Lidice Memorial, Memorial and park in Lidice, Czech Republic

The Lidice Memorial stands on the site of the village destroyed in June 1942, about 20 km northwest of Prague. Its circular museum building, designed by František Marek and opened in 1962, encloses an arcade, and the grounds hold the restored foundations of the Church of St. Martin and the village school, the original foundations of the Horák farm, and the bronze figures of the 82 children by Marie Uchytilová.

The village was completely destroyed in 1942 by Nazi forces and all residents were killed in retaliation for the death of a German official. After the war, the site was rebuilt as a memorial, while a new village was established elsewhere for survivors.

The site is named after the village of Lidice, not after girls. The Rose Garden of Peace and Friendship, founded in 1955 by Sir Barnett Stross, links the memorial to the present; rose plantings elsewhere honour the village's memory.

The site is open year-round and visitors can explore the grounds at their own pace, with marked paths connecting the different areas. Comfortable shoes are advisable since the paths vary in surface and a complete visit may take several hours.

The bronze children's monument was cast only after its sculptor, Marie Uchytilová, died in 1989; she had finished the plaster model that March and never saw it installed. Her husband, daughter and Lidice residents raised the funds, and the last seven of the 82 statues were unveiled in 2000.