Villa Osvěta, 19th-century villa in Vinohrady, Czech Republic
Villa Osvěta stands at Jana Masaryka 165/22 in Vinohrady, on the site of the former Čelakovského Street above the Nusle Valley. Its entrance gate carries two plaques: one placed in 1946 in the presence of Jan Masaryk, and one unveiled on 14 September 2006 with his bust and the motto "Pravda vítězí, ale dá to fušku."
The villa took its name in 1871 from its owner Václav Vlček, a writer and publisher of the monthly Osvěta; Masaryk helped him found and develop the magazine, and the two parted ways after 1889 over differing views on the authenticity of the Králové Dvůr and Zelená Hora manuscripts. From 1886 to 1889 Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk lived here with his wife Charlotte, and their son Jan was born in the house on 14 September 1886.
The villa's name comes from the monthly Osvěta, whose publisher Václav Vlček owned the building; Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk helped him found and develop the magazine. The two broke with each other after 1889 over differing views on the authenticity of the Královédvorský and Zelenohorský manuscripts.
The residence is best accessed on foot along Jana Masaryka Street, which is well integrated into the Vinohrady neighborhood. The commemorative plaques at the entrance gate are visible from the street, making it easy to identify the villa's historical importance during a casual walk.
The plaque on the entrance gate was unveiled on 14 September 2006, the 120th anniversary of Jan Masaryk's birth, in a ceremony attended by his family. It bears his bust by sculptor Jan Bartoš and the engraved motto "Pravda vítězí, ale dá to fušku" (Truth prevails, but it takes effort).
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