Vaclav Havel & Velvet Revolution - Tour of Prague

Tour of Prague focusing on Vaclav Havel & Velvet Revolution

Come along on this tour and experience Prague during Communism based on Vaclav Havel´s story and places connected to decisive events which led to the fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia.

Vaclav Havel

Havel had been arrested by the Communists just two months prior to his election as president of Czechoslovakia in December of 1989 after the Velvet Revolution marked the downfall of the totalitarian regime’s hold on the country. The shy, modest man who had spent almost five years behind bars had become a symbol of Czechoslovak freedom and even addressed a joint session of the US Congress in February of 1990. To say that with Václav Havel’s death on Sunday, December 18 at age 75 marks the end of an era is a great understatement. The last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the Czech Republic shaped his nation into a Western-style democracy during a presidency that endured 13 years. Under his leadership, the Czech Republic became a member of NATO (1999), and he greatly contributed to the nation’s acceptance into the European Union, though official membership was not granted until 2004, a year after the champion of human rights and moral authority had left the political scene. Havel also holds his place in Czech literary history as one of the country’s premier writers, as his plays, essays, letters, poetry, and speeches have made a significant impact.

The Velvet Revolution

Czech and Slovak students were honoring students killed during the Nazi Occupation on November 17, International Students Day, by marching through Prague in a peaceful demonstration. When they came to National Avenue, the police beat the students. This police brutality triggered what is today called The Velvet Revolution – the period from November 17 to December 29, during which dissidents and students protested against the Communist regime. Theatres went on strike, and from November 19 to late December demonstrations took place in Prague and other cities. Dissident playwright Vaclav Havel organized the Civic Forum, which openly challenged the Czechoslovak political system and demanded that all political prisoners in the country be released. On December 10, the first largely non-Communist government since 1948 was sworn in. Dubcek was named speaker of the federal parliament on December 28, and Havel was elected president of the country on December 29.

Velvet Divorce

And why did Czechoslovakia split into Czech and Slovakia during the so-called Velvet divorce? Come along on this tour and get answers to all your questions.

Have a beer with Havel and Clinton

Last but not least, we will visit a pub where Vaclav Havel went with US president Clinton for a beer and clinked their glasses with one of the most famous Czech writers of the 20th century – Bohumil Hrabal.

Museum of Communism and Museum of Cold War

On you wish we can also visit the Museum of Communism or the Museum of Cold War in Prague.