Velvet Revolution Walk

This walk retraces the historic path of the student march on November 17, 1989, which sparked the Velvet Revolution and ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia.

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1. Albertov

Albertov is a compact academic district in Prague defined by its robust, freestanding university buildings, many of which date to the early twentieth century and feature internal courtyards. The neighborhood is named for the pioneering…

2. Vyšehrad Cemetery

Vyšehrad Cemetery is defined by its ornate neo-Renaissance arcades that enclose rows of elaborate tombs and sculptures, all set in the shadow of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Established in eighteen sixty-nine, this site functions…

3. Emmaus Monastery

The Emmaus Monastery, identified by its distinctive, modern white spires that rise sharply above the older architecture of the neighborhood, stands along the route the students followed toward the city center. After the permitted portion…

4. František Palacký Monument

The František Palacký Monument stands as a granite and bronze anchor on the square bearing his name. Sculptor Stanislav Sucharda designed the work to honor the man often called the Father of the Nation, surrounding a seated Palacký with…

5. Dancing House

The Dancing House, with its two distinctive towers of curving glass and solid concrete, rises from a plot that remained empty for decades after an American air raid destroyed the building that stood here in nineteen forty-five. During the…

6. National Theatre

The National Theatre is defined by its gilded roof that glints above the banks of the Vltava River. Designed in the Neo-Renaissance style by architect Josef Zítek, the building stands as a testament to the nineteenth-century Czech National…

7. Legion Bridge

The Legion Bridge is defined by the two towers standing at either end, each topped with a copper dome. These structures were not merely decorative; they once served as active toll booths for those crossing the river. Built between eighteen…

8. Velvet Revolution Memorial

A bronze relief of nine hands reaches outward with fingers splayed in a victory sign on the facade of the building at Národní sixteen. The memorial, titled Ruce, or Hands, identifies the location where riot police confronted a peaceful…

The audio tour continues in the Mira app →