In Všetaty near Mělník, the National Museum opens the Palach Memorial

Všetaty - In Všetaty, in the Mělník region, the National Museum is opening the memorial to Jan Palach today. Jan Palach self-immolated in 1969 to protest against the resignation of people after the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops. The exhibition was created in his birthplace, while visitors will remember Palach's fate and the era in a multimedia form in the adjacent new building. A documentary prepared by filmmaker Olga Sommerová will also be screened here.

The opening of the memorial was postponed from August due to construction complications. It will be attended by Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (CSSD), Director of the National Museum Michal Lukeš, and Cardinal Dominik Duka. The date was moved to today to coordinate the guests' program, as the National Museum had previously planned it for the end of September.

The abandoned birthplace of Palach was purchased by the National Museum in 2014. This was followed by the announcement of an architectural competition, the development of a project, and the issuing of a tender. Due to the lack of interest from construction companies, the museum had to announce the tender four times before it was able to find a contractor for the renovations and exhibition. Work began last August.

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