Jemniště Castle unveils Václav Havel Bench

Jemniště Castle has unveiled a ‘Václav Havel Bench’ as part of a global project to create spaces for public dialogue and remembrance. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Jiří Sternberg, owner of the castle, and Pavel Rychetský, a former chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic and close collaborator of the late president.

Rychetský reflected on Havel’s legacy, describing him as a symbol of value-based politics that prioritizes human rights and individual freedoms. The project, initiated by Petr Gandalovič and architect Bořek Šípek, aims to establish a network of benches in public spaces to encourage social interaction. The first bench in this initiative was unveiled in Washington, D.C., in 2013.