Statue of Edvard Beneš in Brno

The Statue of Edvard Beneš stands in a small park on Veveří Street in Brno, right in front of the Faculty of Law of Masaryk University — a bronze figure of Czechoslovakia's second president, set on a granite pedestal.

Where exactly is the statue located?

The monument sits in the Brno-střed district, in a modest green square on Veveří Street, next to the entrance of the Masaryk University Faculty of Law. The choice of location is deliberate: Beneš himself trained as a lawyer and sociologist before rising to the presidency, so the spot ties the memorial to his own academic background. Four linden trees were planted around the statue in 2012, giving the small park a more established, green setting.

Who created the statue?

The original sculpture was made by Czech artist Karel Dvořák, and the Brno statue is a faithful copy of his work, which has stood for decades near Loreta Square in Prague, in front of Černín Palace. The bronze figure rests on a granite base bearing an engraved, gilded inscription naming Beneš and his office.

When and how was the Brno monument built?

The idea to erect a monument to Beneš in Brno goes back to 2005, when it was put forward by members of the Czechoslovak Legionnaires' Association together with the Association of Czechoslovak Foreign Airmen 1939–1945. The building committee was led by Colonel Emil Boček, a former RAF pilot. The project cost around 1.6 million Czech crowns in total: a public fundraising campaign brought in 800,000 crowns, with the City of Brno covering the remainder. The statue was formally unveiled on 10 April 2010.

Why was the project controversial?

The plan did not go ahead without opposition. Objections came mainly from German groups, for whom Beneš's legacy remains tied to the post-war decrees issued under his name. Despite the protests, the city and the organizing committee carried the project through as planned, and the statue has occasionally drawn further controversy and acts of vandalism linked to these same historical disputes.

What can visitors see there today?

The site is quiet and unassuming — more a stop for anyone interested in 20th-century Czechoslovak history than a stop on Brno's main sightseeing circuit. In 2011, RAF veterans visited the monument, underlining its significance for the community of Czechoslovak airmen who served with the Western Allies. Walking along Veveří Street, it's worth a short pause at this modest but historically layered spot.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Edvard Beneš? He was the second president of Czechoslovakia, a lawyer and politician whose terms in office spanned some of the most turbulent decades in the country's 20th-century history.

Is the Brno statue an original work? No — it's a copy of a sculpture by Karel Dvořák, whose original stands in Prague near Loreta Square.

When was it unveiled? On 10 April 2010.

Where exactly can it be found? On Veveří Street in Brno, in the small park in front of the Faculty of Law of Masaryk University.

Was the monument controversial? Yes, it faced opposition mainly from German groups critical of honoring Beneš.