Park Antonína Švehly

Park Antonína Švehly is a small park in the centre of Říčany, a short walk from the town's railway station. Its name honours Antonín Švehla (1873–1933), a Czechoslovak politician who took part in the declaration of independence in 1918 and served several times as Prime Minister during the First Republic. Locals use the park for everyday walks, and for visitors it works as an easy landmark right along the main route through town.

What is the main attraction in the park?

The park's centrepiece is a bronze statue of Antonín Švehla, created by academic sculptor Antonín Bučánek and unveiled in 1936. The statue itself, rather than the greenery around it, is what draws most visitors' attention – largely because of the story behind it.

What happened to the statue over the years?

The statue's history is unusually eventful for a monument in a small provincial park. In March 1939, following the Munich Agreement, it was removed by the Nazis, though it was not destroyed. Thanks to the efforts of local farmers, it was restored to its place near the station in 1946. Another twist came in December 1948, when the communist authorities secretly took the statue down and moved it to a fire station. Young men from farming families in Říčany and the surrounding area refused to accept this – they took the statue from the fire station, hauled it by tractor across a frozen millpond to Lipany, and hid it in an unused well on a farm. It stayed there for 41 years. Only thanks to the efforts of the Republican Club of the Village of Říčany was the statue finally returned to the park in March 1990.

Who was Antonín Švehla?

Antonín Švehla was one of the central figures of Czechoslovak interwar politics. He was involved in the declaration of the independent state in 1918 and went on to head the government as Prime Minister on several occasions. The park in Říčany is one of the places that keeps his memory alive in a simple, lasting way.

How do you get to the park?

The park sits along Cesta Svobody, the main street connecting the railway station with the centre of Říčany, so visitors tend to pass through it almost automatically while walking around town. That makes it easy to fit in even for travellers with only a short stop in Říčany.

What has recently changed in the park?

The town of Říčany regularly maintains the park and its surroundings. Recent tidying work opened up the area around the statue, which had previously been obscured by an overgrown juniper, making the monument more visible and prominent for visitors.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the park located? Park Antonína Švehly is in Říčany, along Cesta Svobody, close to the railway station.

Who was Antonín Švehla, the park's namesake? A Czechoslovak politician and Prime Minister during the First Republic, who lived from 1873 to 1933.

What is the park's main feature? A bronze statue of Antonín Švehla by sculptor Antonín Bučánek, unveiled in 1936.

Has the statue always stood in the same spot? No – it was removed by the Nazis in 1939, secretly taken down by the communist authorities in 1948 and hidden by local farmers, and only returned to the park in 1990.

Is the park worth visiting on a short stop in Říčany? Yes, since it sits directly on the route between the station and the town centre, it can easily be added to a short walk through town.