergo a temporary transformation for one year. Two giant, mobile sculptures designed by renowned Czech artist David Černý will adorn the building’s exterior.

The two giant structures, standing several meters tall with a wingspan of around eight meters, merge the fuselages of Spitfire WWII aircrafts with the graceful wings of butterflies.

The art installation serves a dual purpose: celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s accession to NATO and the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Alliance itself.

The sculptures had previously been criticized by the Czech National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), while the Club for Old Prague (Klub Za starou Prahu) called them kitsch. However, the butterflies were formally approved by Prague City Hall’s Department of Monument Care.

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