Pamětní deska obětem komunismu

The Memorial Plaque to the Victims of Communism is a modest but meaningful monument commemorating those who suffered political persecution during the communist era in Czechoslovakia, mounted on the wall of the pre-trial detention facility in České Budějovice. Though easy to walk past, it marks a place directly tied to the repression that followed the communist takeover of 1948 and remains a focal point for the city's annual remembrance events.

Where exactly is the plaque located?

The plaque is fixed to the angled wall of the pre-trial detention centre in České Budějovice, housed in the former Palace of Justice, at the intersection of F. A. Gerstnera and Goethova streets. The location is deliberate: this same building was used to imprison and interrogate people persecuted by the communist state apparatus.

Who created it and when was it unveiled?

The stone plaque, carved with a relief of a barred window symbolising imprisonment, was created by sculptor Ivan Tlášek. It was unveiled on 5 May 1995. The ceremony was led by František Poula, chairman of the local branch of the Confederation of Political Prisoners, an organisation representing people persecuted under the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

Who does the plaque commemorate?

The inscription honours the victims of communist tyranny and violence connected to the České Budějovice region — people imprisoned, interrogated, and repressed inside the former Palace of Justice building after the communists seized power in 1948. Rather than naming individuals, the plaque serves as a collective memorial to everyone who suffered at this site.

Does the site still serve a commemorative role today?

Yes. The plaque continues to be a gathering point during the Day of Memory of the Victims of the Communist Regime, marked each year on 27 June. In 2017, the city of České Budějovice held a flower-laying ceremony at the site, attended by Miloslav Kopfstein, a representative of the Confederation of Political Prisoners of the Czech Republic — a sign that remembrance of communism's victims is still actively maintained here.

Why is it worth a stop?

For visitors exploring České Budějovice, the plaque is a small but significant stop on any route through the city's more recent history. It sits close to the historic centre, making it easy to combine with sightseeing in the old town. The site is particularly relevant for anyone interested in 20th-century history and the fate of political prisoners in former Czechoslovakia.

Frequently asked questions

Where in České Budějovice is the memorial plaque to the victims of communism? On the wall of the pre-trial detention facility, in the former Palace of Justice, at the intersection of F. A. Gerstnera and Goethova streets.

When was the plaque unveiled? On 5 May 1995, with František Poula, chairman of the local branch of the Confederation of Political Prisoners, presiding over the ceremony.

Who designed the plaque? Sculptor Ivan Tlášek, who created the relief depicting a barred window.

Who exactly does the plaque commemorate? Victims of communist tyranny and violence connected to the České Budějovice region, persecuted inside the former Palace of Justice building after 1948.

Are any commemorative events held at the plaque? Yes, the site is used during the Day of Memory of the Victims of the Communist Regime on 27 June, including a 2017 ceremony attended by representatives of the Confederation of Political Prisoners.