About this place
The Memorial to the Victims of Two Totalitarian Regimes is a modest yet striking monument tucked away in Prague's New Town district, inside the quiet Ztracenka garden between Albertov and Karlovo náměstí. Far from the crowds of Prague's historic center, this small green space holds a memorial dedicated to those who suffered under the two totalitarian systems that shaped Czechoslovak history in the 20th century: Nazism and Communism.
What does the monument look like?
The sculpture, created by sculptor Ladislav Sorokáč and architect Ondřej Tuček, forms an allegory of the struggle between good and evil. It consists of two roughly hewn blocks of black granite that appear to press in on a lighter, smooth pebble of white marble caught between them. The contrast between the coarse dark stone and the pale, polished core is meant to evoke the pressure of evil upon innocence — and, at the same time, its inability to destroy it.
Who is the memorial dedicated to?
The monument is closely tied to the story of Milada Horáková (1901–1950), a Czech lawyer, politician, and advocate for women's rights. During the Nazi occupation, Horáková was active in the resistance movement, for which she was imprisoned and later sent to a concentration camp. After the war, under the new Communist government, she was convicted in a fabricated political trial and sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out on June 27, 1950. In Czech memory, she has become a symbol of those persecuted first by one totalitarian regime and then by the other.
When was the monument unveiled, and by whom?
The memorial was unveiled on October 1, 2018, at a ceremony attended by representatives of the Milada Horáková Club — including her daughter, Jana Kánská — along with officials from the Prague 2 municipal district. The choice of the Ztracenka garden as its location was deliberate: a peaceful, secluded spot away from the tourist bustle of central Prague, well suited to quiet reflection.
Why visit this place?
For anyone interested in 20th-century Central European history, this site offers a meaningful counterpoint to a typical Prague sightseeing itinerary, revealing a side of the city beyond the historic townhouses of the Old and New Towns. The Ztracenka garden itself is a pleasant green stop along the walk between Albertov and Karlovo náměstí, a route often used to connect the university campus area with the city center. The monument doesn't rely on scale or grandeur — its impact comes from the simplicity of its form and the weight of its symbolism.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the monument located? In the Ztracenka garden in Prague's New Town, between Albertov street and Karlovo náměstí.
Who created the monument? Sculptor Ladislav Sorokáč and architect Ondřej Tuček.
When was it unveiled? On October 1, 2018.
What materials was it made from? Two blocks of rough black granite with a smooth, pale marble stone placed between them.
Is there an entrance fee? No — the monument stands in a public city park and can be visited free of charge at any time.
Are there other attractions nearby? The Ztracenka garden is close to Karlovo náměstí and the Charles University faculty buildings in Albertov, making it easy to combine with a longer walk through Prague's New Town.
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