About this place
The Monument to the Victims of Communism is a modest yet powerful memorial in Hradec Králové, dedicated to all innocent victims of communist regime violence in Czechoslovakia between 1948 and 1989. It stands on Riegrovo náměstí, one of the city's central squares, right next to the public transport terminal and the train station, meaning it is passed daily by countless residents and travelers.
What does the monument look like?
The memorial takes the form of a deliberately rough, unfinished sandstone stele set on an equally coarsely worked pedestal of the same material. On the front face of the stele, within a square grid pattern carved into the stone, metal lettering spells out "Obětem komunismu 1948–1989" ("To the victims of communism 1948–1989"). The raw, irregular texture of the stone is meant to evoke the brutality and disorder inflicted on those imprisoned, persecuted, and killed under the regime.
Who created it, and why was it built?
The monument was designed by academic sculptor Jan Wagner. Its construction was initiated by Karel Páral, who chaired the district branch of the Confederation of Political Prisoners in Hradec Králové from 1990 to 1998. Páral knew the subject firsthand: he was arrested in 1949 and imprisoned by the communist authorities from 1950 to 1960. It was through his efforts, and the wider engagement of the local community of former political prisoners, that the idea of a permanent memorial in the city took shape.
When was the monument unveiled?
The ceremonial unveiling took place on May 23, 1998, on Riegrovo náměstí. For the local community of former political prisoners and their families, this was a significant moment — after decades of enforced silence during the communist era, they could finally mark, publicly and permanently, the memory of the repression they or their loved ones had endured.
Has the monument ever been relocated?
Yes. During a reconstruction of Riegrovo náměstí, the monument was moved a few meters from its original spot. Once the work was completed, it was rededicated on November 17, 2008 — a symbolically chosen date, marking the anniversary of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day — during a gathering organized by the Confederation of Political Prisoners.
Why is it worth a visit?
This is not a grand tourist attraction in the conventional sense — it is a place of reflection and remembrance woven into the everyday fabric of the city. For anyone interested in 20th-century Central European history, and particularly in the fate of victims of totalitarian regimes, it offers an important stop for understanding how Hradec Králové and its residents confront the difficult legacy of communism. Its location at a major transport hub makes it easy to combine a visit with exploring the nearby city center.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the monument located? On Riegrovo náměstí in Hradec Králové, next to the public transport terminal and the train station.
Who designed the monument? Academic sculptor Jan Wagner.
When was it unveiled? On May 23, 1998; after being relocated during a square reconstruction, it was rededicated on November 17, 2008.
What material is it made of? Sandstone — both the pedestal and the stele have a deliberately rough, unfinished surface.
What does the monument commemorate? All innocent victims of communist regime violence in Czechoslovakia between 1948 and 1989.
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