PraguePrivate

Communism and WWII history tour

Three hours through twentieth-century Prague: occupation and resistance, the Prague Spring, the Velvet Revolution and everyday life under communism.

Duration
3 h
Format
Walking
Group
Private, only your party
Start
Wenceslas Square or your hotel
Communism and WWII history tour

Highlights

  • Wenceslas Square, where 1968 and 1989 were decided
  • The memorial to Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc
  • The crypt of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius and Operation Anthropoid
  • The 17 November 1989 memorial on Národní třída
  • The Memorial to the Victims of Communism below Petřín hill

Route and timing

  1. 0:00

    Wenceslas Square

    From the proclamation of Czechoslovakia to the demonstrations of 1968 and 1989.

  2. 0:45

    Operation Anthropoid

    The church crypt where the paratroopers who attacked Reinhard Heydrich made their last stand in 1942.

  3. 1:30

    Národní třída

    The memorial to the student march of 17 November 1989 that started the Velvet Revolution.

  4. 2:15

    Memorial to the Victims of Communism

    Olbram Zoubek's figures on the steps below Petřín, and what the regime meant for ordinary families.

About this tour

Most visitors come to Prague for its Gothic and baroque beauty, but the twentieth century left marks everywhere in the city: on its squares, its churches and its family stories. This tour follows them in a single walk.

Occupation and resistance

In 1939 Nazi Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia. In 1942 Czechoslovak paratroopers trained in Britain attacked Reinhard Heydrich in Prague, one of the most daring resistance operations of the war. The crypt where they were cornered is now a national memorial, and it is one of the stops on this tour.

From 1948 to 1989

The Communist Party took power in February 1948. Twenty years later the Prague Spring was ended by the Warsaw Pact invasion of August 1968, and in January 1969 the student Jan Palach set himself on fire on Wenceslas Square in protest. The regime lasted until November 1989, when a student march on Národní třída started the Velvet Revolution.

Why walk it with a guide

The places look ordinary at first sight. A licensed guide shows you where to look, connects the events and answers the questions that come up, including the personal ones: what daily life was like, and how Czech families remember it today.

Communism and WWII history tour

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Frequently asked questions

Is the tour suitable for teenagers?

Yes. School groups are among our most frequent guests for this topic, and the guide adapts the content to the age and the curriculum.

Can we visit a Cold War bunker or a museum?

Yes. Tell us your interests and we add a museum or another site to the route and buy the tickets in advance.

Can the tour be done in another language?

We work with licensed guides in several languages. Tell us your preference when you ask for the quote.

Ask about this tour

Send your preferred date and group size. We confirm availability and send a written quote.

info@pragueprivate.cz

We reply by email the same business day (Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00 Prague time).

Anything that helps: occasion, mobility needs, dietary needs, must-sees.

We reply by email the same business day (Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00 Prague time).

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