17 Exciting Events and Tips for November 17 – Must-Visit Spots!

Open Days on 28 October in Prague

The palace will be accessible to the public on the state holiday on November 17. Visitors will have the chance to explore the beautiful and significant areas of the Liechtenstein Palace, which are now used for important ceremonial events and conferences. During a guided tour, you’ll walk through the hallways and entrance staircases, visit the blue lounge, the chapel, the Kampa lounge, the golden hall, brown hall, and the garden lounge, eventually leading you to the palace gardens. The second floor apartments were once home to notable figures like Spanish King Juan Carlos and his wife Sofia, British Queen Elizabeth II, and the Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. The palace will be open to visitors from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..

National Gallery in Prague invites everyone to come enjoy its permanent exhibitions on Sunday to celebrate the Day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy. On November’s National Day, the National Gallery will host free exhibitions featuring Old Masters I, Old Masters II, Medieval Art in Bohemia and Central Europe from 1200-1550, 1796-1918: The Art of the Long Century, 1918-1938: The First Republic, 1956-1989: Architecture for All, 1939-2021: The End of the Black and White Age, and Art of Asia Across Space and Time.

Admission is also free at the National Museum on November 17, and there will be discounted entry to the Children’s Museum. This free access is available not only to the main building but also to other branches like the Czech Museum of Music and the Náprstek Museum of Asian, African, and American Cultures.

In light of the national holiday, the War Memorial near Pribram will also be open for those interested. This site was initially constructed as a prisoner camp for German soldiers. From 1949 to 1951 it functioned as a labor camp for uranium ore extraction and then remained a prison for political prisoners until 1961 during the communist era. The exhibits showcase the persecution that followed February 1948, anti-communist resistance, and the history of uranium mining. Visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last tour commencing at 3 p.m.

Korzo Národní or Thank You, We Can 2025

On National Avenue, visitors can expect to see street exhibitions, light displays, and audiovisual projections as it transforms into Korzo Národní. This traditional celebration spot will serve as a place of remembrance, allowing individuals to come to light a candle as a tribute. The theme of this year’s celebration for the Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy is We Have Something to Say to Each Other. At 1:00 p.m., the National Anthem will be performed by Mario Bihari from the balcony of the Metro State Palace. Later, at 5:11 p.m., actor Jan Cina will perform the Prayer for Martha.

Ringing the Augustin Bell in Hradec Králové

On significant days and holidays, you can be nearby to witness the bell ringers ringing the third largest bell in the nation. Participants are encouraged to gather at least 15 minutes before the bell rings at the base of the White Tower. On November 17th, the bell Augustine will chime again, precisely at 6:00 p.m. They should meet at least 15 minutes prior in front of the White Tower. This bell was cast by Master bell ringer Ondřej Žáček in 1509. After it was cast, the bell was first installed on a wooden frame in the cemetery’s Holy Ghost bell tower, where it was rung for the first time in 1510. The bell finally found its home in the White Tower in 1581.

Brno Seventeenth 2025

Brno Seventeenth will once again fill the streets of Brno and Liberty Square, where attendees will celebrate the 36th anniversary of the significant happenings of November 17, 1989. Join in to honor the Velvet Revolution and understand its importance. Brno’s commemoration of the events from 1939 and 1989 traditionally involved lantern parades, originally organized by the Foundation Fund of Students of the Faculty of Arts at Masaryk University. However, in 2017, there was a push to create a larger event that would engage more students with the broader community. Thanks to the cooperation of various Brno university representatives, the Brno Seventeenth emerged as a festival that demonstrates that Brno cherishes its history and recognizes students who appreciate the sacrifices made by their predecessors, allowing them the freedom to pursue studies in a democratic environment.

The Tomáš Bat’a Memorial in Zlín Will Shine in Tricolor

The Tomáš Bat’a Memorial in Zlín will shine brightly in the colors of the tricolor on the Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy. The lighting ceremony is scheduled to begin at 5:11 p.m. and will feature the song Prayer for Martha playing. The ceremony will continue until 10:00 p.m. The memorial will also welcome the public on November 17 for guided tours. These tours will run starting from 10:00 a.m. until the last one at 3:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased now at the Memorial Infopoint.

A Walk Through Jáchymov Hell

There’s a nature trail named Jáchymov that reflects the lives of many political prisoners from the nearby labor camps tied to uranium mining. The trail is fitting to commemorate their experiences on the national holiday of November 17! It stretches 8.5 km long and features 12 informational stops along the way. It begins in front of the Church of St. Jáchym, where you’ll find the Memorial to the Victims of Communism, known as The Cross Road to Freedom—featuring menhirs for each labor camp in the Jáchymov area and a central sculpture named The Gate of Freedom, created by sculptor Roman Podrázský. The route follows the yellow trail around the museum, takes you up wooden stairs to the Svornost mine, and continues along the yellow trail. On the way, you’ll spot heaps of mined materials from the Nikolai or Eduard mines and various ponds established for mining. A short stop is also recommended at the site of the former Elias camp, where there now stands a six-meter tall cross and a cairn in memory of Scouts who were imprisoned in the labor camps.

More Celebrations and Suggestions for Activities on the Public Holiday in the Czech Republic

• • The National Technical Museum invites you to explore its exhibitions on the national holiday for a special admission fee of 80 CZK.

• • Join in the satirical parade of masks called The Velvet Dawn, which cleverly addresses current social issues. The parade, where participants have spent months creating masks, will kick off at 4:00 p.m. from Kampa Park. At 4:15 p.m., they will head to Charles Bridge (in the direction of Betlémské náměstí), crossing Národní třída at 6:15 p.m., and finally concluding at 6:45 p.m. at the Fruit Market.

• • A Concert for the Future will be held on Wenceslas Square this year from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

• • In Olomouc, people can join the lantern parade starting at 5:00 p.m.

• • Beroun will also host a lantern parade, gathering at 5:00 p.m. at Hus Square in Beroun, right at the statue of Jan Hus.

• • The Velvet Domažlice event starts at 2:00 p.m., featuring discussions with memorials or children’s theater.

• • In Zlín, a Freedom Concert will be taking place at Square of Peace starting from 2:00 p.m.

• • The Czech Garnet Museum will have an Open Day.