Františka Suchého

Park Františka Suchého is a small neighborhood park in Prague's Strašnice district (Prague 10), bordered by the streets Nad Olšinami, Nad Primaskou, and Za Strašnickou vozovnou. Its name commemorates a quiet act of resistance carried out under two successive totalitarian regimes.

Who was František Suchý?

Suchý served as director of the Strašnice crematorium. During the Nazi occupation, when bodies of people executed by the Gestapo were routinely brought there for cremation, he secretly compiled and hid lists recording the identities of the victims. Through this work he is credited with preserving the record of roughly 2,500 people who would otherwise have been erased from history without a trace. His son, who shared his father's first name, helped him carry out this dangerous task.

Why was he imprisoned?

After the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948, the crematorium continued to be used to dispose of victims of political repression — this time carried out by the secret police (StB). Suchý kept up his clandestine documentation, and the authorities eventually caught up with him: he, his wife, and his son were all imprisoned. His son alone spent twelve and a half years behind bars.

How is he honored today?

The park was officially named after František Suchý in 2015, but for some time afterward it had no sign displaying that name. It was the oral-history organization Post Bellum that finally arranged for a proper nameplate to be installed. Since 2019, a local residents' association has held an annual gathering in the park to mark the anniversary of Suchý's birth.

What is the park like today?

It functions as ordinary green space for the surrounding Strašnice neighborhood — a spot for walks and everyday rest rather than a major sightseeing destination. In 2018 the park was renovated, with new path surfaces laid and new benches installed, improving day-to-day comfort for local residents.

Is it worth visiting as a tourist?

The park sits in a quiet residential part of Strašnice, well outside Prague's usual tourist circuit. It appeals more to visitors interested in twentieth-century history and everyday local life than to those chasing classic sightseeing spots — best combined with a walk through the surrounding residential streets.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the park located? In Prague's Strašnice district (Prague 10), between the streets Nad Olšinami, Nad Primaskou, and Za Strašnickou vozovnou.

When did the park receive its name? The name has been official since 2015, though the physical sign only appeared later, thanks to the organization Post Bellum.

Does anything happen in the park regularly? Yes — since 2019, a local residents' association has organized an annual event there marking František Suchý's birthday.

Has the park been renovated recently? Yes, in 2018 its paths were resurfaced and new benches were installed.