The Plague Column (Morový Sloup) in the 1950s
Photograph © Copyright George Krejci
Plzeň’s Plague Column (Morový Sloup) in 1991
Photograph © Copyright 1991 Clive Porter
Plzeň’s Plague Column (Morový Sloup) in 1993
Photograph © Copyright 1993 Clive Porter
The east side of Náměstí Republiky around 1910
Postcard from the collection of J. Šlehofer
The east side of Náměstí Republiky in the 1950s
Photograph © Copyright 1950s George Krejci
The east side of Náměstí Republiky in 2006
Photograph © Copyright 2006 Eva Haunerová
The east side of Náměstí Republiky in 1991
Photograph © Copyright 1991 Clive Porter
The west side of Náměstí Republiky in 1900
Copyright information unknown
The west side of Náměstí Republiky in 1942
Copyright information unknown
Náměstí Republiky - West in the 1950s
Photograph © Copyright George Krejci
The west side of Náměstí Republiky (year unknown)
From a postcard
The west side of Náměstí Republiky in 1991
Photograph © Copyright 1991 Clive Porter
The west side of Náměstí Republiky in 1993
Photograph © Copyright 1993 Clive Porter
The west side of Náměstí Republiky in 2006
Photograph © Copyright 2006 Eva Haunerová
The west side of Náměstí Republiky in 1900
Copyright information unknown
The west side of Náměstí Republiky in 1993
Photograph © Copyright 1993 Clive Porter
The West side of Náměstí Republiky has seen the most structural changes than the others. Just as with the Hotel Central (see the Hotel Central article for details) the above building was replaced by a less than pretty construction which doesn’t fit in with the rest of the square.
The most surprising thing for me is that the current building was present in the 1940s (see photos above). This seems to be a very modern design for the 1940s, doesn’t it?
To me it seems out of place - I’m sure that had it been surrounded by buildings from a different age and architectural pedigree, it would be a pleasure to the eye. By itself it is just that, but it doesn’t seem to fit in the context in which it stands. Which is a shame.
The north side of Náměstí Republiky circa 1940
From a postcard
The north side of Náměstí Republiky in the 1950s
Photograph © Copyright George Krejci
The north side of Náměstí Republiky in 1961 (the year of my birth…)
Copyright information unknown
The north side of Náměstí Republiky in 1993
Photograph © Copyright 1993 Clive Porter
The north side of Náměstí Republiky in around 2000
Copyright information unknown
My favorite building on Náměstí Republiky in 1998
Photograph © Copyright 1998 Atelier Soukup (Architects), Plzeň
The above photograph shows my favourite building on the square. I know, it’s not the most decorative of buildings - and if it’s decorative you’re looking for, Plzeň’s Náměstí Republiky is not a bad place to start - my building, though, is plain, simple and rather boxy. I like boxy architecture 
It’s quite sad to see it this way - empty and with it’s signs missing. I think this photograph was taken when it was for sale (or rent).
In the early 90s it was home to a glass and porcelain shop which was very popular with the passengers of coaches on their whistle-stop tour of the Czech Republic but now it I believe it houses a mobile telephone shop and a banking / insurance company.
I prefered it as a glass and porcelain shop.
My favorite building on Náměstí Republiky in 1993
Photograph © Copyright 1993 Clive Porter
The back of number 2 Náměstí Republiky in 2006
Photograph © Copyright 2006 Eva Haunerová
Náměstí Republiky - South - 1928
Provided by George Krejci
Náměstí Republiky - South - 1950s
Photograph © Copyright George Krejci
Náměstí Republiky - South - 1991
Photograph © Copyright 1991 Clive Porter
I’d like to talk about some of these buildings. I can’t really comment too much on their architecture - I don’t have any close-up photographs and my memory is too misty to remember any interesting details - I’d need to make a return trip… I’d like to comment a little on the changing commercial / street level face of some of them. After all, this is, historically, a very commercial area.
Náměstí Republiky - South - 1991
Photograph © Copyright 1991 Clive Porter
Náměstí Republiky - South - 1993
Photograph © Copyright 1991 Clive Porter
Náměstí Republiky - South - (date unknown - late 1990s to early 2000s)
Copyright information unknown
Náměstí Republiky - South - 2006
Photograph © Copyright 2006 Eva Haunerová
