Národní památník na Vítkově (National Memorial at Vítkov)

Národní památník (National Memorial) at Vítkov

The National Memorial at Vítkov ranks among the greatest Žižkov view points. The memorial had been through many interesting moments in its history. It served as commemoration for legionaries, it turned into a storage place of Wehrmacht´s military material, it was used for the propaganda of the communist regime and currently a museum of the modern Czech and Czechoslovak history is located there. Let´s look closer at this remarkable building.

Construction of the memorial
The construction of the National Memorial at Vítkov was carried out between 1929 – 1932. On November 8th, 1928 a symbolic excavation of the memorial was made by the President T. G. Masaryk. The construction was carried out based on the project of the architect Jan Závorka. The memorial was built as the Memorial of the National Liberation to honour the commemoration of the Czech legionaries and of the Czech revolt during WW1. After the completion a structure was rising at Vítkov, reaching over thirty meters high. Then the works on the interior followed and they took another six years to finish. The decorations were carried out by the noted artists such as Jakub Obrovský, Karel Pokorný, Max Švabinský, Jan Štursa, or Josef Malejovský.

What was the purpose of the memorial?

Period before WW2
The memorial was built in honour of the Czech legionaries and of the Czech revolt during WW1. Thereby the memorial served as a pious place where wreaths were layed and where the fallen heros of the fight for the national liberation were honoured.

World War 2
The Memorial had to face not really happy times during WW2. The legionaries were no more honoured there and the place became target of the German army. The memorial turned into a storage place of Wehrmacht´s military material during WW2.

The communist period
After 1948 the Memorial was used for the propaganda of the communist regime. The memorial gradually became the final resting place of many significant representatives of the Communist Party. On December 5th, 1963 a Mausoleum of Klement Gottwald, the first communist Czechoslovak president, was opened in its premises. Due to the mausoleum extensive technical facilities were built in the underground of the monument which, however, could not prevent the embalmed body from decomposition. So the mummy gradually started to decay and decompose. The body was cremated in 1962 and the mausoleum cancelled. Further the remains of the president Antonín Zápotocký and Ludvík Svoboda and of more noted Communist Party represenatives were plaed here which again were removed from the Memorial after 1989.

Currently you will find a museum of the recent Czech and Czechoslovak history in the premises of the former mausoleum. The mausoleum was transformed into a Hall for short-term and thematic exhibitions. Also concerts and theatre events are held here. On the roof of the memorial a view terrace and a panoramatic café were constructed offering an exceptional view of Prague to its visitors.

The present
The National Memorial at Vítkov has been administrated by the Department of the Modern Czech History of the Historical Museum (of the National Museum) since 2000. The reconstructed Memorial has been completely opened to the public since 2009. At present, the premises of the former Mausoleum are occupied by the museum of the modern Czech and Czechoslovak history. The Mausoleum has turned into a hall for short-term exhibitions. Also concerts and other theatre events are held here. There is a view terrace and a panormatic café on the roof of the Memorial offering exceptional view of Prague to its visitors.

Address:
U Památníku 1900,
130 00 Praha 3 – Žižkov

Opening hours:
From November 8th, 2010 (winter operation):
Monday–Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday–Sunday: 10.00–18.00

Operation of the view terrace on the roof of the Memorial:
The access onto the view terrace is for safety reasons restricted to 25 visitors per half an hour. The first entry is possible at 10:30 am, the last one at 04:30 pm.

In case of bad weather conditions the entry onto the terrace will not be allowed.

Opening hours of the café – see www.cafevitkov.cz

Entrance fees
Entire object
Full: 110,- CZK
Reduced: 60,- CZK
Family: 170,- CZK
School excursions with pedagogic accompaniment: 40,- CZK/person
Ticket with one year validity: 500,- CZK
Commentary: Czech – 200,- CZK
Recording: 80,- CZK
Taking pictures: 80,- CZK

Exposition
Full: 60,- CZK
Reduced: 30,- CZK
Family: 90,- CZK
School excursions with pedagogic accompaniment: 20,- CZK/person
Commentary: Czech – 200,- CZK (only if booked per telephone via 222 781 676)
Recording: 50 ,- CZK
Taking pictures: 50,- CZK
From June 1st,. 2010 – every first Thursday of the month FREE entry between 02:00 – 06:00 pm

View terrace
Full: 80,- CZK
Reduced: 50,- CZK
Family: 130,- CZK
School excursions: 30,- CZK/person

Connection:
Bus: 133, 175, 509 –U Památníku, Tachovské náměstí
Bus: 133,136, 509 – Černínova, Ohrada
Tram: 9, 10, 16, 19, 55, 58 – Biskupcova
Metro: B, C – Florenc (from there take a bus Nr. 133, 175 or 509 to the above-mentioned stations)

GPS: 50°5’18″N, 14°26’57.999″E

Transport connection:
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