Klínovec: Hero of 1968, now a European Heritage Site

The Klínovec transmitter, located near Boží Dar in the Karlovy Vary Region, was awarded the prestigious European Heritage Label (EHL) at the end of February 2026. This label recognises European cultural heritage. The Post Bellum organisation and the Czech Ministry of Regional Development are planning a new project aimed at commemorating places where uncensored news was disseminated during difficult times, or where freedom of expression was suppressed. The Klínovec transmitter is one such place, as in 1968, following the occupation of Czechoslovakia, it became a symbol of resistance and the struggle for freedom of speech.

Although the Klínovec transmitter was located in a ‘restricted’ military zone and was under constant military surveillance, in 1968, when Czechoslovakia was occupied by the armies of the Soviet Union and other allies, it became a site of free broadcasting. Its two-man crew, Petr Kovář and Miloš Vyhnal, decided on a daring act and began broadcasting uncensored information about the military intervention on our territory. They set up operations from a hotel room and their broadcasts continued for a full four days, despite the armed forces demanding that they be switched off immediately and these activities halted. The broadcasts came to a tragic end when all the equipment, including the transformer station and control equipment, was shot to pieces; however, Mr Kovář and Mr Vyhnal fortunately managed to escape and hide, thereby most likely saving their lives.

The Karlovy Vary Region, like other areas along the Iron Curtain of the time, was known for the operation of jammers targeting foreign radio stations. The story from Klínovec, however, proves that even here there were people who dared to stand up against the regime of the time.

European Heritage: EHL not only in the Karlovy Vary Region

Sites that have been awarded the ‘European Heritage’ label are a testament to the history that has shaped the Europe we know today. From the dawn of civilisation to modern-day Europe, these sites express and celebrate European ideas, values, stories and processes of integration. The main aim of the EHL project is to recognise historical sites in all regions that are linked to the struggle for freedom and democracy, and to help them obtain this significant certification. In promoting these sites, emphasis is placed on the active involvement of local communities throughout the process.

In the Czech Republic, there are currently only ten other sites with the EHL designation. Most of them are linked to distant history, such as monasteries that were centres of learning in the Middle Ages. Until now, the only site with this designation in the Karlovy Vary Region was Kynžvart Castle, which was an important venue for diplomatic negotiations in the 19th century.