Memorial to Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc
Prague 1, Wenceslas Square
“Hardly anyone knows this memorial. Many people pass by without even noticing it. On the cross, there is an inconspicuous inscription. The memorial is unobtrusive, not actually suited for remembrance celebrations. It is not heroic; it is just a private reminder.”
The modest memorial is located a few metres from the fountain in front of the National Museum on Wenceslas Square in Prague. Here on 16 January 1969, Jan Palach poured petrol over himself and set himself on fire. In the following days, a hunger strike took place on the square to support his demands, and his death mask was exhibited.
This memorial was made by the artist, Barbora Veselá, and the architects, Čestmír Houska and Jiří Veselý. In contrast to the vast majority of memorials, the authors emphasized the horizontal – two low round mounds stick out of the pavement; these mounds are connected together with a cross (at the same time, the memorial should symbolize a human figure as a torch). The cross faces the place where the burning Jan Palach fell to the ground. On the left branch of the cross, there are the names of Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc with their respective dates.
The authors stated the reason why they had chosen this symbol: “In our cultural environment, sacrifice has always been associated with the symbol of a cross. In the Christian tradition, the cross brings redemption. The meaning of our cross is similar to that of conciliation crosses. These were mostly erected in the landscape as memorials of conciliation, as a confession, and atonement for an unfortunate event as a means cope with it. However, we don’t want to soothe. It isn’t certain whether our cross is about to be erected or whether it has already been knocked down because of our indifference. Similarly, the mounds might be coming up or falling in the underground – into our subconscious, into the forgotten and suppressed history – and slowly, they can merge with the ground.”
On 16 January 2000, the memorial was unveiled by the mayor of Prague 1, Jan Bürgermeister, together with representatives of the Jan Palach Society of Všetaty (Společnost Jana Palacha) and the Thimm company who covered a part of the memorial’s costs. Remembrance gatherings take place at the memorial.
Since the Velvet Revolution, there has been a spontaneous place to gather in order to commemorate victims of communism. It is located in the upper part of Wenceslas Square about thirty metres below the St Wenceslas statue. This memorial is made of a wooden cross and a crown of thorns. Two marble plaques have been added over time. One of them is dedicated to Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc. The other one, dedicated to the “victims of communism”, was placed here by the Association of Former Political Prisoners (Sdružení bývalých politických vězňů).