LidiceOutdoor Escape Game & Treasure Hunt

A Medieval Village Transformed by Industry

Lidice, first documented in chronicles in 1318, was an agricultural village within the Buštěhrad estate. Its oldest public building, St. Martin's Church, dates to 1352. This church saw destruction during the Hussite Wars and again during the Thirty Years' War, before Grand Duchess Marie Anna of Tuscany commissioned a new Baroque church in the early 1800s.

The village school is mentioned in records from 1713, notable for having a simple central heating system, possibly the first of its kind in Bohemia. By the second half of the 19th century, Lidice became a mining village due to the expansion of industries in nearby Kladno, particularly coal-mining. Its population grew from 270 inhabitants in 33 houses in 1848 to 506 people in 50 houses by 1890.

The Tragedy of 1942 and a Global Rebirth

Lidice's existence was shattered on June 10, 1942, during World War II. In retaliation for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking Nazi official, German forces falsely linked two Lidice families to the assassins. All 173 men and boys aged 15 or older were shot, and a further nine men from the village were executed shortly after. The women were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, where 53 of the 203 women died. Most of the children, 82 of them, were gassed at Chełmno extermination camp.

The Nazis then systematically destroyed the entire village, burning houses, razing buildings with explosives, and demolishing the church and cemetery. By 1943, Lidice was an empty space, marked by notices forbidding entry. The news of the atrocity spread globally, sparking outrage and a determination that "Lidice Shall Live." The "Lidice Shall Live" campaign, initiated by Dr. Barnett Stross in Stoke-on-Trent, England, raised funds for the village's reconstruction.

On June 10, 1945, the Czechoslovak government announced its decision to rebuild Lidice. Construction of a new village began in 1947, about 300 meters from the original site. The new Lidice, with 150 houses, arose with the help of volunteers from around the world. The original site was preserved as a memorial, and the "Garden of Peace and Friendship" (now the Rose Garden of Friendship and Peace) was opened on June 19, 1955, connecting the old and new villages.

• —Lidice Memorial Visitor Centre — This serves as the starting point for understanding Lidice's history. It houses a permanent exhibition, "And Those Innocent Were Guilty...", which uses family photographs and documents to tell the story of pre-war life, the destruction, and the renewal of the village.
• —Site of the former St. Martin's Church — Here, you find the foundations of the original church, which was destroyed by the Nazis. The church, first built in 1352, was rebuilt several times over centuries before its final destruction in 1942.
• —Site of the former Lidice school — Look for the remnants of the old school, a foundation marking a lost community building. The school was first mentioned in records from 1713.
• —Site of the Horák Farm — This is the location where the men of Lidice were gathered and executed by firing squad on June 10, 1942.
• —Mass grave of Lidice men — A wooden cross marks the spot where the 173 men and boys of Lidice were buried after their execution.
• —Rose Garden of Friendship and Peace — This garden, covering 3.5 hectares, features thousands of rose bushes donated from various countries worldwide. It was established in 1955 as a symbol of international cooperation, linking the old and new villages.
• —Monument to the Children Victims of War — This sculpture features 82 bronze statues of children, representing the boys and girls from Lidice who were murdered at Chełmno extermination camp. Sculptor Marie Uchytilová dedicated two decades to this project, which was completed in 2000.
• —Lidice Memorial Museum (exterior) — The museum building, constructed in 1962 and reconstructed in 2005-2006, is a part of the memorial complex. It houses the main exhibition and offers a place for reflection.

The best time to visit Lidice is from May through July. During these months, the weather is pleasant for exploring the outdoor memorial sites and the Rose Garden, which will be in bloom. Spring and early summer offer comfortable temperatures and good light for photography.

Autumn can also be a good time, with cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. Avoid visiting in winter (November to February) if possible, as the weather can be cold and gray, and some outdoor elements of the memorial might be less visually impactful. The Lidice Memorial Museum and Gallery maintain regular hours throughout the year, but the outdoor areas are best experienced in milder weather.

Lidice is about 20 km west of Prague. The easiest way to get there from Prague without a car is by bus. Buses marked 'Lidice-Kladno' depart from the bus stops across the street from the Diplomat Hotel, near the Dejvická metro station (Line A). Bus routes 300, 322, and 324 serve Lidice, with route 300 being the fastest. The journey takes approximately 25-30 minutes and costs around 30-40 CZK. If you have a Prague transit pass, you may need to buy an additional ticket to cover zones outside the city.

If driving, take Highway 7 from the west side of Prague past the airport, then head west onto Highway 551. It is about a 20-minute drive. There is paid parking available by the museum and a free car park by the gallery. The memorial grounds and Rose Garden are freely accessible, while the museum and gallery have an admission fee. Allow at least 1.5 to 3 hours to experience the memorial.