Národní památník na Vítkově

About the museum

The National Memorial on Vítkov Hill was built between 1928 and 1938 to honour the Czechoslovak legionnaires, to a design by the architect Jan Zázvorka in the constructivist style. The symbolic first excavation was made on 8 November 1928 by President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. The planned opening on 28 October 1938 did not take place because of the Munich Agreement. During the Second World War the building was occupied by the Wehrmacht, which caused considerable damage to it.

After the war, the remains of an Unknown Soldier from Dukla were interred here in 1949, and in 1950 an equestrian statue of Jan Žižka by Bohumil Kafka was unveiled in front of the building. After February 1948 the memorial became the pantheon of the Communist Party, and from 1954 to 1962 it served as the mausoleum of Klement Gottwald. In 1962 it was declared a national cultural monument.

Since the beginning of the millennium the memorial was managed by the National Museum, which reconstructed it; after closure from 2007 to 2009 it reopened on 25 October 2009. Since 1 June 2024 it has been the property of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic and is managed by the Military History Institute Prague. Visitors today will find the new permanent exhibition Symbols of Statehood, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the ceremonial hall and the President’s Salon.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition Symbols of Statehood in the Central Hall, the Chapel of the Fallen and the columbarium
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• Ceremonial hall and the President’s Salon
• Equestrian statue of Jan Žižka by Bohumil Kafka in front of the building
• Viewing terrace over Prague and Café Vítkov with panoramic views

Permanent exhibition

• Symboly státnosti – The new permanent exhibition in the Central Hall, the Chapel of the Fallen and the columbarium tells the stories of objects linked to the Czech state symbols.

Operated by

Vojenský historický ústav Praha

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the building and to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is free. A time-limited ticket is required for the viewing terrace; it is issued on request at the entrance to the exhibition on the first floor (price not published). In bad weather the terrace is closed.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The step-free entrance is on the east side; a lift from there leads to the café, the ceremonial hall and the President’s Salon. Another lift at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier goes to the lower part of the ceremonial hall and to the terrace, but the terrace itself is not step-free. Standard wheelchairs can be borrowed at the step-free entrance, and an accompanying person is needed for transfers. Only guide dogs and assistance dogs may enter the building.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café

Café Vítkov, with its panoramic view of Prague, is open at the same times as the memorial.

Events & venue rental

As far as we know, the museum does not rent out spaces for external events.

Commercial events are not permitted in the memorial.

Plan your visit