The Cold War Years - Prague under Totalitarianism Tour with a Historian
City activities

The Cold War Years - Prague under Totalitarianism Tour with a Historian

from
£79.00
Free cancellation
Language: English
Availability: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday
Mobile voucher accepted
Duration: 3 hours
Do this because
  • Learn about totalitarian Prague from accomplished historians
  • Get to know about communist-era propaganda techniques in statues and frescoes
  • Visit pressurized bunkers and a mausoleum with a laboratory
  • See the John Lennon Wall
  • Walk through the Wenceslaus Square
What to expect

At noon on the first Wednesday of every month, Prague's air sirens are tested. The sirens and still-present bunkers in the city are a reminder of the struggles that occurred in the capital of a Soviet satellite state. On this walking tour, you'll journey through 40 years of Prague's history in the Cold War.

You'll start off in a large shelter built into Vitkov Hill. This site has always been home to the world's largest equestrian statue, dedicated to the general Jan Žižka. However, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSC) took power in 1948 in an “elegant coup” and created The Hall of the Red Army. Walk through the building and see the mausoleum which once contained the mummified body of Klement Gottwald, first chairman of the KSC, as well as the laboratory dedicated to keeping the embalmed body intact. From the top of the hill you'll get a wonderful panorama of the city, including the Television Tower.

Learn more about the daily lives of Prague citizens under totalitarianism. See the Letna Hill, which once had the largest Stalin statue in the world, and visit the John Lennon Wall, where citizens risked imprisonment to create graffiti messages of protest and expressions of freedom. Experience totalitarian architecture as we take in the brutalist National Assembly building built for the Communist Parliament. Walk to the famous Wenceslaus Square, where the Prague Spring of 1968, was suppressed with tanks.

Your tour will extensively cover the rise of communism in Czechoslovakia, the Velvet Revolution, the rise of Vaclav Havel as president, and the current state of the country's economy and culture. Emerge with a better understanding of Cold War Prague and today’s Czech Republic, a liberal democracy still recovering from the social and economic effects of totalitarianism.

Read more
What's included
  • check Historian tour guide
What's not included
  • x_not_included Entrance tickets to St Vitkov Hill Monument - Hall of the Red Army Tickets
Where

nám. Republiky 1079/1a, Nové Město, 110 00 Praha-Praha 1, Czechia

Meeting point:
Meet at the door of the St. Joseph Church (Kostel sv. Josefa), just to the right of the Palladium Mall Entrance at Namesti Republiky 1, Prague 1
What to remember
  • If walking uphill is difficult for you, there is an alternative and beautiful walk in the city center which avoids the ascent to Vitkov
  • This tour requires a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 12 participants
Read more
Provider
Insight Cities
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

0%
0%
0%
0%
0%

You might also like

Ticket to Museum of Communism in Prague
Activities

Ticket to Museum of Communism in Prague

Book your ticket to the Museum of Communism in Prague and understand what daily life was like in Communist-era Czechoslovakia.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de 

Prague Castle skip-the-line tickets
Excursions & day trips

Prague Castle skip-the-line tickets

Save time and skip the lines with this ticket option to Prague Castle. Visit this spectacular attraction in Prague and enjoy the beautiful interiors and history.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, de 

Prague city cruise
Activities

Prague city cruise

Book this Prague city cruise to enjoy a trip down the Vltava enjoying sights from the River including Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and Lesser Town.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, de 

Prague Castle tickets with online guide on your smartphone
Attractions & guided tours

Prague Castle tickets with online guide on your smartphone

Avoid the stress of queuing up with skip-the-line tickets to Prague Castle and explore the site at your own pace with an online guide on your smartphone.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de, +1  pl

Prague astronomical Clock Tower ticket and optional audioguide
Attractions & guided tours

Prague astronomical Clock Tower ticket and optional audioguide

Skip-the-line to the Astronomical Clock Tower in Prague. Get a short introduction to the history, significance, and meaning of this remarkable piece of medieval engineering, and simply admire the famous 600-year-old astronomical clock.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Prague National Museum tour with skip-the-line admission ticket
Attractions & guided tours

Prague National Museum tour with skip-the-line admission ticket

Save time with skip-the-line entrance tickets to the Prague National Museum. Explore the beautiful Old and New Town district with a local guide.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, de 

Two-hour grand cruise in Prague
Activities

Two-hour grand cruise in Prague

Book this two-hour sightseeing cruise of Prague. Get informed with printed guides in 16 languages and see many of the city sights from the water.

free cancellation
Instant Confirmation
Entry ticket to Illusion Art Museum Prague
Attractions & guided tours

Entry ticket to Illusion Art Museum Prague

Explore a historic building filled with illusions while learning about local history and discovering how perspective can open up new worlds

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Best of Prague by foot and bus with river cruise and Prague Castle
Activities

Best of Prague by foot and bus with river cruise and Prague Castle

Enjoy a guided city tour of Prague and discover it on foot, by bus and by boat. See the most famous landmarks and learn about the history of the city.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, es, de 

Prague Black Light Theatre Srnec tickets
Tickets and events

Prague Black Light Theatre Srnec tickets

Don't miss this show in Prague at the Black Light Theatre where the world gets transformed into an impressive and fascinating surreal experience!

free cancellation
Instant Confirmation