Milada Horáková Memorial in Smíchov

The Milada Horáková Memorial in Smíchov is a bronze sculpture commemorating a Czech politician and victim of Stalinist-era political terror, standing in a small park in front of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren on Bieblova Street in Prague's Smíchov district. It is one of several monuments to Horáková in Prague, and its quiet, understated setting gives it a mood distinct from the others.

Who was Milada Horáková?

JUDr. Milada Horáková was a Czech politician and lawyer, a member of the Czechoslovak National Socialist Party and a deputy in the post-war parliament. After the communist takeover of 1948, she was among those the new regime regarded as opponents of its order. She was arrested in 1949 and, the following year, put on trial in a show trial — one of the most notorious political trials in the history of communist Czechoslovakia. Sentenced to death, she was executed on 27 June 1950. She remains one of the most recognized symbols of the victims of Stalinist "justice" in Czechoslovakia.

What does the memorial look like, and what does it depict?

The memorial is a slightly over two-meter-tall, somewhat larger-than-life-size figure created by sculptor Olbram Zoubek, known also for the memorial to Jan Palach and for memorials to the victims of Terezín. The figure has a bowed head and stands with its back turned to the street, giving the composition an intimate, inward-facing character rather than a monumental one meant to face outward. Beside the sculpture, on a flat slab, lie a golden rose and a noose — symbols referring both to tribute paid to Horáková's memory and to the method of her execution by hanging.

Where exactly does the memorial stand?

The sculpture stands in the park in front of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren in Smíchov, in a quiet, green part of the district, away from the main tourist routes. It was unveiled in 2010, as part of efforts to commemorate victims of communist repression in places connected to their lives and work.

Why is it worth a visit?

This is not a conventional tourist attraction but a place for reflection on one of the darkest chapters of 20th-century Czechoslovak history. The memorial's restrained form and the calm surroundings of the park invite a moment to pause and recall the fate of those who opposed a totalitarian regime.

Frequently asked questions

Who created the Milada Horáková Memorial in Smíchov? The sculpture was created by Czech sculptor Olbram Zoubek.

When was the memorial unveiled? It was unveiled in 2010.

What do the rose and the noose next to the sculpture symbolize? The golden rose and the noose placed on the slab beside the figure refer to tribute paid to Horáková's memory and to the method of her execution by hanging.

What was Milada Horáková convicted of? She was convicted in a political show trial in 1950 and executed on 27 June of that year for alleged activity against the communist regime.

Where exactly is the memorial located? In the park in front of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren on Bieblova Street in Prague's Smíchov district.